Ensuring Ecological Connectivity in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)

This open access book sheds new light on the critical role of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) in ensuring and enhancing ecological connectivity. Through a compilation of diverse case studies, it presents how integrated landscape and seascape management can support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development.

The chapters cover topics such as sustainable agricultural practices, forest protection, community involvement, and the preservation of traditional knowledge. It also includes the empowerment of communities to govern their natural resources, as seen in the Asunafo-Asutifi landscape of Ghana, and the integration of traditional wisdom with modern ecological practices in Nan an. The book also investigates the potential of community forests in Thailand and the management of biocultural heritage territories in Kenya to enhance ecological connectivity. Readers will discover how these approaches contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural resources. Expert contributors delve into the challenges and opportunities of maintaining ecological connectivity in various regions, from Ghana's cocoa landscapes to Colombia s tropical dry enclave. Readers will explore innovative approaches to balancing livelihoods with environmental sustainability, highlighting the importance of local and regional perspectives.

This volume is essential for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in fields such as landscape ecology, environmental governance, and sustainable development. It provides valuable insights into effective strategies for operationalizing ecological connectivity in spatial planning and management. By showcasing practical examples from around the world, this book serves as a vital resource for anyone committed to fostering resilient social-ecological systems and thriving communities.

Chapter 1. Introduction. - Chapter 2. Giving Communities the Right to Govern Their Natural Resources: A Case of the Asunafo-Asutifi Landscape in the Ahafo Region of Ghana, West Africa. - Chapter 3. Enhancing Ecological Connectivity in a Kaya Forest Landscape through Biocultural Heritage Territory (BCHT) Management Model. - Chapter 4. Bridging Worlds: Traditional Wisdom and Eco-Connectivity in Nan an. - Chapter 5. The Potential of Community Forests in Maintaining Ecological Connectivity at the Landscape Level in the North of Thailand. - Chapter 6. Management in SEPLs to Ensure High-Quality Connectivity for Brown Bear in the Western Cantabrian Mountains (Northwestern Spain). - Chapter 7. The Significance of SEPLs in Ecological Connectivity and Conservation of the Tropical Dry Forest: An Experience in the Dry Enclave of the Dagua River in Colombia. - Chapter 8. Connecting Kinabalu and Crocker Range Parks for Nature and Culture. - Chapter 9. Enhancement of Ecological Connectivity through UNESCO s Man and Biosphere Reserve: Case of Kinabatangan Landscape, Sabah, Malaysia. - Chapter 10. Connecting the Dots: Enhancing Connectivity within and across SEPLS through Implementation of Taiwan Ecological Network in Hualien County. - Chapter 11. Towards Harmony with Nature: The Sustainable Transformation of Rice Industry To Protect the Ecosystems Services. - Chapter 12. Green Space and Habitat Connectivity in Peri-Urban Delhi, India: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics, Drivers and Implications. - Chapter 13. Empowering Youth in Stone Weirs Restoration for Ensuring Ecological Connectivity of Penghu Seascapes (SEPLS). - Chapter 14. Synthesis: Ecosystem Connectivity in the Context of Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS).