Vortrag 13

21. Juli 2026 
18:15 – 19:30 Uhr
KG I, Raum 1098 
Universität Freiburg

Titel:
Relational Resilience: A framework for research in Forest Social-Ecological Systems

Referentin: 
Dr. Austin Himes (Washington State University)

Abstract:
Relational approaches are well suited to engaging with the complexity of forest socialecological systems (SES). Being more attentive to relationality in forestry and forest science means embracing the diverse ways people relate to forests and emphasizes the importance of the plurality of values people have for and about nature when making forest management decisions. Through this lens, forests are understood holistically as complexes of dynamic and constitutive relationships including the movement and transformation of mater and energy, connections between people forged in the forests, people’s sense of awe and scaredness towards forests, stewardship and reciprocal care between people and forests, and the provision of forest products to meet material needs and preferences. In this context, Dr. Himes and colleagues from Future Forests reimagine forest SES resilience. In their proposed framework of “Relational Resilience,” the diversity of human-forest relationships and how they are constrained and shaped by co-constituting institutions and ecosystem capacities are the focus of SES resilience research. The framework aspires toward offering new insights into forest SES resilience in the face of compounding uncertainty about future social and ecological conditions.