Inherently spatial: data and analytical insights for the identification of forest socio-ecological hotspots

Abstract

We draw insights regarding intricacies with spatially explicit data and analyses when studying the vulnerability of forest socio-ecological systems to disruptive abiotic and biotic factors. Common issues associated with data include location precision, spatial delimitation, methodological comparability, and measurement consistency. Spatial data analyses are challenged by issues of interpolation and extrapolation, inferences using data at different spatial scales, and assessment of disruption impacts at detectable spatial scales. The inextricable empirical nature of spatial data and analyses requires carefully conducting and disclosing the sensitivity of findings, and including robustness tests to openly inform decision-makers on issues of uncertainty associated with possible interventions. These considerations might be central to identifying forest socioecological hotspots as forest-dominated geographic areas encompassing social and ecological systems vulnerable to disruptions caused by abiotic and biotic factors, but where risks to human wellbeing may be considerably reduced through adaptive interventions.

Keywords

adaptive interventions; ecological-social systems; forest sector; robustness; spatial analyses; spatial data

Published in

Silva Fennica
2024, volume: 58, number: 5, article number: 24053
Publisher: FINNISH SOC FOREST SCIENCE-NATURAL RESOURCES INST FINLAND

SLU Authors

• Aguilar Cabezas, Francisco X

  • Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kim, Dohun

  • Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Forest Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.24053

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/133181