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Causes and consequences of tipping points in river delta social–ecological systems
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Cai Ladd ,
Thorsten Balke ,
Sumana Banerjee ,
Ly H. Bui,
Tuhin Ghosh ,
Andy Large ,
Hue Thi Van Le,
Kien V. Nguyen,
Lan X. Nguyen ,
Tanh T. N. Nguyen ,
Vinh Nguyen,
Indrajit Pal ,
Sylvia Szabo,
Ha Tran,
Zita Sebesvari ,
Shah Alam Khan,
Fabrice G. Renaud
Ambio, Volume: 53, Issue: 7, Pages: 1015 - 1036
Swansea University Author:
Cai Ladd
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DOI (Published version): 10.1007/s13280-023-01978-2
Abstract
The sustainability of social-ecological systems within river deltas globally is in question as rapid development and environmental change trigger "negative” or “positive” tipping points depending on actors’ perspectives, e.g., regime shift from abundant sediment deposition to sediment shortage,...
| Published in: | Ambio |
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| ISSN: | 0044-7447 1654-7209 |
| Published: |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2024
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65811 |
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| Abstract: |
The sustainability of social-ecological systems within river deltas globally is in question as rapid development and environmental change trigger "negative” or “positive” tipping points depending on actors’ perspectives, e.g., regime shift from abundant sediment deposition to sediment shortage, agricultural sustainability to agricultural collapse or shift from rural to urban land. Using a systematic review of the literature, we show how cascading effects across anthropogenic, ecological, and geophysical processes have triggered numerous tipping points in the governance, hydrological and land use management of the world’s river deltas. Crossing tipping points had both positive and negative effects that generally enhanced economic development to the detriment of the environment. Assessment of deltas that featured prominently in the review revealed how outcomes of tipping points can inform the long-term trajectory of deltas towards sustainability or collapse. Management of key drivers at the delta scale can trigger positive tipping points to place social-ecological systems on a pathway towards sustainable development. |
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| Keywords: |
Tipping points; cascading effects; river deltas; Social-ecological systems; Sustainable Development; systematic literature review |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
We acknowledge the funding received from the UKRI GCRF Living Deltas Hub under Grant Reference NE/S008926/1. This research is also funded by Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) under Grant Number TX2024-16-01 (time contribution of staff at Climate Change Institute, An Giang University). |
| Issue: |
7 |
| Start Page: |
1015 |
| End Page: |
1036 |