Exploring Resilience in Social-Ecological Systems

by Brian H. Walker, John M. Anderies, Ann P. Kinzig

The capacity of an ecosystem to tolerate disturbance - without collapsing into a qualitatively different state controlled by a different set of processes - is known as ecosystem resilience. A resilient ecosystem can: undergo some change and still retain the same controls on function and structure; is capable of a degree of self-organisation; and has the ability to build and increase its capacity for learning and adaptation. Written by some of the leading international thinkers in the field, "Exploring Resilience in Social-Ecological Systems" provides a state-of-the-science account of resilience theory and some fascinating insights into the subject.

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2006