THE ROLE OF SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARDS IN TRANSDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND ADAPTIVE GOVERNANCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorDennison, William Cen_US
dc.contributor.authorNguyen, Vanessa Vargasen_US
dc.contributor.departmentMarine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciencesen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2020-07-13T05:35:29Z
dc.date.available2020-07-13T05:35:29Z
dc.date.issued2020en_US
dc.description.abstractAddressing sustainability challenges and overcoming environmental problems requires fundamental societal changes. However, communicating these issues and convincing people to act is challenging. One emerging science communication tool that can accommodate this need is boundary-spanning report cards. Report cards were originally used as a tool for assessing and communicating ecosystem health conditions, but there are a growing number of report cards that incorporate socio-economic values. My dissertation focuses on investigating the role of socio-environmental report cards in addressing sustainability challenges. My research question was centered around whether considering human dimensions and understanding the links between natural and social components of socio-environmental systems can lead to a productive collaboration. This collaboration can lead to positive actions that contribute to a sustainable future. My research has two major themes:1) Evaluation of report cards and 2) Evolution of the report card process. First, I found that report cards from a diversity of locations can lead to environmental literacy and promote sustainable actions and positive environmental change. Then, using the Mississippi River Watershed report card as a case study, I demonstrated that report cards are boundary objects that can serve as a platform for transdisciplinary collaboration and serve as a catalyst for collective action. I also established that various report cards in the Chesapeake Bay watershed were able to enhance adaptive governance by facilitating continual learning and cross-scale exchange of information between different organizations. My results highlighted the evolution of report cards from a product created to increase awareness and education about environmental issues, to a process that engages stakeholders. My conclusion is that report cards should include both social and environmental indicators and the process needs to be stakeholder-driven and action-oriented. I developed a framework and a theory of change to guide how socio-environmental report cards can address sustainability challenges and applied it in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. By creating a holistic assessment that balances environmental, economic, and social concerns, socio-environmental report cards incorporate multiple perspectives from multisectoral actors. Thus, socio-environmental report cards can enhance adaptive governance and provide the foundation for collaborative solutions for sustainable resource management.en_US
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.13016/66ny-1nu3
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/26265
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledSustainabilityen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEnvironmental managementen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledSocial researchen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledadaptive governanceen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledco-productionen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledsocio-environmental assessmentsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledsocio-environmental systemsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledsustainabilityen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledtransdisciplinaryen_US
dc.titleTHE ROLE OF SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARDS IN TRANSDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND ADAPTIVE GOVERNANCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTUREen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Nguyen_umd_0117E_20771.pdf
Size:
24.99 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

UMD Theses and Dissertations
Biology Theses and Dissertations
MEES Theses and Dissertations