A CLOSER LOOK AT ECOLOGICAL

THINKING

By Nicholas Lawrence

Introduction Big facet of sustainability is sustainable

resource use This can’t be done without understanding

environmental dynamics/ using ecological thinking

Having ecological knowledge of the environment leads to a better understanding of the environmental dynamics and how to best work within the system.

The Study Original Article:

Olsson, Per, and Folke Carl. “Local Ecological Knowledge and Institutional Dynamics for Ecosystem Management: A Study of Lake Racken Watershed, Sweden.” Ecosystems 4 (2001): 85–104. Print.

Crayfish management in Lake Racken, Sweden

They set out to show the existence of LEK (local ecological knowledge) and it’s importance in ecosystem management

Lake Racken, Sweden

Background Crayfish are largely enjoyed in Sweden The catching and eating of crayfish has

a large cultural aspect Crayfish plagued reduced native

populations by 95% Acid rain also threatens crayfish

populations

Crayfish

Methods Both qualitative and quantitative

methods were used 73 questionnaires sent to households

with fishing rights In depth qualitative interviews with 10

key informants Participant observation through public

meetings, informal meetings and newspapers

Results (Organization Levels)

Ecological Principles Time: long scale and short scale Place: local climate and geographic traits Species: local species and their

interactions Disturbance: type of disturbance, severity

and duration Landscape: local landscapes influence

local populations and communities

Results (Ecological Principles)

Results (Ecological Principles)

Significance Local ecological knowledge exists and is

combined with scientific knowledge Ecosystem was monitored at different

levels Comanagement played a key role in

enabling the inhabitants to react to disturbances

Conclusion Local ecological knowledge (LEK) was found at

different scales within the community LEK alone doesn’t imply sustainable management,

the nature of that LEK is important and institutional arrangements have to exist to make it work

Lake Racken could benefit from “adaptive comanagement systems—that is, flexible

community-based systems of resource management tailored to specific situations and supported by and working in collaboration with concerned governmental agencies, educational institutions, and where appropriate nongovernmental organizations.”

Questions?