Coupled Human and Natural Systems

2007/12/01 by Jianguo Liu, Thomas Dietz, Stephen R. Carpenter +12 · 3 citations
Decision Sciences · Environmental Science · #Complex Systems and Decision Making #Ecosystem dynamics and resilience #Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis

paper · doi:10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[639:chans]2.0.co;2

openalex publication_date 2007/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Humans have continuously interacted with natural systems, resulting in the formation and development of coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). Recent studies reveal the complexity of organizational, spatial, and temporal couplings of CHANS. These couplings have evolved from direct to more indirect interactions, from adjacent to more distant linkages, from local to global scales, and from simple to complex patterns and processes. Untangling complexities, such as reciprocal effects and emergent properties, can lead to novel scientific discoveries and is essential to developing effective policies for ecological and socioeconomic sustainability. Opportunities for truly integrating various disciplines are emerging to address fundamental questions about CHANS and meet society's unprecedented challenges.

Citations

• ADAPTIVE GOVERNANCE OF SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
• Marx's Theory of Metabolic Rift: Classical Foundations for Environmental Sociology
• Complexity of Coupled Human and Natural Systems
• Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems
• Anecdotes and the shifting baseline syndrome of fisheries
• Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems
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• Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment
• Global Consequences of Land Use
• THE THROWAWAY ETHIC IN AMERICA
• Resilience and Sustainable Development: Building Adaptive Capacity in a World of Transformations
• Integrating Humans into Ecology: Opportunities and Challenges for Studying Urban Ecosystems

Cited by

• Accountability and the academy: producing knowledge about the human dimensions of climate change
• Essential Variables help to focus Sustainable Development Goals monitoring
• Ecology [wikipedia]