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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until December 18, 2026

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Community Resilience in Mountain Social-Ecological Systems

Liu, Rongkun
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5479-3304
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692466173947921

Abstract Details

2023, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Mountain ecosystems and communities are undergoing profound changes driven by a complex interplay of environmental, economic, and sociocultural factors, including climate change, natural hazards, land use change, and rapid infrastructure development. These interconnected changes have far-reaching impacts on local livelihoods, the supporting ecosystems, and the overall sustainability of mountain social-ecological systems. While community resilience has been promoted as a collective capacity to navigate change and advance development, empirical studies on its effectiveness within mountain communities remain limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, this dissertation embarks on an ethnographic and citizen science study in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region, employing a mixed-methods approach comprising interviews, interventions, and ethnography. This dissertation presents an exploration of community resilience within the context of complex mountain social-ecological systems. By illuminating the significance of social capital and participatory knowledge engagement, the study unveils pathways towards community resilience. A novel conceptual diagram aids in untangling the essence of community resilience as a collective capacity, while subsequent case studies dissect the interactions among critical capacities such as social capital, knowledge, and learning. The dissertation underscores the necessity for context-specific approaches and capacity dynamics, as well as the ethical and political dimensions inherent in community resilience initiatives. This work not only enriches the understanding of community resilience from conceptualization to practical application but also provides actionable insights for effective development interventions. Moreover, the empirical study, conducted in a mountain community and employing digital mapping techniques, offers a small-scale perspective on how to facilitate effective learning and knowledge sharing. To finish, this dissertation research advocates for a contextualized and problem-solving approach when developing strategies to foster community resilience in complex mountain environments.
Jeremy Brooks (Advisor)
160 p.
Environmental Management; Environmental Studies; Geography; Natural Resource Management; Social Research
community resilience, mountain social-ecological systems, citizen science, digital mapping, social capital, knowledge engagement, Himalayan region, Nepal

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Liu, R. (2023). Community Resilience in Mountain Social-Ecological Systems [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692466173947921

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Liu, Rongkun. Community Resilience in Mountain Social-Ecological Systems . 2023. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692466173947921.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Liu, Rongkun. "Community Resilience in Mountain Social-Ecological Systems ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692466173947921

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1692466173947921
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.