Integration of social and cultural aspects in designing ecohydrology and restoration solutions

Abstract

Coastal marine ecosystems worldwide are being degraded as a result of anthropogenic disturbance, including pollution, runoff, and sedimentation, which are directly tied to human activities within adjacent watersheds. While the biophysical sciences can provide critical data determining cause-and-effect relationships among human activities and resource degradation, the social sciences are essential for applying these data to developing and implementing sound policies and strategies. As most biological resources cannot truly be managed, the pragmatic approach is to manage those human activities responsible for coastal-resource degradation. Such approaches require the integration of social and cultural elements into designing ecohydrology and restoration solutions.