Policies for resilient natural resource systems

It is often assumed that any environmental degradation can be reversed if the pressure is reduced. However, large, rapid, unanticipated and long-lasting changes have been documented in ecosystems throughout the world as human actions force ecosystems across their critical thresholds, commonly referred to as tipping points. This policy brief discusses framing New Zealand’s resource management policies to anticipate tipping points and to build resilience in production systems to maintain productivity in the face of environmental and societal changes. We provide examples of potential tipping points and key leverage points in New Zealand social-ecological systems, and provide suggestions for resilience and adaptive management – based policy-making. – Yletyinen et al. 2016

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