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标题：Human–Nature Relationship in Mediterranean Streams: Integrating Different Types of Knowledge to Improve Water Management
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作者：Carla Gonzalez ; Adelaide Clemente ; Kurt Aagaard Nielsen 等
期刊名称：Ecology and Society
印刷版ISSN：1708-3087
电子版ISSN：1708-3087
出版年度：2009
卷号：14
期号：2
出版社：The Resilience Alliance
摘要：The social and ecological systems of Mediterranean streams are intrinsically linked as aresult of long human occupation. In this region, these links vary greatly across small distances due togeomorphology, resulting in great diversity across space, which poses particular challenges forunderstanding and managing these systems. This demands (i) interdisciplinary integration of knowledgethat focuses on the social–ecological interactions, while according due consideration to the whole; and also(ii) transdisciplinary integration, integrating lay and expert knowledge to understand local specificities. Toaddress these needs—a focus on interactions and local knowledge—the research presented here studiesthe human–nature relationship in Mediterranean streams. Its main objective is to improve understandingof Mediterranean streams, but it also provides practical inputs to enhance local-level management. Thestudy adopts an applied approach from the perspective of natural resources management. A case study wasdeveloped conducting field work on streams within the Natura 2000 site of Monfurado, Portugal—a mainlyprivately owned area with conflicting land uses between conservation and farming. Rivers and streams inPortugal are considered to be in very bad condition, particularly with regard to water quality. Theexperimental design was based, from a critical realism perspective of inter- and trans-disciplinarity, on thecomplementarities between methodologies from (i) the social sciences: value survey and analysis ofdiscourse; and (ii) the natural sciences: biomonitoring and integrity biotic indexes. Results characterizedthe connected systems from both ecological and social points of view. They also characterized therelationship between both dimensions. We concluded that well-established riparian vegetation cover ofstreams is a key structural element of the human–nature relationship in the Mediterranean streams ofMonfurado at several levels. The central role this structure might have in the dialog between the conflictingland uses with regard to water management is discussed, and priority targets for management are identified.The tree stratum in streams may work as a conciliation factor in the conflict between farming andconservation, as it is in the interest of both sectors to maintain it; however, the shrub stratum is effectivelya source of conflict between the two perspectives and needs further work at the social-change level
关键词：co-evolution; ecological indicators; interdisciplinary; local knowledge; natural resource;management; Portugal; social–ecological systems; transdisciplinary