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Papers by Sara Jo Breslow

Research paper thumbnail of Salmon Habitat Restoration, Farmland Preservation, and Changing Relationships of Power in the Skagit River Valley

Research paper thumbnail of Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management: Crafting Decision Tools for Human Complexity

This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) wor... more This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) working group, charged with developing a protocol for selecting indicators of human wellbeing for ecosystem-based management. Initiated by NOAA, our approach was specifically designed to inform federal management of the California Current, the large marine ecosystem running from Vancouver Island to Baja California. Hence, a major challenge was scale: how can we define, operationalize, and measure human wellbeing at such a large geographic scale, which encompasses tremendous social and cultural diversity, including potentially disparate notions of what counts as “wellbeing”? How can we both serve stated management responsibilities, and expand resource agencies’ awareness of the complexity of human wellbeing? How can we ensure that human wellbeing is not only measured, but also improved as a result of measurement? In this paper we report on how the SWIMM project addressed these questions, by re-drawing a social-ecological conceptual framework, developing a comprehensive and scalable typology of human wellbeing, and focusing on attributes of wellbeing that support diverse human relationships with the ocean and coast. We also report on data gaps and research challenges that must be addressed to achieve fully integrated ecosystem assessments. We outline how the SWIMM approach fits within the nested structure of decision-making affecting Salish Sea management, and we look forward to discussing how it might complement parallel efforts to assess human wellbeing in the region

Research paper thumbnail of Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management: Crafting Decision Tools for Human Complexity

This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) wor... more This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) working group, charged with developing a protocol for selecting indicators of human wellbeing for ecosystem-based management. Initiated by NOAA, our approach was specifically designed to inform federal management of the California Current, the large marine ecosystem running from Vancouver Island to Baja California. Hence, a major challenge was scale: how can we define, operationalize, and measure human wellbeing at such a large geographic scale, which encompasses tremendous social and cultural diversity, including potentially disparate notions of what counts as “wellbeing”? How can we both serve stated management responsibilities, and expand resource agencies’ awareness of the complexity of human wellbeing? How can we ensure that human wellbeing is not only measured, but also improved as a result of measurement? In this paper we report on how the SWIMM project addressed these questions, by re-drawing a social-ecological conceptual framework, developing a comprehensive and scalable typology of human wellbeing, and focusing on attributes of wellbeing that support diverse human relationships with the ocean and coast. We also report on data gaps and research challenges that must be addressed to achieve fully integrated ecosystem assessments. We outline how the SWIMM approach fits within the nested structure of decision-making affecting Salish Sea management, and we look forward to discussing how it might complement parallel efforts to assess human wellbeing in the region

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary guide regarding diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services (deliverable 3 (d))

Item does not contain fulltext95 p

Research paper thumbnail of Biocultural diversity, pollinators and their socio-cultural values

Research paper thumbnail of Well-being outcomes of marine protected areas

Nature Sustainability, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Author Correction: Biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation

Nature Sustainability, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation

Nature Sustainability, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating indicators of human well-being for ecosystem-based management

Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Valuing nature’s contributions to people: the IPBES approach

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Nature Contact and Human Health: A Research Agenda

Environmental health perspectives, Jul 31, 2017

At a time of increasing disconnectedness from nature, scientific interest in the potential health... more At a time of increasing disconnectedness from nature, scientific interest in the potential health benefits of nature contact has grown. Research in recent decades has yielded substantial evidence, but large gaps remain in our understanding. We propose a research agenda on nature contact and health, identifying principal domains of research and key questions that, if answered, would provide the basis for evidence-based public health interventions. We identify research questions in seven domains: a) mechanistic biomedical studies; b) exposure science; c) epidemiology of health benefits; d) diversity and equity considerations; e) technological nature; f) economic and policy studies; and g) implementation science. Nature contact may offer a range of human health benefits. Although much evidence is already available, much remains unknown. A robust research effort, guided by a focus on key unanswered questions, has the potential to yield high-impact, consequential public health insights. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating the best available social science for natural resource management decision-making

