Spatial discontinuities and panarchy theory: for a better management of agriculture/forest interfaces
2017
Deconchat, Marc
Panarchy theory provides a framework for understanding the dynamics of complex systems with a strong emphasis on levels of organization, disturbance and resilience. However, the spatial dimension of the systems is not fully taken into account despite its crucial roles for many social and ecological processes. Spatial discontinuities are part of the spatial heterogeneity of many systems; it is the place where two different covers (i.e. forest and agriculture habitats) are in contact along a more or less abrupt border. After showing that the interactions between both habitats and their dynamics are not fully acknowledged in the panarchy framework, I propose some new concepts that could be included in the theory in order to cover more easily such cases. I show that the discontinuity between two phases of the cycle of a same system is different from the discontinuity between two systems, and that the speed of the cycle of both systems is a key parameter. Inclusion of adjacent habitats and their interface in a broader system is not sufficient to explain the properties emerging from the interactions. The usefulness of these concepts is shown with some examples dealing with agriculture/forest interface along edges. A better understanding of the theoretical processes governing edge dynamics and associated ecological functions, helps to include them in natural resources management.
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