Abstract

The multifunctionality of forest systems calls for appropriately complex modelling approaches to capture social and ecosystem dynamics. Using a social-ecological systems framework, we review the functionality of 31 existing agent-based models applied to managed forests. Several applications include advanced cognitive and emotional decision-making, crucial for understanding complex sustainability challenges. However, far from all demonstrate representation of key elements in a social-ecological system like direct interactions, and dynamic representations of social and ecological processes. We conclude that agent-based approaches are adequately complex for simulating both social and ecological subsystems, but highlight three main avenues for further development: i) robust methodological standards for calibration and validation of agent-based approaches; ii) modelling of agent learning, adaptive governance and feedback loops; iii) coupling to ecological models such as dynamic vegetation models or species distribution models. We round-off by providing a set of questions to support social-ecological systems modelling choices.

Published in

Environmental Modelling and Software
2024, Volume: 175, article number: 105998

SLU Authors

• Brady, Mark

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Lund University

UKÄ Subject classification

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Economics
Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.105998

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129070