Environmental Science & Policy, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Conceptualizing and operationalizing human wellbeing for ecosystem assessment and management

Environmental Science & Policy, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter Authors Holding Up the Mirror to their Experiences of Writing

Playing in a House of Mirrors, 2015

I am new at this. Collaborating to write a book, putting an academic lens over felt and intuitive... more I am new at this. Collaborating to write a book, putting an academic lens over felt and intuitive experience, reflecting in action and reporting on these reflections – all new. Yet I do not feel limited by this lack of experience. Moving through this writing has highlighted to me that the role of a teacher and educator is not limited to the ‘expert’, but can come from honest and thoughtful reflection on my self.

Research paper thumbnail of A Complex Tool for a Complex Problem: Political Ecology in the Service of Ecosystem Recovery

Coastal Management, 2014

ABSTRACT Salmon recovery has been described as a “wicked” problem in that it is so complex it is ... more ABSTRACT Salmon recovery has been described as a “wicked” problem in that it is so complex it is seemingly impossible to solve. Through a detailed case study, this article models how the field of political ecology can provide rich insight into such problems, and can help managers navigate the complex human dimensions of their work. Protracted disputes over salmon habitat restoration have earned the Skagit Valley of Washington State a reputation for being mired in intractable conflict. Goals of recovering salmon and protecting farmland are seemingly pitted against each other in competition for the same land. Using ethnographic methods and a political ecology framework, I argue that social hierarchies and mistrusts, conflicting senses of place, prevailing cultural narratives, and legal and institutional constraints contribute to the dispute over habitat restoration. Closer attention to sociocultural factors such as these may help managers identify and implement locally supported recovery opportunities, facilitate cooperation among stakeholders, improve agency approaches, and reframe management agendas to better address collective needs. I conclude that ecosystem recovery requires not only the renewal of ecological health, but also the renewal of social trust and cooperation, new cultural narratives, and a richer language that can capture its complex social realities.

Research paper thumbnail of Tribal Science and Farmers’ Resistance: A Political Ecology of Salmon Habitat Restoration in the American Northwest

Anthropological Quarterly, 2014

In the northwest corner of the US, commercial farmers defend their place-based heritage against t... more In the northwest corner of the US, commercial farmers defend their place-based heritage against the scientific and regulatory strategies of local Native American tribes seeking to restore salmon habitat in agricultural areas. The apparent irony of this scenario stems from a set of unique circumstances in the American Northwest that complicates dominant narratives and allegiances in political ecology and related fields. Ethnographic and historical evidence shows how a century of tribal activism to regain treaty fishing rights, and now to restore fish habitat, has collided with new forms of activism among county-supported farmers, whose counter-discourses depict themselves as stewards of the land. This case represents an exception to the more commonly observed pattern in which Western science and state power threaten to erode indigenous culture. It nevertheless suggests that the instrumentalist approach to salmon habitat restoration in Washington state, on the part of tribal and non-tribal entities alike, constrains ecosystem recovery by preventing a sophisticated understanding of its complex social and cultural dimensions. A detailed understanding of the histories and place-based identities that motivate the political engagement of both tribal and agricultural communities could inform more socially effective strategies for achieving actual habitat restoration goals.

Research paper thumbnail of Accounting for neoliberalism: “Social drivers” in environmental management

Research paper thumbnail of SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. Engage key social concepts for sustainability

Science (New York, N.Y.), 2016

Research paper thumbnail of In and Out of the Communities and Forests-to-be of Salmon Habitat Restoration

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating the Natural and Social Sciences: An Introduction

Research paper thumbnail of Salmon Habitat Restoration, Farmland Preservation, and Changing Relationships of Power in the Skagit River Valley

Research paper thumbnail of Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management: Crafting Decision Tools for Human Complexity

