Integrative Socio-Environmental System

The below represented socio-environmental systems being examined in the context of restoration of degraded ecosystems are found widespread across the Americas (including Western and Central U.S.), Africa woodlands and drylands, and Asia drylands, thus reflecting a wide relevance of the research.

Restoration intervention: a) Promote land management practices and activities that impact both the natural and social subsystems; b) Put in place a governance system, including human capital, knowledge, infrastructure, and institutional arrangements, to support implementation of restoration activities, which mediates impacts in both natural and social subsystems.

Outcomes and their Interactions within the natural subsystem: 1) Fertile soil improve vegetation productivity and cover (1a), which increases carbon storage (1b); 2) Fertile soil promote higher biodiversity; 3) Carbon storage and biodiversity are related, with tradeoffs; 4) Higher vegetation cover and biodiversity are related, with tradeoffs

Outcomes and their Interactions within the human subsystem: 5) Agricultural productivity and NTFPs improve food security; 6) Job creation and NTFPs contribute to livelihood diversification; 7) Livelihood diversification contribute to Income; 8) Income and sustainable energy supply are related.

Interactions between the Natural and the Human Subsystems: 9) Fertile soil improve crop yield (9a), ensuring food security (9b); 10) Biodiversity can sustain food security; 11) Vegetation cover can support NTFPs (11a), and Energy supply (11b); 12) Carbon sequestration can support income; 13) Human and infrastructural capacities plus governance and institutional arrangements shape the social and ecological outcomes; 14) Tradeoffs between ecological and social outcomes (=9±10±11±12).