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Despite being among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, coral reefs face ongoing threats that could negatively impact the human populations who depend on them. The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) collects and monitors data on various aspects of U.S. coral reefs to provide a holistic understanding of the status of the reefs and adjacent human communities. This paper explores results from the NCRMP’s first socioeconomic monitoring cycle using an ecosystem services framework and examines how these results can be used to improve coral reef management in the following U.S. coral reef jurisdictions: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida, Guam, Hawai’i, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Results suggest that residents in the U.S. Pacific coral reef basin may hold stronger cultural and provisioning values, whereas residents in the U.S. Atlantic coral reef basin may hold stronger regulating values. These findings suggest that outreach efforts have been successful in communicating benefits provided by coral reef ecosystems to the public. They also provide insight into which ecosystem services are valued in each jurisdiction, allowing resource managers to make science-based decisions about how to communicate conservation and management initiatives.
Mary Allen; Chloe Fleming; Sarah Gonyo; Erica Towle; Maria Dillard; Arielle Levine; Matt Gorstein; Jarrod Loerzel; Seann Regan; Ben Zito; Peter Edwards. Resident Perceptions of Ecosystem Services Provided by U.S. Coral Reefs: Highlights from the First Cycle of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program’s Socioeconomic Survey. Water 2021, 13, 2081 .
AMA StyleMary Allen, Chloe Fleming, Sarah Gonyo, Erica Towle, Maria Dillard, Arielle Levine, Matt Gorstein, Jarrod Loerzel, Seann Regan, Ben Zito, Peter Edwards. Resident Perceptions of Ecosystem Services Provided by U.S. Coral Reefs: Highlights from the First Cycle of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program’s Socioeconomic Survey. Water. 2021; 13 (15):2081.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMary Allen; Chloe Fleming; Sarah Gonyo; Erica Towle; Maria Dillard; Arielle Levine; Matt Gorstein; Jarrod Loerzel; Seann Regan; Ben Zito; Peter Edwards. 2021. "Resident Perceptions of Ecosystem Services Provided by U.S. Coral Reefs: Highlights from the First Cycle of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program’s Socioeconomic Survey." Water 13, no. 15: 2081.
Coastal urbanization and the recovery of many marine species has caused human interactions with marine wildlife to become more common, sometimes resulting in conflict. In La Jolla, CA, the increasing presence of Pacific harbor seals at Children’s Pool Beach (CPB) resulted in a 25 year conflict over appropriate beach use. Drawing on archival analysis, stakeholder interviews, and beach-goer surveys, we present a history of the conflict and explore the drivers that have enabled the conflict’s escalation and endurance. Many factors influence people’s polarized views about seals at CPB, including personal values and sense of identity, differing perceptions of what is “natural” at CPB, the threat of change and loss of beach access, and underlying inter-personal conflict. Politicization and inaction during the early stages of the conflict also precluded conflict resolution and contributed the conflict’s escalation. While overt conflict has decreased in recent years, polarized views about seals at CPB and legal challenges continue. In order to prevent conflict escalation and persistence, it is important that coastal managers work to address conflict over marine wildlife early and decisively. We present suggestions regarding minimally controversial management measures that could be undertaken early in a conflict, and suggest that managers prioritize commonly held values to facilitate stakeholder dialogue. While it may not be possible to generate solutions that appeal to all stakeholders, understanding the values and cultural frameworks driving conflict is an important first step toward understanding and generating workable solutions to conflict over wildlife.
Leilani Konrad; Arielle Levine. Controversy over beach access restrictions at an urban coastal seal rookery: Exploring the drivers of conflict escalation and endurance at Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla, CA. Marine Policy 2021, 132, 104659 .
AMA StyleLeilani Konrad, Arielle Levine. Controversy over beach access restrictions at an urban coastal seal rookery: Exploring the drivers of conflict escalation and endurance at Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla, CA. Marine Policy. 2021; 132 ():104659.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeilani Konrad; Arielle Levine. 2021. "Controversy over beach access restrictions at an urban coastal seal rookery: Exploring the drivers of conflict escalation and endurance at Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla, CA." Marine Policy 132, no. : 104659.
