文档介绍：Spatial Resilience in Social-Ecological
Systems
Graeme S. Cumming
Spatial Resilience
in Social-Ecological
Systems
123
Graeme S. Cumming
Percy FitzPatrick Institute
DST/NRF Centre of Excellence
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch
7701 Cape Town
South Africa
graeme.******@
The cover photograph shows a view from Strandfontein wastewater treatment works (near
Muizenberg, on the edge of False Bay), looking towards Table Mountain. The idyllic
appearance of this wetland disguises the high human use of this system and the ecological
costs of the interaction: high Escherichia coli levels in the water in the settling ponds, invasive
Typha reedbeds on the pond’s edge, a landfill site just out of view to the left of the picture,
and globally endangered lowland fynbos vegetation on the ridge behind the pond. Despite
these problems, Strandfontein remains a nationally important site for waterbirds. Photograph
by Graeme S. Cumming, 2008.
ISBN 978-94-007-0306-3 e-ISBN 978-94-007-0307-0
DOI -94-007-0307-0
Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York
© Springer Science+Business Media . 2011
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To Nils and Clara, my delightful
inspirations –
May you find as much pleasure as I have in
exploring this green world!
Preface
This book represents a personal landmark along a path that I have been following for
close to 15 years. Along the way I have spent considerable amounts of time debating
and pondering with friends and colleagues over the relevance of spac