| Modern society faces considerable environmental challenges in the 21st century. Meeting escalating human demands in the face of rising environmental degradation requires substantial reorganization of society's institutional structures. Such transformations typically require fundamental changes in worldviews and values. The emerging science of complex systems is reframing attitudes and approaches to ecosystem management. This dissertation uses a complex systems framework to explore several topical issues.;Chapter 2 examines conflicting scientific information in environmental disputes. Rather than resulting from flawed or fraudulent science, we use heuristic examples to show that conflicting findings may often result from the complex nature of environmental systems and the limitations of analytical tools. Using hierarchical Bayesian techniques we show that pooling multiple studies can enable refined understanding of ecosystems and better estimation of uncertainties.;Chapter 3 asks whether indicators of ecological regime shifts can provide sufficient warning to adapt management to avert regime shifts. Using a fisheries model, we show that large increases in regime shift indicators only occur once a shift is initiated, often too late for aversive management action. To be useful in averting shifts, we conclude that critical indicator levels need to be defined rather than simply detecting change in the indicators.;Chapter 4 uses a social innovation framework to investigate factors that may foster transformation in ecosystem management. Based on analyses of three local-level case studies, we suggest that raising environmental awareness, developing environmental leadership capacity, promoting dialogue between key stakeholders, and providing institutional support may greatly facilitate the emergence and maintenance of integrated, collaborative ecosystem governance institutions.;Chapter 5 provides an example of how "post-normal" scientific approaches have been taught at the graduate level using scenario planning. Key learning outcomes of the course were greater appreciation of the pervasiveness of uncertainty and the need for multiple points of view in understanding complex environmental issues. Most students left the course feeling more positive and inspired about the potential contribution they can make to addressing contemporary environmental challenges.;The final chapter briefly explores cross-cutting themes of uncertainty, integration, and the existence of windows for policy action in ecosystem management and suggests future research directions. |