Given increasing concerns about the persistence and toxic effects of some sunscreen ingredients in aquatic ecosystems, several states, territories, and nations have banned the sale and/or possession of sunscreens containing chemicals of concern. Little is known, however, about the outcomes or effectiveness of these efforts to reduce the prevalence of toxic chemicals in coastal waters. This article reviews the state of knowledge relating to regulatory and other efforts to reduce the impact of chemical ingredients in sunscreens on aquatic ecosystems, focusing on the following questions: To what extent will local legislative restrictions on ingredients actually reduce the concentrations of chemicals in coastal waters and protect aquatic health? Do these legislative measures effectively decrease overall public use of sunscreens containing potentially harmful ingredients, or would other measures, such as local outreach programs, consumer education, or broader‐scale ingredient regulation be more effective? How might restrictions on chemical UV filters impact human health? While it is still early to assess the outcomes of recent ingredient bans, their effectiveness is limited by the fact that legislation generally applies only to sunscreens sold within the legislating jurisdiction. Public awareness campaigns can be locally effective, but are hindered by the absence of clear environmental labelling standards for sunscreen. While retail and industry groups, and many dermatologists, cite concerns that sunscreen ingredient bans might lead to increased incidences of skin cancer, consumer preferences are influenced by a wide range of factors and no studies clearly document whether restrictions on chemical ingredients will cause people to use sun protection less frequently or less effectively. Until more information is available, many consider it prudent to take a precautionary approach to sunscreen regulation supported by broad scale, consistent regulatory policies and labelling standards that limit chemical ingredients to those considered safe for human use and ecosystem health.
Arielle Levine. Reducing the prevalence of chemical UV filters from sunscreen in aquatic environments: Regulatory, public awareness, and other considerations. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 2021, 17, 982 -988.
AMA StyleArielle Levine. Reducing the prevalence of chemical UV filters from sunscreen in aquatic environments: Regulatory, public awareness, and other considerations. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. 2021; 17 (5):982-988.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArielle Levine. 2021. "Reducing the prevalence of chemical UV filters from sunscreen in aquatic environments: Regulatory, public awareness, and other considerations." Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 17, no. 5: 982-988.
The ecosystem services concept has emerged as a guiding principle in natural resource management over the past two decades, and an ecosystem services approach to management is currently mandated as a core element of United States National Forest planning. However, the concept of ecosystem services has been interpreted and operationalized in a variety of ways, leaving a pronounced knowledge gap regarding how it is understood and implemented in different contexts. To better understand the conceptualization and implementation of the concept within United States National Forests, semi-structured interviews with planners and managers of the Pacific Northwest Region were conducted at the region, forest, and ranger district levels, addressing the following topics: (1) how has the ecosystem services concept been perceived by managers and planners?; (2) what are the perceived key ecosystem services offered by National Forest lands?; (3) how has the concept been applied at multiple spatial scales?; and (4) what are perceived challenges or opportunities related to applying the concept in the National Forest context? Results indicate that although participants had a high level of understanding of the ecosystem services concept, there was not a clear, widely adopted approach to considering ecosystem services in management. Through qualitative analysis, three general perspectives arose: one employed the concept to fulfill regulatory requirements at the National Forest scale, a second engaged with ecosystem services to improve participatory planning at the project scale, and a third, business as usual perspective, considered ecosystem services as new language for describing longstanding National Forest priorities. These results draw attention to the challenges of implementing an ecosystem services-based approach in the United States National Forest context and the continued need for the development of management-relevant methods for describing and quantifying ecosystem services.
Stephen Crook; Arielle Levine; David Lopez-Carr. Perceptions and Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach among Pacific Northwest National Forest Managers. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1259 .
AMA StyleStephen Crook, Arielle Levine, David Lopez-Carr. Perceptions and Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach among Pacific Northwest National Forest Managers. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (3):1259.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen Crook; Arielle Levine; David Lopez-Carr. 2021. "Perceptions and Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach among Pacific Northwest National Forest Managers." Sustainability 13, no. 3: 1259.
Using the Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, this paper proposes indicators to measure human activities affecting three surf breaks located within Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve (BTSWSR) in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. To develop these indicators, a learning community was formed where interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams gathered information through document analysis, participatory methods (transect walks, focus groups, problem tree, participatory mapping) and participant observations of the actions undertaken by the BTSWSR Local Stewardship Council, between 2015 and 2018. Together, academics, surfers and decision makers defined the parameters and criteria for the assessment of surf breaks, developing a set of indicators that drew on both qualitative and quantitative data. These indicators enabled the identification of specific anthropogenic activities affecting surf breaks, their impact on the environment, and actual or possible responses to human activities. DPSIR indicators enabled comparison of states and trends in different surf sites, allowed BTSWSR co-managers to focus on critical issues in need of attention at each surf break, and facilitated the development of specific strategies for an Adaptive Co-management plan at BTSWSR. This model could be adapted to other surf breaks around the world, providing new strategies for conservation and management of surf zones and contributing to global marine conservation efforts.
Mara Arroyo; Arielle Levine; Ludger Brenner; Georges Seingier; Claudia Leyva; Ileana Espejel. Indicators to measure pressure, state, impact and responses of surf breaks: The case of Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve. Ocean & Coastal Management 2020, 194, 105252 .
AMA StyleMara Arroyo, Arielle Levine, Ludger Brenner, Georges Seingier, Claudia Leyva, Ileana Espejel. Indicators to measure pressure, state, impact and responses of surf breaks: The case of Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve. Ocean & Coastal Management. 2020; 194 ():105252.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMara Arroyo; Arielle Levine; Ludger Brenner; Georges Seingier; Claudia Leyva; Ileana Espejel. 2020. "Indicators to measure pressure, state, impact and responses of surf breaks: The case of Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve." Ocean & Coastal Management 194, no. : 105252.
Recent warnings from scientists suggest there is limited time to enact policies to avert wide‐ranging ecological and social damage from climate change. In the United States, discussions about comprehensive national policies to avert climate change have begun, with “Green New Deal” proposals and climate plans put forth by members of Congress and presidential candidates. Oceans are largely absent or separate from these nascent policy proposals. Here, we highlight a policy framework to develop terrestrial and ocean‐integrated policies that can complement and enhance terrestrial‐focused initiatives focused on four specific sectors: 1) energy; 2) transportation; 3) food security; and 4) habitat restoration. Given political friction and constrained budgets, an integrated policy framework offers greater potential to achieve a portfolio of mitigation and adaptation goals in a cost‐effective manner, beyond what could be realized with marine or terrestrial policy solutions alone.
Steven J. Dundas; Arielle S. Levine; Rebecca L. Lewison; Angee N. Doerr; Crow White; Aaron W. E. Galloway; Corey Garza; Elliott L. Hazen; Jacqueline Padilla‐Gamiño; Jameal F. Samhouri; Ana Spalding; Adrian Stier; J. Wilson White. Integrating oceans into climate policy: Any green new deal needs a splash of blue. Conservation Letters 2020, 13, 1 .
AMA StyleSteven J. Dundas, Arielle S. Levine, Rebecca L. Lewison, Angee N. Doerr, Crow White, Aaron W. E. Galloway, Corey Garza, Elliott L. Hazen, Jacqueline Padilla‐Gamiño, Jameal F. Samhouri, Ana Spalding, Adrian Stier, J. Wilson White. Integrating oceans into climate policy: Any green new deal needs a splash of blue. Conservation Letters. 2020; 13 (5):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSteven J. Dundas; Arielle S. Levine; Rebecca L. Lewison; Angee N. Doerr; Crow White; Aaron W. E. Galloway; Corey Garza; Elliott L. Hazen; Jacqueline Padilla‐Gamiño; Jameal F. Samhouri; Ana Spalding; Adrian Stier; J. Wilson White. 2020. "Integrating oceans into climate policy: Any green new deal needs a splash of blue." Conservation Letters 13, no. 5: 1.
The state of Hawaii recently passed legislation banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals that have been documented to be harmful to coral reef ecosystems, beginning in 2021. However, little is currently known about the sunscreen use patterns of beach-goers in Hawaii. To gain more information about the potential effectiveness of the ban, we surveyed beach-goers to better understand: the prevalence of oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreens, the proportion of sunscreens that are purchased in Hawaii and out of state, what factors go into people's selection of sunscreens, awareness of the harmful effects these chemicals, and willingness to switch to “reef-safe” sunscreen alternatives. Slightly over half of sunscreens were purchased in the state of Hawaii, meaning that almost half of sunscreens being used will not be subject to the chemical ban. Approximately 75% of beach goers stated that they were aware of the harmful effects of some sunscreen chemicals, but nearly one-third still used sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate. While this study only documented the presence or absence of the two banned chemicals, the majority of sunscreens still contained other UV blocking chemicals or nano-sized mineral particles that are potentially detrimental to coral health. The majority of respondents stated that they would be willing to switch to reef safe sun protection alternatives, but this is hindered by respondents' lack of knowledge about which chemicals they should avoid. Clear and consistent “reef safe” labeling standards would enable individuals to make more informed sunscreen purchasing decisions.
Arielle Levine. Sunscreen use and awareness of chemical toxicity among beach goers in Hawaii prior to a ban on the sale of sunscreens containing ingredients found to be toxic to coral reef ecosystems. Marine Policy 2020, 117, 103875 .
AMA StyleArielle Levine. Sunscreen use and awareness of chemical toxicity among beach goers in Hawaii prior to a ban on the sale of sunscreens containing ingredients found to be toxic to coral reef ecosystems. Marine Policy. 2020; 117 ():103875.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArielle Levine. 2020. "Sunscreen use and awareness of chemical toxicity among beach goers in Hawaii prior to a ban on the sale of sunscreens containing ingredients found to be toxic to coral reef ecosystems." Marine Policy 117, no. : 103875.
