Sustainable Transitions of Global South's Socio-Ecological Systems

Identifying ways to reduce or reverse natural resources depletion trends while maintaining population well-being  is crucial in the current context of ecosystems deterioration resulting from human activities. Socio ecosystems  of the Global South are particularly exposed and their population are the most vulnerable. This project aims to give insights into the levers and hurdles of sustainable transition of Global South’s sociovecosystems threatened by resources degradation, as well as their impacts on population livelihoods and their telecoupling effects in other places of the world. We will first conduct a meta-analysis of several cases of socio ecological systems that reversed trends and engaged in a sustainable pathway. We will then focus on two case  studies from Stanford and French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (Cirad) projects,  located in Thailand and Senegal, in order to identify obstacles preventing from sustainable transition. The  comparative approach will enable the identification of generic patterns of levers, hurdles and impacts of  sustainable transitions and those more specific to the local context.  

This interdisciplinary project co-led by a young researcher will forge a collaboration between Stanford and the  CIRAD, and aims to contribute to sustainable transitions in the Global South.