Coupled human–environment system

{{Short description|Concept in ecology}}

A coupled human–environment system (known also as a coupled human and natural system, or CHANS) characterizes the dynamical two-way interactions between human systems (e.g., economic, social) and natural (e.g., hydrologic, atmospheric, biological, geological) systems.[https://www.nsf.gov/geo/ere/ereweb/fundlisting.cfm?09560946044805114F1D4B14474914 Environmental Resource and Education Funding Opportunities], National Science Foundation.{{cite journal |doi=10.1890/0012-9623-92.2.218 |title=Research on Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS): Approach, Challenges, and Strategies |journal=Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America |volume=92 |issue=2 |pages=218–28 |year=2011 |last1=Alberti |first1=Marina |last2=Asbjornsen |first2=Heidi |last3=Baker |first3=Lawrence A |last4=Brozovic |first4=Nicholas |last5=Drinkwater |first5=Laurie E |last6=Drzyzga |first6=Scott A |last7=Jantz |first7=Claire A |last8=Fragoso |first8=José |last9=Holland |first9=Daniel S |last10=Kohler |first10=Timothy (Tim) A |author11-link=Jianguo Liu|last11=Liu |first11=Jianguo (Jack) |last12=McConnell |first12=William J |last13=Maschner |first13=Herbert D. G |last14=Millington |first14=James D. A |last15=Monticino |first15=Michael |last16=Podestá |first16=Guillermo |last17=Pontius |first17=Robert Gilmore |last18=Redman |first18=Charles L |last19=Reo |first19=Nicholas J |last20=Sailor |first20=David |last21=Urquhart |first21=Gerald |hdl=2376/5747 |url=https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=mengin_fac |hdl-access=free }} This coupling expresses the idea that the evolution of humans and environmental systems may no longer be treated as individual isolated systems.{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.04.020 |bibcode=2007Geomo..91..393W |title=Dynamics of coupled human-landscape systems |journal=Geomorphology |volume=91 |issue=3–4 |pages=393–407 |year=2007 |last1=Werner |first1=B.T |last2=McNamara |first2=D.E }}

As CHANS research is relatively new, it has not yet matured into a coherent field. Some research programs draw from, and build on, the perspectives developed in trans-disciplinary fields such as human ecology, ecological anthropology, environmental geography, economics, as well as others. In contrast, other research programs, such as Critical ZoneCritical Zone Science Comes of Age https://eos.org/features/critical-zone-science-comes-of-age science, aim to develop a more quantitative theoretic framework focusing on the development of analytical and numerical models, by building on theoretical advances in complex adaptive systems, complexity economics, dynamical systems theory, and the earth sciences. To some extent, all CHANS programs recognize the need to move beyond traditional research methods developed in the social and natural sciences, as these are not sufficient to quantify the highly nonlinear dynamics often present in CHANS. Some research into CHANS emulates the more traditional research programs that tended to separate the social from the ecological sciences.{{cite journal |doi=10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[639:chans]2.0.co;2 |jstor=25547831 |pmid=18240679 |title=Coupled Human and Natural Systems |journal=Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment |volume=36 |issue=8 |pages=639–49 |year=2007 |last1=Liu |first1=Jianguo |last2=Dietz |first2=Thomas |last3=Carpenter |first3=Stephen R |last4=Folke |first4=Carl |last5=Alberti |first5=Marina |last6=Redman |first6=Charles L |last7=Schneider |first7=Stephen H |last8=Ostrom |first8=Elinor |last9=Pell |first9=Alice N |last10=Lubchenco |first10=Jane |last11=Taylor |first11=William W |last12=Ouyang |first12=Zhiyun |last13=Deadman |first13=Peter |last14=Kratz |first14=Timothy |last15=Provencher |first15=William |s2cid=18167083 }}{{cite journal |doi=10.1126/science.1144004 |pmid=17872436 |title=Complexity of Coupled Human and Natural Systems |journal=Science |volume=317 |issue=5844 |pages=1513–6 |year=2007 |last1=Liu |first1=J |last2=Dietz |first2=T |last3=Carpenter |first3=S. R |last4=Alberti |first4=M |last5=Folke |first5=C |last6=Moran |first6=E |last7=Pell |first7=A. N |last8=Deadman |first8=P |last9=Kratz |first9=T |last10=Lubchenco |first10=J |last11=Ostrom |first11=E |last12=Ouyang |first12=Z |last13=Provencher |first13=W |last14=Redman |first14=C. L |last15=Schneider |first15=S. H |last16=Taylor |first16=W. W |bibcode=2007Sci...317.1513L |doi-access=free }}