This paper combines the Social-Ecological System (SES), the Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) and Adaptive Co-management frameworks to provide practical guidelines to address environmental issues facing surf breaks. We applied these frameworks to Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve (BTSWSR), located in Ensenada, Baja California in northern Mexico. We gathered information through a literature review and a review of activities undertaken by the BTSWSR Local Stewardship Council (LSC) together with the local community (Ensenada town), regional and international environmental organizations, and government agencies. We also conducted participatory meetings with different stakeholders between 2014 and 2017. The SES framework provides the analytical perspective to have a better understanding of the multiple interactions among elements of the social and ecological systems to influence the opportunities for conservation strategies. DPSIR allows us to identify specific anthropogenic pressures threatening surf breaks within BTSWSR, their impact on the environment, and actual or possible responses to human activities, facilitating the development of an adaptive co-management plan. By combining these frameworks, we were able to describe the interactions between human and natural systems in BTSWSR, and we provide initial directions to improve the understanding of the anthropogenic activities affecting surf breaks, and targeted responses to address environmental impacts to the system. The surf break conservation and management framework presented in this paper is based on a transdisciplinary approach that emphases the need to address socio-environmental issues through openness to new forms of scientific and place-based knowledge.
Mara Arroyo; Arielle Levine; Ileana Espejel. A transdisciplinary framework proposal for surf break conservation and management: Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve. Ocean & Coastal Management 2018, 168, 197 -211.
AMA StyleMara Arroyo, Arielle Levine, Ileana Espejel. A transdisciplinary framework proposal for surf break conservation and management: Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve. Ocean & Coastal Management. 2018; 168 ():197-211.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMara Arroyo; Arielle Levine; Ileana Espejel. 2018. "A transdisciplinary framework proposal for surf break conservation and management: Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve." Ocean & Coastal Management 168, no. : 197-211.
Tropical coral reef ecosystems in the Pacific region are degrading rapidly as ocean temperatures rise and local anthropogenic stressors increase. In this context of rapid change, effective site-based management of coral reef fisheries necessitates flexible environmental governance that is closely attuned to the needs of multiple stakeholders who depend on the fishery for income, food, and cultural identity. As such, many practitioners and scholars call for adaptive co-management of coral reef fisheries where local resource users play a primary role in environmental governance with the support of flexible institutions that operate across organizational scales. This article describes the history and evaluates the current status of marine governance in Moorea, French Polynesia. Established in 2004, the management framework is under revision because it has failed to meet its ecological objectives and has generated discontent among many stakeholders. Drawing on household surveys, interviews, and archival information, the challenges to as well as the factors that may enable a more successful transition of the current governance arrangement towards co-management are detailed. It is argued that recent social mobilization, subsistence and cultural links to the fishery, the presence of geographically and socially relevant traditional governance boundaries, and the implementation of co-management in other parts of French Polynesia are positive factors. However, lack of trust between stakeholders, social heterogeneity, disruption of traditional cultural institutions and practices, minimal institutional support, and an uncertain legal framework suggest that there are significant headwinds for maneuvering towards successful co-management in Moorea.
Chelsea Hunter; Matthew Lauer; Arielle Levine; Sally Holbrook; Andrew Rassweiler. Maneuvering towards adaptive co-management in a coral reef fishery. Marine Policy 2018, 98, 77 -84.
AMA StyleChelsea Hunter, Matthew Lauer, Arielle Levine, Sally Holbrook, Andrew Rassweiler. Maneuvering towards adaptive co-management in a coral reef fishery. Marine Policy. 2018; 98 ():77-84.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChelsea Hunter; Matthew Lauer; Arielle Levine; Sally Holbrook; Andrew Rassweiler. 2018. "Maneuvering towards adaptive co-management in a coral reef fishery." Marine Policy 98, no. : 77-84.
Comanagement of natural resources is a well-established approach to the management of common-pool resources such as small-scale fisheries, operating in multiple contexts and settings for over two decades. These programs are expected to be adaptable and promote social and ecological benefits, such as sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity goals. As programs mature, it is important to consider how some core principles of comanagement have manifested in practice, as well as whether they deliver on these promised benefits. Drawing from the conservation, small-scale fisheries, and fisheries management literature, this paper examines three fundamental principles of fisheries comanagement: participation, equity, and power. The conceptualization, definitions, and measures of each theme are presented, with discussion of the current gaps in the literature. We also demonstrate the deep interrelationships between these key dimensions of comanagement, and the need for greater attention to their combined influence on comanagement outcomes and processes. While the literature offers foundational ideas for incorporating these themes into fisheries comanagement practice, tethering these concepts to clear, but context-specific goals and practices is essential for improving social outcomes. We find that key goals of fisheries comanagement could be impeded by the lack of depth in addressing these themes in practice, and suggest the need for greater critical attention to their expressions in comanagement processes.
Barbara Quimby; Arielle Levine. Participation, Power, and Equity: Examining Three Key Social Dimensions of Fisheries Comanagement. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3324 .
