A social-ecological typology of rangelands based on rainfall variability and farming type
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Standard
In: Journal of Arid Environments, Vol. 148, 01.01.2018, p. 65 - 73.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - A social-ecological typology of rangelands based on rainfall variability and farming type
AU - Engler, John-Oliver
AU - Abson, David J.
AU - Feller, Robert
AU - Hanspach, Jan
AU - von Wehrden, Henrik
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - We present a social-ecological typlogy for the world's rangelands that integrates the much debated non-equilibrium concept from ecology with socio-economic characteristics of rangeland systems. We propose that, as a first approximation, the socio-economic properties can be adequately captured and differentiated by the distinction between the two main types of rangeland farming systems worldwide: subsistence and commercial farming. The resulting typology has four categories, which are ‘commercial equilibrium’, ‘commercial non-equilibrium’, ‘subsistence equilibrium’ and ‘subsistence non-equilibrium’. We provide and discuss examples for each category. Moreover, we point out how this typology might help to understand and address some of the problems related to unsustainable rangeland management. Finally, we provide and discuss a global map of rangelands that illustrates the geographic distribution of all four rangeland types.
AB - We present a social-ecological typlogy for the world's rangelands that integrates the much debated non-equilibrium concept from ecology with socio-economic characteristics of rangeland systems. We propose that, as a first approximation, the socio-economic properties can be adequately captured and differentiated by the distinction between the two main types of rangeland farming systems worldwide: subsistence and commercial farming. The resulting typology has four categories, which are ‘commercial equilibrium’, ‘commercial non-equilibrium’, ‘subsistence equilibrium’ and ‘subsistence non-equilibrium’. We provide and discuss examples for each category. Moreover, we point out how this typology might help to understand and address some of the problems related to unsustainable rangeland management. Finally, we provide and discuss a global map of rangelands that illustrates the geographic distribution of all four rangeland types.
KW - Biophysical degradation
KW - Commercial agriculture
KW - Non-equilibrium theory
KW - Range management
KW - Social-ecological systems
KW - Subsistence agriculture
KW - Sustainability Science
KW - Transdisciplinary studies
KW - Environmental planning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033985597&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.09.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.09.009
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85033985597
VL - 148
SP - 65
EP - 73
JO - Journal of Arid Environments
JF - Journal of Arid Environments
SN - 0140-1963
ER -