Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Human Wellbeing for Ecosystem-Based Management
Presentation Abstract
The wellness of people and nature are interdependent, and thus the notion of human wellbeing has taken root in conservation science. But what exactly is human wellbeing, how is it coupled with environmental change, and how might it be conceptualized for ecosystem assessments? This paper introduces a comprehensive, structured and transparent conceptual framework of human wellbeing designed to guide the development and analysis of indicators for ecosystem-based management. 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. To operationalize the framework, we outline a process for identifying policy-relevant attributes of wellbeing that can guide ecosystem assessments, and discuss issues regarding context, feasibility, indicators and data, and social difference. Developed for the US West coast, the framework may be adapted for other regions and scales, such as the Salish Sea, with appropriate modifications. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a tool to better link conservation strategies to interrelated improvements in human wellbeing.
Session Title
Integrating Social Science into Ecosystem-Based Management
Conference Track
People
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Well-being--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Ecosystem management--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Human Wellbeing for Ecosystem-Based Management
2016SSEC
The wellness of people and nature are interdependent, and thus the notion of human wellbeing has taken root in conservation science. But what exactly is human wellbeing, how is it coupled with environmental change, and how might it be conceptualized for ecosystem assessments? This paper introduces a comprehensive, structured and transparent conceptual framework of human wellbeing designed to guide the development and analysis of indicators for ecosystem-based management. 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. To operationalize the framework, we outline a process for identifying policy-relevant attributes of wellbeing that can guide ecosystem assessments, and discuss issues regarding context, feasibility, indicators and data, and social difference. Developed for the US West coast, the framework may be adapted for other regions and scales, such as the Salish Sea, with appropriate modifications. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a tool to better link conservation strategies to interrelated improvements in human wellbeing.