AMA StyleBarbara Quimby, Arielle Levine. Participation, Power, and Equity: Examining Three Key Social Dimensions of Fisheries Comanagement. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (9):3324.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBarbara Quimby; Arielle Levine. 2018. "Participation, Power, and Equity: Examining Three Key Social Dimensions of Fisheries Comanagement." Sustainability 10, no. 9: 3324.
Introduction: Interrelated social and ecological challenges demand an understanding of how environmental change and management decisions affect human well-being. This paper outlines a framework for measuring human well-being for ecosystem-based management (EBM). We present a prototype that can be adapted and developed for various scales and contexts. Scientists and managers use indicators to assess status and trends in integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs). To improve the social science rigor and success of EBM, we developed a systematic and transparent approach for evaluating indicators of human well-being for an IEA. Methods: Our process is based on a comprehensive conceptualization of human well-being, a scalable analysis of management priorities, and a set of indicator screening criteria tailored to the needs of EBM. We tested our approach by evaluating more than 2000 existing social indicators related to ocean and coastal management of the US West Coast. We focused on two foundational attributes of human well-being: resource access and self-determination. Outcomes and Discussion: Our results suggest that existing indicators and data are limited in their ability to reflect linkages between environmental change and human well-being, and extremely limited in their ability to assess social equity and justice. We reveal a critical need for new social indicators tailored to answer environmental questions and new data that are disaggregated by social variables to measure equity. In both, we stress the importance of collaborating with the people whose well-being is to be assessed. Conclusion: Our framework is designed to encourage governments and communities to carefully assess the complex tradeoffs inherent in environmental decision-making.
Sara Jo Breslow; Margaret Allen; Danielle Holstein; Brit Sojka; Raz Barnea; Xavier Basurto; Courtney Carothers; Susan Charnley; Sarah Coulthard; Nives Dolšak; Jamie Donatuto; Carlos García-Quijano; Christina Hicks; Arielle Levine; Michael Mascia; Karma Norman; Melissa Poe; Terre Satterfield; Kevin St. Martin; Phillip S. Levin. Evaluating indicators of human well-being for ecosystem-based management. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability 2017, 3, 1 -18.
AMA StyleSara Jo Breslow, Margaret Allen, Danielle Holstein, Brit Sojka, Raz Barnea, Xavier Basurto, Courtney Carothers, Susan Charnley, Sarah Coulthard, Nives Dolšak, Jamie Donatuto, Carlos García-Quijano, Christina Hicks, Arielle Levine, Michael Mascia, Karma Norman, Melissa Poe, Terre Satterfield, Kevin St. Martin, Phillip S. Levin. Evaluating indicators of human well-being for ecosystem-based management. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 2017; 3 (12):1-18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Jo Breslow; Margaret Allen; Danielle Holstein; Brit Sojka; Raz Barnea; Xavier Basurto; Courtney Carothers; Susan Charnley; Sarah Coulthard; Nives Dolšak; Jamie Donatuto; Carlos García-Quijano; Christina Hicks; Arielle Levine; Michael Mascia; Karma Norman; Melissa Poe; Terre Satterfield; Kevin St. Martin; Phillip S. Levin. 2017. "Evaluating indicators of human well-being for ecosystem-based management." Ecosystem Health and Sustainability 3, no. 12: 1-18.
Citizen science programs monitoring ecosystems and natural resources are promoted for their potential to foster environmental awareness and stewardship. We surveyed volunteers in natural resource monitoring programs to determine whether they perceived changes in their environmental attitudes and decision-making. The majority of participants perceived changes in their attitude toward the resource being monitored, but not in their decision-making toward the resource they monitored or toward the environment more broadly. While the resources volunteers monitored in this study were diverse, program volunteers themselves were not. Participants were largely white, older, affluent, well-educated, held strong preexisting environmental attitudes, and were involved in other conservation, research, or management efforts. While engaging this narrow range of self-selected volunteers has the potential to reinforce existing pro-environmental attitudes through strengthening social networks, citizen science programs can increase their potential to promote attitude and behavioral change by making a concerted effort to engage a more diverse “citizenry.”
Sarah K. Chase; Arielle Levine. Citizen Science: Exploring the Potential of Natural Resource Monitoring Programs to Influence Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors. Conservation Letters 2017, 11, e12382 .
AMA StyleSarah K. Chase, Arielle Levine. Citizen Science: Exploring the Potential of Natural Resource Monitoring Programs to Influence Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors. Conservation Letters. 2017; 11 (2):e12382.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSarah K. Chase; Arielle Levine. 2017. "Citizen Science: Exploring the Potential of Natural Resource Monitoring Programs to Influence Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors." Conservation Letters 11, no. 2: e12382.
