Beekeepers help to secure the pollination capacity of bees by mediating bee-stressors. This study argues that beekeeper strategies are best conceptualized as a series of specialized practices for bettering bee-health, which are mobilized by a variety of actors, including those who are not traditionally considered ‘beekeepers’. The aim of this paper is to explore those human beliefs and practices which are most relevant for gaining insight into the current pollinator problem. Farmers, bee-conservationists, bee-researchers and honeybee-keepers all play an important role in securing bee health. The paper draws on the social-ecological perspective to consider alternative definitions of caring for bees, what shapes these conceptualizations and how these are reflected in beekeeper strategies, which inevitably contribute to the overall functioning of human-bee constituted systems. In the context of rising honeybee colony losses in Canada and of wild bee decline around the world, understanding the diversity of approaches for bettering bee-health is exceedingly important for initiating long-term, sustainable and multi-level bee-pollinator conservation.

The environmental management of watersheds presents a complex governance issue due to their large spatial scales that include overlapping jurisdictions, competing interests in resource use, and lack of coordination among stakeholders. The Rideau Canal, spanning 200 km between the cities of Ottawa and Kingston, is an interesting case study as it is a multi-watershed system over which municipal, provincial and federal governments have authority. However, these governments have been unsuccessful in addressing system-wide issues such as shoreline development, erosion and invasive species that have significantly impacted the ecological integrity of the canal. A shift toward polycentric governance, which are systems of multi-scale governance, in which well-informed publics can contribute to the Rideau Canal’s management is required. This thesis examines how co-governance can be conceptualized for the RC by (1) analyzing convergences in stakeholder perspectives about the environment and governance, and (2) comparing collaborative causal mapping exercises with various stakeholders to current government engagement efforts. A tiered co-governance framework that intentionally links existing small-scale activities to system-wide formal venues of knowledge sharing could democratize environmental governance on the Rideau Canal to improve its management. Beyond its practical contributions, this research also contributes to developing the academic literature on co-governance for multi-watershed waterways that have both constructed and natural aspects.

abstract: Humans have modified land systems for centuries in pursuit of a wide range of social and ecological benefits. Recent decades have seen an increase in the magnitude and scale of land system modification (e.g., the Anthropocene) but also a growing recognition and interest in generating land systems that balance environmental and human well-being. This dissertation focused on three case studies operating at distinctive spatial scales in which broad socio-economic or political-institutional drivers affected land systems, with consequences for the environmental conditions of that system. Employing a land system architecture (LSA) framework and using landscape metrics to quantify landscape composition and configuration from satellite imagery, each case linked these drivers to changes in LSA and environmental outcomes. The first paper of this dissertation found that divergent design intentions lead to unique trajectories for LSA, the urban heat island effect, and bird community at two urban riparian sites in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The second paper examined institutional shifts that occurred during Cuba’s “special period in time of peace” and found that the resulting land tenure changes both modified and maintained the LSA of the country, changing cropland but preserving forest land. The third paper found that globalized forces may be contributing to the homogenizing urban form of large, populous cities in China, India, and the United States—especially for the ten largest cities in each country—with implications for surface urban heat island intensity. Expanding knowledge on social drivers of land system and environmental change provides insights on designing landscapes that optimize for a range of social and ecological trade-offs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geography 2020

abstract: My research is motivated by a rule of thumb that no matter how well a system is designed, some actors fail to fulfill the behavior which is needed to sustain the system. Examples of misbehavior are shirking, rule infraction, and free riding. With a focus on social-ecological systems, this thesis explored the effectiveness of social feedback mechanisms driven by the two available individual options: the exit option is defined as any response to escape from an objectionable state of affairs; and the voice option as any attempt to stay put and improve the state. Using a stylized dynamic model, the first study investigates how the coexistence of participatory and groundwater market institutions affects government-managed irrigation systems. My findings suggest that patterns of bureaucratic reactions to exit (using private tubewells) and voice (putting pressure on irrigation bureaus) are critical to shaping system dynamics. I also found that the silence option – neither exit nor voice – can impede a further improvement in public infrastructure, but in some cases, can improve public infrastructure dramatically. Using a qualitative comparative analysis of 30 self-governing fishing groups in South Korea, the second study examines how resource mobility, group size, and Ostrom’s Design Principles for rule enforcement can co-determine the effectiveness of the voice option in self-controlling rule infractions. Results suggest that the informal mechanism for conflict resolution is a necessary condition for successful self-governance of local fisheries and that even if rules for monitoring and graduated sanctions are not in use, groups can be successful when they harvest only stationary resources. Using an agent-based model of public good provision, the third study explores under what socioeconomic conditions the exit option – neither producing nor consuming collective benefits – can work effectively to enhance levels of cooperation. The model results suggest that the exit option contributes to the spread of cooperators in mid- and large-size groups at the moderate level of exit payoff, given that group interaction occurs to increase the number of cooperators. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Environmental Social Science 2020

