School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
J Environ Manage. 2018 Oct 1;223:338-347. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.042. Epub 2018 Jun 21.
The decoupling of human-ecosystem relationships in underutilized forested or agricultural regions poses a threat to cultural and biological diversities. Some scholars have proposed transformative strategies involving local-led efforts to reconnect social and ecological systems with the support of bridging organizations (BOs). However, empirically-based understandings about how and under what conditions BOs can address context-specific social conditions to enable transformation work remain limited. Using the concept of social fit - how institutional arrangements address contextual social conditions to enhance governance effectiveness - this study examines the work of the Kyoto Model Forest Association (KMFA), a BO, in improving the relationship between forests and people in Kyoto, Japan. We employed a mixed method approach involving a questionnaire survey, document review, semi-structured interviews, and direct observations. Our findings showed that to improve human-ecosystem interdependence, the KMFA prioritized the provision of public education; invested in places and systems to reduce participation costs; built trust and reduced value mismatches; provided incentives and built management capacity; provided leadership to diverse local forestry groups; facilitated institutional integration of forest and non-forest organizations; and drew resources from diverse organizations. These roles broadened the participation of different actors with novel connections to local ecosystems, enhanced self-organizing capacities, and streamlined the roles of forest management institutions. To sustain these efforts, the KMFA needs to continuously adapt to meet the needs and perceptions of diverse and dynamic actors and to broaden participation. Our analysis provides evidence of the efficacy of BOs to recouple human-ecosystem relationships and improve governance outcomes in underutilized social-ecological systems.
在未充分利用的森林或农业地区，人类-生态系统关系的脱节对文化和生物多样性构成了威胁。一些学者提出了变革性战略，涉及在桥梁组织 (BO) 的支持下，由地方主导努力重新连接社会和生态系统。然而，关于 BO 如何以及在什么条件下能够解决特定于背景的社会条件以促进变革工作的基于经验的理解仍然有限。本研究使用社会契合度的概念——制度安排如何解决背景社会条件以提高治理效果——来考察京都示范森林协会 (KMFA) 这一 BO 在改善日本京都森林与人之间关系方面的工作。我们采用了一种混合方法，包括问卷调查、文献审查、半结构化访谈和直接观察。我们的研究结果表明，为了改善人类-生态系统的相互依存关系，KMFA 优先提供公共教育；投资于降低参与成本的地点和系统；建立信任并减少价值不匹配；提供激励措施并建立管理能力；为各种当地林业团体提供领导；促进森林和非森林组织的制度整合；并从各种组织中汲取资源。这些角色拓宽了具有与当地生态系统新联系的不同行为者的参与度，增强了自我组织能力，并简化了森林管理机构的角色。为了维持这些努力，KMFA 需要不断适应以满足不同和动态行为者的需求和观念，并扩大参与度。我们的分析提供了证据，证明 BO 能够重新连接人类-生态系统关系，并改善未充分利用的社会-生态系统的治理结果。
