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Modelling forests as social-ecological systems : A systematic comparison of agent-based approaches

Ekström, Hanna LU orcid ; Droste, Nils LU orcid and Brady, Mark LU orcid (2024) In Environmental Modelling and Software 175.
Abstract

The multifunctionality of forest systems calls for appropriately complex modelling approaches to capture social and ecosystem dynamics. Using a social-ecological systems framework, we review the functionality of 31 existing agent-based models applied to managed forests. Several applications include advanced cognitive and emotional decision-making, crucial for understanding complex sustainability challenges. However, far from all demonstrate representation of key elements in a social-ecological system like direct interactions, and dynamic representations of social and ecological processes. We conclude that agent-based approaches are adequately complex for simulating both social and ecological subsystems, but highlight three main avenues... (More)

The multifunctionality of forest systems calls for appropriately complex modelling approaches to capture social and ecosystem dynamics. Using a social-ecological systems framework, we review the functionality of 31 existing agent-based models applied to managed forests. Several applications include advanced cognitive and emotional decision-making, crucial for understanding complex sustainability challenges. However, far from all demonstrate representation of key elements in a social-ecological system like direct interactions, and dynamic representations of social and ecological processes. We conclude that agent-based approaches are adequately complex for simulating both social and ecological subsystems, but highlight three main avenues for further development: i) robust methodological standards for calibration and validation of agent-based approaches; ii) modelling of agent learning, adaptive governance and feedback loops; iii) coupling to ecological models such as dynamic vegetation models or species distribution models. We round-off by providing a set of questions to support social-ecological systems modelling choices.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ABM, Complex adaptive system, Forest management, Model choice, SES
in
Environmental Modelling and Software
volume
175
article number
105998
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85187205525
ISSN
1364-8152
DOI
10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.105998
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
id
d4b8324c-f83d-4791-9560-1e428ad79313
date added to LUP
2024-03-20 06:09:35
date last changed
2024-03-20 10:21:40
@article{d4b8324c-f83d-4791-9560-1e428ad79313,
  abstract     = {{<p>The multifunctionality of forest systems calls for appropriately complex modelling approaches to capture social and ecosystem dynamics. Using a social-ecological systems framework, we review the functionality of 31 existing agent-based models applied to managed forests. Several applications include advanced cognitive and emotional decision-making, crucial for understanding complex sustainability challenges. However, far from all demonstrate representation of key elements in a social-ecological system like direct interactions, and dynamic representations of social and ecological processes. We conclude that agent-based approaches are adequately complex for simulating both social and ecological subsystems, but highlight three main avenues for further development: i) robust methodological standards for calibration and validation of agent-based approaches; ii) modelling of agent learning, adaptive governance and feedback loops; iii) coupling to ecological models such as dynamic vegetation models or species distribution models. We round-off by providing a set of questions to support social-ecological systems modelling choices.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ekström, Hanna and Droste, Nils and Brady, Mark}},
  issn         = {{1364-8152}},
  keywords     = {{ABM; Complex adaptive system; Forest management; Model choice; SES}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Modelling and Software}},
  title        = {{Modelling forests as social-ecological systems : A systematic comparison of agent-based approaches}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.105998}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.105998}},
  volume       = {{175}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}