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Imogen Hobbs, M.Sc. B.A. & Sc. Honours Environment, Minor in Organismal Biology, McGill University (2020); M.Sc. Renewable Resources, McGill University (2022). Email: imogen.hobbs@mail.mcgill.ca Interests: Social-ecological fit, social-ecological systems, interdisciplinary decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, environmental management
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MSc. Thesis:
MEASURING THE DEGREE OF ‘FIT’ WITHIN SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT LOCAL DECISION-MAKING: THE CASE OF FLOOD-RISK IN TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA
Abstract
Social-ecological fit is a promising approach to environmental governance. Its bottom-up, inclusive methodology is particularly needed in the wake of climate change, as decision-makers must consider the social consequences as well as the ecological. Social-ecological fit, however, is limited by (1) inconsistent terminology in the literature, and (2) a lack of quantitative methods to assess its effectiveness in decision-making. To address these knowledge gaps, I (1) conducted a comprehensive literature review on social-ecological fit, and (2) adapted the use of Bayesian methods to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of social-ecological fit. I found that social-ecological fit encompasses a broad range of fit types, and that not every type is appropriate or applicable to every social-ecological issue. I also found that Bayesian methods can be used successfully to quantitatively assess local social-ecological fit. In light of these results, I describe how to apply social-ecological fit to decision-making processes, and discuss potential areas of future research.
Awards and Scholarships:
F. Grey Woods Fellowship (2021)
Graduate Excellence Award, McGill University (2020)
Publications:
Holzer, J.M., Hobbs, I., Baird, J., and Hickey, G.M. (2022). How is the ecosystem services concept used as a tool to foster collaborative ecosystem governance? A systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence 11(1): 1-8.
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