Kilimanjaro Social-Ecological System

The role of nature for human well-being
in the Kilimanjaro Social-Ecological System

Across the world, and increasing demands for natural resources leads to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, mostly driven by land-use, climate and governance change. A key global challenge is, thus, to develop sustainable relationships between people and nature.

Addressing this pressing topic requires social-ecological research toward understanding major components of the feedback loop between nature and people, including biodiversity, nature’s contributions to people, human well-being, governance and indirect and direct anthropogenic drivers. However, such integrative social-ecological research approaches are still in their infancy. The research project “The role of nature for human well-being in the Kilimanjaro Social-Ecological System” (Kili-SES) addresses these challenges at Kilimanjaro, an excellent study region with uniquely large environmental gradients and an unusual variety of stakeholder groups.

In synthesis project SP7, “Synthesis – Kilimanjaro as an integrated Social-Ecological System” we will integrate the information gained in SP1-6 to address synergies and trade-offs between components of biodiversity, Nature’s contributions to people (NCP) and multiple constituents of well-being of major stakeholders, to address the natural and social drivers of these relations at the landscape-scale, and to identify opportunities for future decision-making.