1

People and ecosystems

Understanding of the links between coral reef ecosystems, the goods and services they provide to people, and the wellbeing of human societies.

2

Ecosystem dynamics: past, present and future

Examining the multi-scale dynamics of reefs, from population dynamics to macroevolution

3

Responding to a changing world

Advancing the fundamental understanding of the key processes underpinning reef resilience.

Coral Bleaching

Coral Bleaching

Coral Reef Studies

From 2005 to 2022, the main node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies was headquartered at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland (Australia)

Menu Image Menu Image Menu Image Menu Image Menu Image Menu Image Menu Image
Menu
YouTube
Event

Ecosystem services and dimensions of well-being in deltas

When

19th of February 2015

location
Building 19 (Kevin Stark Research Building) Room #106 (upstairs), JCU, Townsville
Presenter
Prof Neil Adger, University of Exeter
Prof Neil Adger, University of Exeter

Abstract:  Deltas are highly productive environments that provide a range of ecosystem services, yet in some deltas poverty of farming and fishing populations persists. Such paradoxes raise important questions on where and when ecosystem services contribute to well-being or to providing routes out of poverty. Here we propose that the wellbeing outcome of ecosystem service use is mediated by five dynamic factors: productivity of ecosystems; seasonality; mobility; social relations; and the nature and strength of property rights. We investigate the nature of these effects across diverse social-ecological systems within delta environments through analysis in seven social-ecological systems in coastal regions of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh ranging from mangrove, fishery, char, aquaculture and agriculture-dominated systems. We discuss measurement of well-being, initial results on the variability of the proposed mechanisms between socio-ecological systems, and the prospects for ecosystem services research to contribute to sustaining development.

Biography: Prof Neil Adger is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter, UK. He researches social dimensions of environmental change. He was an author on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and on reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He is presently a Distinguished Visiting Scientist at CSIRO in Townsville working with the Resource Governance group.

Seminars

More
Australian Research Council Pandora

Partner Research Institutions

Partner Partner Partner Partner
Coral Reef Studies