More than 3,5 billion people currently lives in cities, a number that is expected to increase further. The densification of cities makes it increasingly difficult for people to access natural areas, at the same time as biological diversity is threatened. In this study, we highlight the importance of urban ecosystem services through social and ecological aspects. This study presents a summary of different evidence-based solutions that contribute with urban ecosystem services. It moreover uses a case of urban development in Slakthusområdet (Meatpacking district), Stockholm, in order to describe contemporary processes that integrate solutions that contribute to urban ecosystem services. The results show that there are challenges in implementing these solutions with respect to political, economic, and market factors. The study thereby identifies how examining authorities and policy demands on a green factor tool enable ecosystem service solutions. By studying ecosystem services as part of a social-ecological system, this study ultimately contributes with knowledge on the execution of multifunctional solutions, which are becoming ever more important with the densification of cities around the globe. / Över 3,5 miljarder människor är idag bosatta i städer, och i framtiden förväntas den siffran öka. Förtätningen av städer försvårar människornas tillgång till naturområden samtidigt som den biologiska mångfalden hotas. I den här studien understryker vi de urbana ekosystemtjänsternas roll utifrån sociala och ekologiska aspekter. Härigenom presenterar den här studien en sammanställning över olika evidensbaserade gröna lösningar som bidrar med urbana ekosystemtjänster. Vidare tar den här studien avstamp i stadsutvecklingen av Slakthusområdet i Stockholm i syfte om att studera samtida processer kopplat till implementeringen av lösningar som bidrar med ekosystemtjänster. Resultatet pekar på att det finns utmaningar för implementering av lösningar som bidrar med ekosystemtjänster kopplade till ekonomi, politik och marknadslösningar. Därigenom identifieras kravet för grönytefaktor (GYF) och de granskande myndigheternas arbete med möjligheter för implementering av gröna lösningar. Genom att studera ekosystemtjänster som en del av ett social-ekologiska system bidrar den här studien med kunskap om tillämpningen av mångfunktionella lösningar, vilka blir allt viktigare i och med den ökade förtätningen av städer.

Despite initiatives and management efforts to minimize exacerbation and adverse outcomes, asthma remains a leading cause of childhood chronic disease in the United States. Environmental, personal, and social factors have been associated with an increase of asthma morbidity. However, little is known about how they cumulatively affect children's quality of life. This study applied a multifactorial conceptual model grounded by the ecological systems theory framework to ascertain which environmental, personal, and social factors were cumulatively associated with adverse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with asthma ages 5-17 years. A national, cross-sectional survey, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey, of 2,968 (unweighted) participants were used to identify the association between the factors and HRQoL outcomes, symptom-free days, missed school, and activity limitations. Multiple linear regression and cumulative regression models for complex survey data were used to assess the associations. Factors associated with the HRQoL outcomes included cost barriers to asthma medications and primary care physicians, insurance status, having an insurance gap, the type of health insurance, the presence of mold in the school, the guardian's diminished mental health, and environmental tobacco smoke. Understanding which factors influence asthma HRQoL may foster positive social change by enlightening and empowering the child, caregivers, health care professionals, and other stakeholders to become active participants in the asthma management process. Therefore, quality of life is optimized by all participants taking an active role in the asthma management process through conversations and developing synergistic strategies.

No description available.

Daily communication between home and preschool is central to the preschool's operations. The aim of this study is to contribute to knowledge about how preschool teachers experience communication with caregivers in cases where there are language barriers at pick-up and drop-off. The study is qualitative and we have conducted semi-structured interviews with preschool teachers who have experience in communicating with caregivers where there are language barriers. The chosen theory for further analysis of the empirical evidence has been Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory where we used the concepts microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem and chronosystem.   The participating preschool teachers talk about how they define the concept of language barrier as a broad concept but which mainly refers to when communication is limited in some way by language barriers. The preschool teachers portray that they see language barriers as both an opportunity and an obstacle, in different perspectives. An essential strategy that is presented is their own approach, which indicates a positive attitude towards the caregivers. The participating preschool teachers present smaller groups of children and more employees as a prerequisite for creating favourable communication with caregivers in cases where there are language barriers at pick-up and drop-off. This would result in more time with each individual guardian, which the preschool teachers point out as essential for favourable communication. Previous research on the subject is scarce, and the regulatory documents for preschool do not provide answers to how preschool teachers should communicate with caregivers in cases where there are language barriers in daily communication. Overall, this indicates that more research in the subject is relevant for the preschool teaching profession. / Daglig kommunikation mellan hem och förskola är centralt i förskolans verksamhet. Syftet med studien är att bidra till kunskap om hur förskollärare upplever kommunikation med vårdnadshavare i fall där det finns språkbarriärer vid hämtning och lämning. Studien är kvalitativ och vi har genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med förskollärare som har erfarenhet av att kommunicera med vårdnadshavare där det finns språkbarriärer. Den valda teorin för vidare analys av empirin har varit Bronfenbrenners ekologiska systemteori där vi använt begreppen mikrosystem, mesosystem, exosystem, makrosystem och cronosystem.     De deltagande förskollärarna berättar om hur de definierar begreppet språkbarriär som ett stort begrepp men som i huvudsak syftar till när kommunikationen på något sätt begränsas av språkliga hinder. Förskollärarna redogör för att de ser språkbarriärer som både en möjlighet och som ett hinder, i olika avseenden. En väsentlig strategi som presenteras är det egna förhållningssättet, som indikerar på ett positivt bemötande gentemot vårdnadshavarna. De deltagande förskollärarna framställer mindre barngrupper och fler anställda som en förutsättning för att skapa gynnsam kommunikation med vårdnadshavare i fall där det finns språkbarriärer vid hämtning och lämning. Detta skulle resultera i mer tid med varje enskild vårdnadshavare, vilket förskollärarna poängterar som väsentligt för en gynnsam kommunikation. Den tidigare forskningen inom ämnet är begränsad, och styrdokumenten för förskolan ger inte svar på hur förskollärare ska kommunicera med vårdnadshavare i fall där det finns språkbarriärer vid den dagliga kommunikationen. Sammantaget indikerar detta på att mer forskning inom ämnet är relevant för förskollärarprofessionen.

