Urb-SENA: Multi-site analysis of urban social-ecological dynamics using social network analysis
This project uses social network analysis to to understand and describe complex social-ecological systems.
Social network analysis (SNA) provides a set of powerful methods and theories to describe and analyze complexity. Since the core analytical unit is neither the whole ‘system´, nor individual ‘parts´, but rather the ‘relation between parts´, it has great similarity with complexity science. SNA has recently been introduced into the study of natural resource management and this project, as an outcome of a PhD course*, gathers a set of empirical case studies that uses SNA to understand urban social-ecological dynamics. A core concern across the studies lies in finding ways to translate social-ecological interaction into quantitative terms (i.e. how to measure how systems of humans intervene in urban ecosystems, and how humans can be described as part of ecological processes); how to handle methodologically ‘cross-scale linkages´ (i.e. when processes at one scale influence those at another scale); how local intervention can scale up so as to produce transformative change (i.e. institutional shifts in urban planning/green area management and/or shifts in cultural understandings of urban nature). Besides these, each case studies have their own objectives. The empirical case studies range from analysing social networks of tree planters in post-Katrina New Orleans; how relations between private firms influence land and water use at residential development sites in Phoenix; how immigrants in Helsinki interact and attain information about urban green areas; and how local neighbourhood organizations in Cape Town and New Orleans can be empowered and access state resources through engaging and developing ecological rehabilitation projects. As of November 2010 the project gathers 9 on-going urban social-ecological studies in 7 different cities world-wide. Of these, four have completed data generation and several have presented material at conferences. Another three might be added during 2011. *The case studies is a result of a PhD course held by Dr Henrik Ernstson in October 2009 in Cape Town. A similar course will be held in Phoenix in March 2011 (just before the Resilience 2011 conference).
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Project leader: Henrik ErnstsonCase study researchers/students: Savitha Swamy (Bangalore) Nadine Methner, Cape Town; Henrik Ernstson, Cape Town; Maija Faehnle, Helsinki; Ayse Ozyetgin (MSc stud.), Istanbul; Magnus Tuvendahl, Kristianstad (peri-urban); Joshua Lewis & B Bernik, New Orleans; Keith Tidball, New Orleans; Kelly Turner, Phoenix. Studies that could be added during 2011: Moliehi T. Shale, Cape Town; Somajita Paul, New Dehli; Jeff Ranara, Stockholm; Pieter van Heyningen, Stellenbosch.
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