This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) wor... more This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) working group, charged with developing a protocol for selecting indicators of human wellbeing for ecosystem-based management. Initiated by NOAA, our approach was specifically designed to inform federal management of the California Current, the large marine ecosystem running from Vancouver Island to Baja California. Hence, a major challenge was scale: how can we define, operationalize, and measure human wellbeing at such a large geographic scale, which encompasses tremendous social and cultural diversity, including potentially disparate notions of what counts as “wellbeing”? How can we both serve stated management responsibilities, and expand resource agencies’ awareness of the complexity of human wellbeing? How can we ensure that human wellbeing is not only measured, but also improved as a result of measurement? In this paper we report on how the SWIMM project addressed these questions, by re-drawing a social-ecological conceptual framework, developing a comprehensive and scalable typology of human wellbeing, and focusing on attributes of wellbeing that support diverse human relationships with the ocean and coast. We also report on data gaps and research challenges that must be addressed to achieve fully integrated ecosystem assessments. We outline how the SWIMM approach fits within the nested structure of decision-making affecting Salish Sea management, and we look forward to discussing how it might complement parallel efforts to assess human wellbeing in the region

Research paper thumbnail of Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management: Crafting Decision Tools for Human Complexity

This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) wor... more This paper presents outcomes of the Social Wellbeing Indicators for Marine Management (SWIMM) working group, charged with developing a protocol for selecting indicators of human wellbeing for ecosystem-based management. Initiated by NOAA, our approach was specifically designed to inform federal management of the California Current, the large marine ecosystem running from Vancouver Island to Baja California. Hence, a major challenge was scale: how can we define, operationalize, and measure human wellbeing at such a large geographic scale, which encompasses tremendous social and cultural diversity, including potentially disparate notions of what counts as “wellbeing”? How can we both serve stated management responsibilities, and expand resource agencies’ awareness of the complexity of human wellbeing? How can we ensure that human wellbeing is not only measured, but also improved as a result of measurement? In this paper we report on how the SWIMM project addressed these questions, by re-drawing a social-ecological conceptual framework, developing a comprehensive and scalable typology of human wellbeing, and focusing on attributes of wellbeing that support diverse human relationships with the ocean and coast. We also report on data gaps and research challenges that must be addressed to achieve fully integrated ecosystem assessments. We outline how the SWIMM approach fits within the nested structure of decision-making affecting Salish Sea management, and we look forward to discussing how it might complement parallel efforts to assess human wellbeing in the region

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary guide regarding diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services (deliverable 3 (d))

Item does not contain fulltext95 p

Research paper thumbnail of Biocultural diversity, pollinators and their socio-cultural values

Research paper thumbnail of Well-being outcomes of marine protected areas

Nature Sustainability, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Author Correction: Biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation

Nature Sustainability, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation

Nature Sustainability, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating indicators of human well-being for ecosystem-based management

Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Valuing nature’s contributions to people: the IPBES approach

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Nature Contact and Human Health: A Research Agenda

Environmental health perspectives, Jul 31, 2017

At a time of increasing disconnectedness from nature, scientific interest in the potential health... more At a time of increasing disconnectedness from nature, scientific interest in the potential health benefits of nature contact has grown. Research in recent decades has yielded substantial evidence, but large gaps remain in our understanding. We propose a research agenda on nature contact and health, identifying principal domains of research and key questions that, if answered, would provide the basis for evidence-based public health interventions. We identify research questions in seven domains: a) mechanistic biomedical studies; b) exposure science; c) epidemiology of health benefits; d) diversity and equity considerations; e) technological nature; f) economic and policy studies; and g) implementation science. Nature contact may offer a range of human health benefits. Although much evidence is already available, much remains unknown. A robust research effort, guided by a focus on key unanswered questions, has the potential to yield high-impact, consequential public health insights. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating the best available social science for natural resource management decision-making

Environmental Science & Policy, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Conceptualizing and operationalizing human wellbeing for ecosystem assessment and management

Environmental Science & Policy, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter Authors Holding Up the Mirror to their Experiences of Writing

Playing in a House of Mirrors, 2015

I am new at this. Collaborating to write a book, putting an academic lens over felt and intuitive... more I am new at this. Collaborating to write a book, putting an academic lens over felt and intuitive experience, reflecting in action and reporting on these reflections – all new. Yet I do not feel limited by this lack of experience. Moving through this writing has highlighted to me that the role of a teacher and educator is not limited to the ‘expert’, but can come from honest and thoughtful reflection on my self.

