Socioecological

Socioecological refers to an approach or perspective that treats social and ecological systems as deeply interconnected and co dependent. It emphasizes that human societies and natural environments influence one another and that outcomes in one domain arise from feedbacks across ecological, social, and economic processes. The term is used across disciplines such as ecology, sociology, geography, public health, and urban planning.

The concept has roots in the study of social-ecological systems and resilience. The framework of coupled human and natural systems, developed by scholars like Fikret Berkes, Carl Folke, and Elinor Ostrom, highlights how institutions, culture, economies, and biophysical processes interact and evolve. It underlines that social practices and ecological conditions shape each other over time, often in non-linear and context-specific ways.

Core ideas include coupling and co-evolution of social and ecological processes, resilience and adaptive capacity, and governance that can respond to changing conditions. It also emphasizes ecosystem services, multi-level interactions, cross-scale feedbacks, and the need for integrative, participatory approaches to management and policy. The perspective advocates interdisciplinary collaboration and adaptive, flexible strategies to sustain both human well-being and ecological integrity.

Applications of the socioecological perspective appear in environmental management, climate adaptation, urban sustainability, and public health planning. Examples include ecosystem-based resource governance (such as fisheries and watersheds), urban green infrastructure, community-led conservation, and health interventions that consider environmental determinants. The framework supports evaluating trade-offs and opportunities across social and ecological domains to promote sustainable development.