Abstract:
Effectively governing natural resources remains a fundamental and enduring challenge. Untangling the numerous social-ecological interdependencies in the context of management has proved difficult, and understanding how different patterns of connections affect management outcomes is poorly understood. A network perspective offers one promising approach to address this fundamental gap. Previous in-depth research in three marine reserves in Jamaica provides the empirical foundation. Through a series of four related studies I will illustrate how an interdisciplinary and integrated approach that leverages a suite of network analysis and modeling methods provides key insights into network structures, interactions, and interdependencies that may enhance and inhibit effective natural resource management in Jamaica.
Bio:
Dr. Steven Alexander is Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment and an Affiliated Researcher with the Environmental Change and Governance Group. He is an environmental social scientist studying the interplay between conservation, environmental change, and natural resource use. Dr. Alexander is particularly interested in applying novel multi-method and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand the relationship between diverse governance arrangements, managed ecosystems, and natural resource management outcomes.
