Regime shifts and panarchies in regional scale social-ecological water systems

Authors

Lance Gunderson, Emory UniversityFollow
Barbara Cosens, University of Idaho, College of LawFollow
Brian C. Chaffin, University of MontanaFollow
Craig Anthony (Tony) Arnold, University of Louisville Brandeis School of LawFollow
Alexander K. Fremier, Washington State UniversityFollow
Ahjond S. Garmestani, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyFollow
Robin Kundis Craig, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of UtahFollow
Hannah Gosnell, Oregon State UniversityFollow
Hannah E. Birge, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Craig R. Allen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Melinda Harm Benson, University of New Mexico - Main CampusFollow
Ryan R. Morrison, Colorado State UniversityFollow
Mark C. Stone, University of New MexicoFollow
Joseph Hamm, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Kristine Nemec, University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie CenterFollow
Edella C. Schlager, University of ArizonaFollow
Dagmar Llewellyn, University of New MexicoFollow

Date of this Version

5-15-2017

Citation

2017 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance.

Comments

Gunderson, L., B. A. Cosens, B. C. Chaffin, C. A. (T.) Arnold, A. K. Fremier, A. S. Garmestani, R. K. Craig, H. Gosnell, H. E. Birge, C. R. Allen, M. H. Benson, R. R. Morrison, M. C. Stone, J. A. Hamm, K. Nemec, E. Schlager, and D. Llewellyn. 2017. Regime shifts and panarchies in regional scale social-ecological water systems. Ecology and Society 22(1):31. https://doi.org/10.5751/ ES-08879-220131

Abstract

In this article we summarize histories of nonlinear, complex interactions among societal, legal, and ecosystem dynamics in six North American water basins, as they respond to changing climate. These case studies were chosen to explore the conditions for emergence of adaptive governance in heavily regulated and developed social-ecological systems nested within a hierarchical governmental system. We summarize resilience assessments conducted in each system to provide a synthesis and reference by the other articles in this special feature. We also present a general framework used to evaluate the interactions between society and ecosystem regimes and the governance regimes chosen to mediate those interactions. The case studies show different ways that adaptive governance may be triggered, facilitated, or constrained by ecological and/or legal processes. The resilience assessments indicate that complex interactions among the governance and ecosystem components of these systems can produce different trajectories, which include patterns of (a) development and stabilization, (b) cycles of crisis and recovery, which includes lurches in adaptation and learning, and (3) periods of innovation, novelty, and transformation. Exploration of cross scale (Panarchy) interactions among levels and sectors of government and society illustrate that they may constrain development trajectories, but may also provide stability during crisis or innovation at smaller scales; create crises, but may also facilitate recovery; and constrain system transformation, but may also provide windows of opportunity in which transformation, and the resources to accomplish it, may occur. The framework is the starting point for our exploration of how law might play a role in enhancing the capacity of social-ecological systems to adapt to climate change.