ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
#RegenerativeSystems #RightsOfNature #OneHealth #BeyondConservation #CircularSystems
Ecosystem management must go beyond conservation to embrace systemic transformation. This approach brings about a paradigm shift by challenging anthropocentric perspectives and emphasizing coexistence, reciprocity, and societies’ duty to safeguard the ecological integrity of natural systems and, where possible, restore ecosystems.
Central to this transformation is the recognition of the Rights of Nature, a legal and philosophical framework that repositions ecosystems not as mere resources to be exploited or managed, but as entities possessing intrinsic value and legal standing. This ontological shift enables more effective responses to environmental risks while opening pathways for ecosystem restoration that simultaneously protects biodiversity and enhances human well-being. Achieving meaningful climate change adaptation requires innovative governance models that integrate cutting-edge scientific research with traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems.
Key components for achieving these goals include the development of circular systems, which propose regenerative frameworks aimed at reducing resource extraction, minimizing waste, and closing material cycles. These systems offer the possibility of aligning economic activities with ecological boundaries.
Equally important is the One Health perspective, which underscores the interdependence between ecological integrity, animal health, and human health. This approach calls for transdisciplinary collaboration and reinforces the urgency of treating environmental sustainability and public health as inseparable concerns.
We welcome submissions that address (but are not limited to) the following themes:
Natural Heritage as Foundation for Human Well-being
Recognition of natural heritage as the primary resource underpinning human prosperity and well-being.
Ecosystem services valuation and their contribution to quality of life.
Intergenerational equity and natural capital preservation.
Connection between biodiversity conservation and human health outcomes.
Regenerative and Circular Systems
Design and implementation of circular economy models at various scales.
Nature-based solutions for sustainable production.
Zero-waste strategies and closed-loop industrial systems.
Regenerative agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture practices.
Life cycle assessment and circular metrics.
Post-Extractive Economies.
One Health Approaches
Integrated frameworks linking ecosystem, animal, and human health.
Disease prevention through ecosystem management.
Biodiversity loss and its impacts on health systems.
Urban ecology and public health interfaces.
Collaborative governance models for One Health implementation.
Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Adaptation
Large-scale ecosystem restoration projects and their outcomes.
Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Rewilding initiatives and their socio-ecological implications.
Blue carbon and coastal ecosystem restoration.
Integration of traditional ecological knowledge in restoration practices.
Rights of Nature and Legal Innovation
Decolonizing conservation practices.
Bioregional and place-based frameworks integrating culture, ecology, and community well-being.
Ecological restoration and biodiversity stewardship rooted in Indigenous and local knowledge.
Rights of Nature and Legal Innovation.
Case studies on legal personhood for rivers, forests, mountains, and other ecosystems.