Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

Vision & Mission

We envision a fair world where the benefits generated within social-ecological systems are shared sustainably with other species, both within and across generations. Solutions to sustainability challenges are developed collaboratively across diverse scientific disciplines, knowledge systems, and social interests. To realise our vision, we recognise the need for transformative change. In pursuit of such change we:

  • use place-based social-ecological systems thinking to understand and resolve sustainability challenges such as biodiversity loss and environmental injustice;
  • bring together insights and approaches from the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities in genuinely collaborative endeavours;
  • integrate experiences, practices, and understandings from diverse knowledge systems;
  • embed tools for transformative change into the social-ecological systems thinking via a leverage points perspective;
  • develop and apply methods to bridge multiple scales and governance levels; and
  • provide spaces for people sharing our vision to meet and exchange ideas.

Main research areas

We primarily conduct integrative and transdisciplinary research. In particular, the following topics are central to the Institute's research work:

  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Biocultural diversity
  • Cross-scale governance
  • Leverage points & transformation
  • Ecosystem services
  • Relational values
  • Environmental justice
  1. 2025
  2. Published

    The multifaceted spectra of power − A participatory network analysis on power structures in diverse dryland regions

    Olofsson, V., Garcia, M. M., Castro, A. J., Calderón, S. C., Diallo, A. H., Aceituno, A. J., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Gonzalez, T. S., Silvino, A. S. & Aguiar, A. P., 01.07.2025, In: Global Environmental Change. 92, 12 p., 102984.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Human-wildlife conflict in Rwanda: Linking ecoregion, changing conservation status and the local communities’ perception

    Sun, P., Bariyanga, J. D. & Wronski, T., 01.06.2025, In: Global Ecology and Conservation. 59, 17 p., e03550.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. E-pub ahead of print

    The questions we ask matter: insights from place-based research on nature’s contributions to people

    Gross, M., Shepeleva, D., Vogel, F., Mwampamba, T. H., Arbieu, U., Pearson, J., Sesabo, J. K., Codalli, F. & Martín-López, B., 09.05.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainability Science. 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The global distribution of authorship in economics journals

    Aigner, E., Greenspon, J. & Rodrik, D., 01.05.2025, In: World Development. 189, 18 p., 106926.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. E-pub ahead of print

    The forest beyond the trees: A network perspective on governing co-production of nature’s contributions to people

    Isaac, R., Cumming, G. S., Felipe-Lucia, M. R. & Martín-López, B., 26.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ambio. 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. E-pub ahead of print

    Mapping the intersection of planetary boundaries and environmentally extended input-output analysis: A systematic literature review

    León, M. F. G., Bankert, A., Becerra, D. T. & Abson, D. J., 01.06.2025, In: Sustainable Production and Consumption. 56, p. 546-560 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. E-pub ahead of print

    Exploring biocultural diversity: A systematic analysis and refined classification to inform decisions on conservation and sustainability

    Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Hanspach, J., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Lagies, A. S. & Castro, A. J., 16.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ambio. 17 p., e517.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for sustainability transformations: five strategies to support place-based innovation

    Dabard, C. H., Mann, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73, 6 p., 101508.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published
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