Social-Ecological Systems Thinking and Biodiversity

The extensive human impact on Earth is characterized by deeply intertwined social and ecological changes. Biodiversity is a foundational part of social-ecological systems, with humans interacting with biodiversity in constantly evolving ways. We describe the key characteristics of social-ecological systems, using protected areas as an example. We highlight the connections between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being; the potential for social-ecological regime shifts; the cross-scale nature of local to global social-ecological interactions; and the role of scenarios in imagining just and sustainable futures for both nature and people. The implications of social-ecological thinking for biodiversity governance and research are outlined.