Practical methods for estimating ecological resilience: lakes and forests of northern Wisconsin

Abstract

Conservationists are being urged to adopt ecosystem management approaches due to a variety of problems with single species management. However, one problem with practicing effective ecosystem management is the availability of practical tools that allow ecological managers to assess the state of ecosystems. I propose to develop methods for ecological management that will integrate landscape assessment, social-ecological modeling, and scenario planning. I will develop these methods by estimating the resilience of lake and forest ecosystems within the Northern Highlands Lake District (NHLD) of Wisconsin. I will further test these methods by applying them to TNC conservation sites outside of Wisconsin. When I have completed this work, I will produce and run a short course to share my results and methods with private, public, and Native American ecological managers in the NHLD. The research program I present in my proposal will provide the Nature Conservancy and the conservation community of those interested in the theory and practice of ecosystem management with new tools to improve conservation and the human use of ecosystems.

Mentors

Dr. Stephen R. Carpenter, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Undergraduate Education

B.A.S, Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, 1991

Graduate Education

M.S., Environmental Engineering Science, University of Florida, 1994

Ph.D., Zoology, University of Florida, 1999.

Current Title and Affiliation

Professor at Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University. Founded in 2007, the centre is a collaboration between Stockholm University and the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy Sciences.

Today, we bring people together from around the world to research, study and collaborate, with a vision of thriving and resilient biosphere that enables well-being for all.

Our science addresses the sustainability challenges facing humanity, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Our research ranges from local food systems to global financial markets.

We train the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders, and co-create knowledge with communities, artists, organisations, corporations and governments.

Knowing that people and nature are deeply intertwined, we recognise the importance for humanity to

reconnect to the biosphere — to thrive within planetary boundaries.

Meet Garry: https://www.stockholmresilience.org/meet-our-team/staff/2008-08-27-peterson.html