Research paper thumbnail of A Complex Tool for a Complex Problem: Political Ecology in the Service of Ecosystem Recovery

Coastal Management, 2014

ABSTRACT Salmon recovery has been described as a “wicked” problem in that it is so complex it is ... more ABSTRACT Salmon recovery has been described as a “wicked” problem in that it is so complex it is seemingly impossible to solve. Through a detailed case study, this article models how the field of political ecology can provide rich insight into such problems, and can help managers navigate the complex human dimensions of their work. Protracted disputes over salmon habitat restoration have earned the Skagit Valley of Washington State a reputation for being mired in intractable conflict. Goals of recovering salmon and protecting farmland are seemingly pitted against each other in competition for the same land. Using ethnographic methods and a political ecology framework, I argue that social hierarchies and mistrusts, conflicting senses of place, prevailing cultural narratives, and legal and institutional constraints contribute to the dispute over habitat restoration. Closer attention to sociocultural factors such as these may help managers identify and implement locally supported recovery opportunities, facilitate cooperation among stakeholders, improve agency approaches, and reframe management agendas to better address collective needs. I conclude that ecosystem recovery requires not only the renewal of ecological health, but also the renewal of social trust and cooperation, new cultural narratives, and a richer language that can capture its complex social realities.

Research paper thumbnail of Tribal Science and Farmers’ Resistance: A Political Ecology of Salmon Habitat Restoration in the American Northwest

Anthropological Quarterly, 2014

In the northwest corner of the US, commercial farmers defend their place-based heritage against t... more In the northwest corner of the US, commercial farmers defend their place-based heritage against the scientific and regulatory strategies of local Native American tribes seeking to restore salmon habitat in agricultural areas. The apparent irony of this scenario stems from a set of unique circumstances in the American Northwest that complicates dominant narratives and allegiances in political ecology and related fields. Ethnographic and historical evidence shows how a century of tribal activism to regain treaty fishing rights, and now to restore fish habitat, has collided with new forms of activism among county-supported farmers, whose counter-discourses depict themselves as stewards of the land. This case represents an exception to the more commonly observed pattern in which Western science and state power threaten to erode indigenous culture. It nevertheless suggests that the instrumentalist approach to salmon habitat restoration in Washington state, on the part of tribal and non-tribal entities alike, constrains ecosystem recovery by preventing a sophisticated understanding of its complex social and cultural dimensions. A detailed understanding of the histories and place-based identities that motivate the political engagement of both tribal and agricultural communities could inform more socially effective strategies for achieving actual habitat restoration goals.

Research paper thumbnail of Accounting for neoliberalism: “Social drivers” in environmental management

Research paper thumbnail of SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. Engage key social concepts for sustainability

Science (New York, N.Y.), 2016

Research paper thumbnail of In and Out of the Communities and Forests-to-be of Salmon Habitat Restoration

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating the Natural and Social Sciences: An Introduction

Research paper thumbnail of Valuing nature's contributions to people: the IPBES approach

Nature is perceived and valued in starkly different and often conflicting ways. This paper presen... more Nature is perceived and valued in starkly different and often conflicting ways. This paper presents the rationale for the inclusive valuation of nature's contributions to people (NCP) in decision making, as well as broad methodological steps for doing so. While developed within the context of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), this approach is more widely applicable to initiatives at the knowledge–policy interface, which require a pluralistic approach to recognizing the diversity of values. We argue that transformative practices aiming at sustainable futures would benefit from embracing such diversity, which require recognizing and addressing power relationships across stakeholder groups that hold different values on human nature-relations and NCP.