Increasing recognition of the human dimensions of natural resource management issues, and of social and ecological sustainability and resilience as being inter-related, highlights the importance of applying social science to natural resource management decision-making. Moreover, a number of laws and regulations require natural resource management agencies to consider the “best available science” (BAS) when making decisions, including social science. Yet rarely do these laws and regulations define or identify standards for BAS, and those who have tried to fill the gap have done so from the standpoint of best available natural science. This paper proposes evaluative criteria for best available social science (BASS), explaining why a broader set of criteria than those used for natural science is needed. Although the natural and social sciences share many of the same evaluative criteria for BAS, they also exhibit some differences, especially where qualitative social science is concerned. Thus we argue that the evaluative criteria for BAS should expand to include those associated with diverse social science disciplines, particularly the qualitative social sciences. We provide one example from the USA of how a federal agency − the U.S. Forest Service − has attempted to incorporate BASS in responding to its BAS mandate associated with the national forest planning process, drawing on different types of scientific information and in light of these criteria. Greater attention to including BASS in natural resource management decision-making can contribute to better, more equitable, and more defensible management decisions and policies
Susan Charnley; Courtney Carothers; Terre Satterfield; Arielle Levine; Melissa R. Poe; Karma Norman; Jamie Donatuto; Sara Jo Breslow; Michael Mascia; Phillip S. Levin; Xavier Basurto; Christina Hicks; Carlos García-Quijano; Kevin St. Martin. Evaluating the best available social science for natural resource management decision-making. Environmental Science & Policy 2017, 73, 80 -88.
AMA StyleSusan Charnley, Courtney Carothers, Terre Satterfield, Arielle Levine, Melissa R. Poe, Karma Norman, Jamie Donatuto, Sara Jo Breslow, Michael Mascia, Phillip S. Levin, Xavier Basurto, Christina Hicks, Carlos García-Quijano, Kevin St. Martin. Evaluating the best available social science for natural resource management decision-making. Environmental Science & Policy. 2017; 73 ():80-88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusan Charnley; Courtney Carothers; Terre Satterfield; Arielle Levine; Melissa R. Poe; Karma Norman; Jamie Donatuto; Sara Jo Breslow; Michael Mascia; Phillip S. Levin; Xavier Basurto; Christina Hicks; Carlos García-Quijano; Kevin St. Martin. 2017. "Evaluating the best available social science for natural resource management decision-making." Environmental Science & Policy 73, no. : 80-88.
Kathleen A. Farley; Kyle C. Walsh; Arielle S. Levine. Opportunities and obstacles for rangeland conservation in San Diego County, California, USA. Ecology and Society 2017, 22, 1 .
AMA StyleKathleen A. Farley, Kyle C. Walsh, Arielle S. Levine. Opportunities and obstacles for rangeland conservation in San Diego County, California, USA. Ecology and Society. 2017; 22 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKathleen A. Farley; Kyle C. Walsh; Arielle S. Levine. 2017. "Opportunities and obstacles for rangeland conservation in San Diego County, California, USA." Ecology and Society 22, no. 1: 1.
There is growing interest in assessing the effects of changing environmental conditions and management actions on human wellbeing. A challenge is to translate social science expertise regarding these relationships into terms usable by environmental scientists, policymakers, and managers. Here, we present a comprehensive, structured, and transparent conceptual framework of human wellbeing designed to guide the development of indicators and a complementary social science research agenda for ecosystem-based management. Our framework grew out of an effort to develop social indicators for an integrated ecosystem assessment (IEA) of the California Current large marine ecosystem. Drawing from scholarship in international development, anthropology, geography, and political science, we define human wellbeing as a state of being with others and the environment, which arises when human needs are met, when individuals and communities can act meaningfully to pursue their goals, and when individuals and communities enjoy a satisfactory quality of life. We propose four major social science-based constituents of wellbeing: connections, capabilities, conditions, and cross-cutting domains. The latter includes the domains of equity and justice, security, resilience, and sustainability, which may be assessed through cross-cutting analyses of other constituents. We outline a process for identifying policy-relevant attributes of wellbeing that can guide ecosystem assessments. To operationalize the framework, we provide a detailed table of attributes and a large database of available indicators, which may be used to develop measures suited to a variety of management needs and social goals. Finally, we discuss four guidelines for operationalizing human wellbeing measures in ecosystem assessments, including considerations for context, feasibility, indicators and research, and social difference. Developed for the U.S. west coast, the framework may be adapted for other regions, management needs, and scales with appropriate modifications
Sara Jo Breslow; Brit Sojka; Raz Barnea; Xavier Basurto; Courtney Carothers; Susan Charnley; Sarah Coulthard; Nives Dolšak; Jamie Donatuto; Carlos García-Quijano; Christina Hicks; Arielle Levine; Michael Mascia; Karma Norman; Melissa Poe; Terre Satterfield; Kevin St. Martin; Phillip S. Levin. Conceptualizing and operationalizing human wellbeing for ecosystem assessment and management. Environmental Science & Policy 2016, 66, 250 -259.
