Exploring dynamic mechanisms of learning networks for resource conservation

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

Matous, Petr¹ 

关键词: composting;    Ethiopia;    network dynamics;    social learning;    soil conservation;    stochastic actor-oriented modeling;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-07602-200236

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

The importance of networks for social-ecological processes has been recognized in the literature; however, existing studies have not sufficiently addressed the dynamic nature of networks. Using data on the social learning networks of 265 farmers in Ethiopia for 2011 and 2012 and stochastic actor-oriented modeling, we explain the mechanisms of network evolution and soil conservation. The farmers’ preferences for information exchange within the same social groups support the creation of interactive, clustered, nonhierarchical structures within the evolving learning networks, which contributed to the diffusion of the practice of composting. The introduced methods can be applied to determine whether and how social networks can be used to facilitate environmental interventions in various contexts.

【 授权许可】

Others