Achieving the SDGs by 2030 requires transformative change and significant financial investments. Impact investing (II) is a nascent investment practice with the intention of creating positive social and environmental impact alongside financial return. In 2022, the impact investing industry was valued at $1.164 trillion. The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) positions impact investing as a tool for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges and the field is generally touted as a means to direct much-needed financial resources towards the achievement of the SDGs. This study explores whether and how impact investing contributes to the needed transformations, using qualitative content analysis of the impact reports from a sample of 13 GIIN Investors’ Council members on a framework that combines key principles of social-ecological resilience and transformative investment for equity and justice. The findings from applying the framework suggest that some impact investors are contributing to resilience, particularly by approaching social and environmental issues as long-term and systemic challenges. II actors who primarily use equity-funding and focus their activities in the Minority World appear to be contributing less to resilience and none of the actors meet the principles for transformative investment. However, existing frameworks from SES resilience seem insufficient to fully investigate the complex dynamics of impact-focused financial interventions in social- ecological systems. Despite claiming to address systemic issues, findings also indicate that impact investing takes a superficial, reductionist and instrumentalist approach to what it considers impact and does not radically redirect resource flows to benefit groups identified as vulnerable and marginalized, which has been suggested as necessary to deliver on the SDGs. Furthermore, there is little indication that impact investment addresses and seeks to change the dominant power structures and belief systems that give rise to unsustainable practices, with concerning signs that they may actually be cementing these current systems.

Climate change-related vulnerabilities in Loíza are prevalent in both physical and social dimensions. The social-ecological systems indicate that a change in one component will trigger an effect in the other regardless if physical or not, suggesting that the examination of vulnerabilities cannot be done overlooking one dimension. Such is the case of transportation, as climate change vulnerabilities in Puerto Rico are exacerbated due to the capacity of the Island to recover from a disaster, mainly because there are nearly no options for mobility aside from a private vehicle. This research intended to describe the social vulnerabilities of the population and asses the physical vulnerabilities of the transportation infrastructure of Loíza to understand how resilience is threatened using the social-ecological systems approach. This study found that the transportation infrastructure is exposed and sensitive to sea level rise, flooding, and strong winds, mainly because these climate stressors cause damage to the roadways and inhibit the flow and traffic of people throughout the main roadway and evacuation route, the PR-187. The study also identified that Loíza is socially vulnerable. Many people belong to one of the described vulnerable groups, indicating that its population may experience hurdles in preparing for and recovering after a natural disaster primarily because the available resources greatly condition the level of preparedness and capacity to cope. It was evidenced that transportation plays an enormous role in decreasing or increasing resilience in Loíza, as it will determine how fast people can access supplies and necessary services to reconstruct and recover from a natural disaster. Adaptation strategies should be outlined alongside the community to ensure an equitable and inclusive approach, as well as ensure assertive and effective outcomes for all the residents of Loíza. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning / Climate change-related vulnerabilities in Loíza are presented in both physical and social aspects. The social-ecological systems indicate that a change in one thing will trigger an effect in the other regardless if physical or not, suggesting that the study of vulnerabilities cannot be done overlooking one aspect. Such is the case of transportation, as climate change vulnerabilities in Puerto Rico are aggravated due to the capacity of the Island to recover from a natural disaster, mainly because there are nearly no options to move around other than an automobile. This research intended to describe the social vulnerabilities of the population and asses the physical vulnerabilities of the transportation infrastructure of Loíza to understand how resilience is threatened using the social-ecological systems approach. This study found that the transportation infrastructure is exposed and sensitive to sea level rise, flooding, and strong winds, mainly because these climate stressors cause damage to the roadways and stop the flow and traffic of people throughout the main roadway and evacuation route, the PR-187. The study also identified that Loíza is socially vulnerable. Many people belong to one of the described vulnerable groups, indicating that its population may experience problems in preparing for and recovering after a natural disaster primarily because the available resources greatly determine the level of preparedness and capacity to cope. It was evidenced that transportation plays an enormous role in decreasing or increasing resilience in Loíza, as it will indicate how fast people can access supplies and necessary services to reconstruct and recover from a natural disaster. Adaptation strategies should be outlined alongside the community to ensure an equitable and inclusive approach, as well as ensure assertive and effective outcomes for all the residents of Loíza.