AMA StyleSara Jo Breslow, Brit Sojka, Raz Barnea, Xavier Basurto, Courtney Carothers, Susan Charnley, Sarah Coulthard, Nives Dolšak, Jamie Donatuto, Carlos García-Quijano, Christina Hicks, Arielle Levine, Michael Mascia, Karma Norman, Melissa Poe, Terre Satterfield, Kevin St. Martin, Phillip S. Levin. Conceptualizing and operationalizing human wellbeing for ecosystem assessment and management. Environmental Science & Policy. 2016; 66 ():250-259.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Jo Breslow; Brit Sojka; Raz Barnea; Xavier Basurto; Courtney Carothers; Susan Charnley; Sarah Coulthard; Nives Dolšak; Jamie Donatuto; Carlos García-Quijano; Christina Hicks; Arielle Levine; Michael Mascia; Karma Norman; Melissa Poe; Terre Satterfield; Kevin St. Martin; Phillip S. Levin. 2016. "Conceptualizing and operationalizing human wellbeing for ecosystem assessment and management." Environmental Science & Policy 66, no. : 250-259.
We present a framework of resource characteristics critical to the design and assessment of citizen science programs that monitor natural resources. To develop the framework we reviewed 52 citizen science programs that monitored a wide range of resources and provided insights into what resource characteristics are most conducive to developing citizen science programs and how resource characteristics may constrain the use or growth of these programs. We focused on 4 types of resource characteristics: biophysical and geographical, management and monitoring, public awareness and knowledge, and social and cultural characteristics. We applied the framework to 2 programs, the Tucson (U.S.A.) Bird Count and the Maui (U.S.A.) Great Whale Count. We found that resource characteristics such as accessibility, diverse institutional involvement in resource management, and social or cultural importance of the resource affected program endurance and success. However, the relative influence of each characteristic was in turn affected by goals of the citizen science programs. Although the goals of public engagement and education sometimes complimented the goal of collecting reliable data, in many cases trade-offs must be made between these 2 goals. Program goals and priorities ultimately dictate the design of citizen science programs, but for a program to endure and successfully meet its goals, program managers must consider the diverse ways that the nature of the resource being monitored influences public participation in monitoring.Un Marco de Referencia para la Evaluación y el Diseño de Programas de Ciencia Ciudadana para el Monitoreo de Recursos NaturalesResumenPresentamos un marco de referencia de las características críticas para el diseño y la evaluación de los programas de ciencia ciudadana que monitorean los recursos naturales. Para desarrollar el marco de referencia, revisamos 52 programas de ciencia ciudadana que monitoreaban una extensa gama de recursos y proporcionaban conocimiento sobre cuáles características fuente son más conducentes a desarrollar programas de ciencia ciudadana y cómo las características fuente pueden restringir el uso o el crecimiento de estos programas. Nos enfocamos en cuatro tipos de características fuente: biofísicas y geográficas, de manejo y monitoreo, percatación y conocimiento ciudadano y características sociales y culturales. Aplicamos el marco de trabajo a dos programas: en Conteo de Aves de Tucson (E.U.A) y el Conteo de Grandes Ballenas de Maui (E.U.A). Encontramos que las características fuente, como la accesibilidad, el involucramiento institucional diverso y la importancia social o cultural del recurso, afectaban al éxito del programa. Sin embargo, la influencia relativa de cada característica fue a su vez afectada por las metas de los programas de ciencia ciudadana. Aunque las metas de compromiso público y de educación algunas veces complementan al objetivo de recolección de datos fiables, en muchos casos se deben realizar compensaciones entre estas dos metas. Las metas y prioridades de los programas dictan finalmente el diseño de los programas de ciencia ciudadana pero para que un programa perdure y consiga exitosamente sus metas, quienes manejan los programas deben considerar las formas diversas en las que la naturaleza del recurso monitoreado influye sobre la participación pública en el monitoreo.
Sarah K. Chase; Arielle Levine. A framework for evaluating and designing citizen science programs for natural resources monitoring. Conservation Biology 2016, 30, 456 -466.
AMA StyleSarah K. Chase, Arielle Levine. A framework for evaluating and designing citizen science programs for natural resources monitoring. Conservation Biology. 2016; 30 (3):456-466.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSarah K. Chase; Arielle Levine. 2016. "A framework for evaluating and designing citizen science programs for natural resources monitoring." Conservation Biology 30, no. 3: 456-466.
