Participatory modelling for conceptualizing social-ecological system dynamics in the Bangladesh delta

Sohel, Sarwar; Ramirez, Jorge Alberto; Szabo, Sylvia; Eigenbrod, Felix; Johnson, Fiifi Amoako; Ifejika Speranza, Chinwe; Dearing, John A (2020). Participatory modelling for conceptualizing social-ecological system dynamics in the Bangladesh delta. Regional environmental change, 20(1) Springer 10.1007/s10113-020-01599-5

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The concept of complex social-ecological systems (SES) as a means for capturing system dynamics properties (e.g. interactions and feedbacks) has gained attention in policymaking and advancing evidence in understanding complex systems. In contexts with limited data, conceptual system dynamic models offer a promising entry point to overcome challenges in understanding SES dynamics, which is essential for managing the long-term sustainability of SES and human wellbeing. Here, we build on previous work focused on agricultural production and use participatory approaches to develop a conceptual System Dynamics (SD) model for the south-west coastal SES in Bangladesh encompassing multiple forms of livelihood (fisheries, shrimp farming and forests, as well as agriculture). Using qualitative methods, including focus group discussions with farmers, fishermen, shrimp farmers and forest people, as well as expert consultations, we identified interactions, feedback loops and thresholds for the SES. The conceptual system model developed independently by stakeholders is consistent with a model developed using an empirical approach and literature review. Feedback loops are identified for the ecological (e.g. climate and water, mangrove and salinity) and social (e.g. shrimp farming and mangrove, agricultural (e.g. crops) production and subsidy) sub-systems in the Bangladesh delta. The biophysical thresholds that impact social conditions include river water discharge (1500 to 2000 m3 s−1), climate (28 °C) and soil salinity (~4 to ~10 dS m−1). Exceeding these thresholds suggests that SES may lose resilience in the near future and increase the likelihood of regime shifts. Findings of this study contribute to the management of the deltaic ecosystem and provide specific policy recommendations for improving environmental sustainability and human well-being in the Bangladesh delta and can be further used as inputs into system dynamic modelling to simulate changes in this SES.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Geographies of Sustainability > Unit Land Systems and Sustainable Land Management (LS-SLM)
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Geographies of Sustainability
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography

UniBE Contributor:

Sohel, Sarwar, Ramirez, Jorge Alberto, Ifejika Speranza, Chinwe

Subjects:

900 History > 910 Geography & travel

ISSN:

1436-3798

Publisher:

Springer

Funders:

[UNSPECIFIED] SANDEE (South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics) ; [UNSPECIFIED] UKRI GCRF (UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund) Living Deltas Hub ; [UNSPECIFIED] ESRC/NERC PhD studentship (1223260) ; [UNSPECIFIED] University of Southampton ; [UNSPECIFIED] Sustainable Land Management Unit, University of Bern

Language:

English

Submitter:

MD Sarwar Hossain Sohel

Date Deposited:

21 Apr 2020 10:58

Last Modified:

21 Feb 2024 00:25

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s10113-020-01599-5

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Social-ecological systems (SES), Feedbacks, Thresholds, Regime shifts, Participatory modelling

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.141745

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/141745

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