With humans altering climate processes, biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem functions (1), governments and societies confront the challenge of shaping a sustainable future for people and nature. Policies and practices to address these challenges must draw on social sciences, along with natural sciences and engineering (2). Although various social science approaches can enable and assess progress toward sustainability, debate about such concrete engagement is outpacing actual use. To catalyze uptake, we identify seven key social concepts that are largely absent from many efforts to pursue sustainability goals. We present existing and emerging well-tested indicators and propose priority areas for conceptual and methodological development
Christina C. Hicks; Arielle Levine; Arun Agrawal; Xavier Basurto; Sara J. Breslow; Courtney Carothers; Susan Charnley; Sarah Coulthard; Nives Dolsak; Jamie Donatuto; Carlos Garcia-Quijano; Michael B. Mascia; Karma Norman; Melissa R. Poe; Terre Satterfield; Kevin St. Martin; Phillip S. Levin. Engage key social concepts for sustainability. Science 2016, 352, 38 -40.
AMA StyleChristina C. Hicks, Arielle Levine, Arun Agrawal, Xavier Basurto, Sara J. Breslow, Courtney Carothers, Susan Charnley, Sarah Coulthard, Nives Dolsak, Jamie Donatuto, Carlos Garcia-Quijano, Michael B. Mascia, Karma Norman, Melissa R. Poe, Terre Satterfield, Kevin St. Martin, Phillip S. Levin. Engage key social concepts for sustainability. Science. 2016; 352 (6281):38-40.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristina C. Hicks; Arielle Levine; Arun Agrawal; Xavier Basurto; Sara J. Breslow; Courtney Carothers; Susan Charnley; Sarah Coulthard; Nives Dolsak; Jamie Donatuto; Carlos Garcia-Quijano; Michael B. Mascia; Karma Norman; Melissa R. Poe; Terre Satterfield; Kevin St. Martin; Phillip S. Levin. 2016. "Engage key social concepts for sustainability." Science 352, no. 6281: 38-40.
Arielle Levine; Laurie Richmond. Using common-pool resource design principles to assess the viability of community-based fisheries co-management systems in American Samoa and Hawai’i. Marine Policy 2015, 62, 9 -17.
AMA StyleArielle Levine, Laurie Richmond. Using common-pool resource design principles to assess the viability of community-based fisheries co-management systems in American Samoa and Hawai’i. Marine Policy. 2015; 62 ():9-17.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArielle Levine; Laurie Richmond. 2015. "Using common-pool resource design principles to assess the viability of community-based fisheries co-management systems in American Samoa and Hawai’i." Marine Policy 62, no. : 9-17.
Marine resource management programs face conflicting mandates: to scale-up marine conservation efforts to cover larger areas and meet national and international conservation targets, while simultaneously to downscale and decentralize management authority to resource users and local communities. These conflicting goals create tensions in marine resource management. This paper explores these tensions by presenting and evaluating the outcomes of a fisheries co-management program on the island of Pemba, Tanzania, where institutions and scale were configured and reconfigured under externally funded programs to improve marine conservation through co-management. The initial institutional arrangements for co-management supported a functioning system to protect marine resources, ensure fishermen’s access, and distribute tourism revenues. However, a subsequent push to scale-up marine management reconfigured institutional arrangements and power in a more hierarchical and potentially weaker system. With the expansion of the co-management program, protected area coverage, financial resources, and the number of community organizations created for fisheries co-management expanded tremendously; however, community participation in marine management decreased, and the fishermen’s association previously involved in co-management dissolved. Several factors contributed to this outcome: inadequate time to solidify co-management institutions and arrangements, diverse resource users inexperienced with local management, a sudden and substantial new source of funding, and political pressures to restructure marine management. Rather than focusing primarily on expanding coverage and devolving authority, it is important to adapt co-management arrangements to the local contexts in which they operate.
Arielle Levine. The development and unraveling of marine resource co-management in the Pemba Channel, Zanzibar: institutions, governance, and the politics of scale. Regional Environmental Change 2015, 16, 1279 -1291.
AMA StyleArielle Levine. The development and unraveling of marine resource co-management in the Pemba Channel, Zanzibar: institutions, governance, and the politics of scale. Regional Environmental Change. 2015; 16 (5):1279-1291.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArielle Levine. 2015. "The development and unraveling of marine resource co-management in the Pemba Channel, Zanzibar: institutions, governance, and the politics of scale." Regional Environmental Change 16, no. 5: 1279-1291.
Arielle Sarah Levine; Christine Loftus Feinholz. Participatory GIS to inform coral reef ecosystem management: Mapping human coastal and ocean uses in Hawaii. Applied Geography 2015, 59, 60 -69.
AMA StyleArielle Sarah Levine, Christine Loftus Feinholz. Participatory GIS to inform coral reef ecosystem management: Mapping human coastal and ocean uses in Hawaii. Applied Geography. 2015; 59 ():60-69.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArielle Sarah Levine; Christine Loftus Feinholz. 2015. "Participatory GIS to inform coral reef ecosystem management: Mapping human coastal and ocean uses in Hawaii." Applied Geography 59, no. : 60-69.