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Adaptivität Sozial-Ökologischer Inselsysteme

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Adaptivität Sozial-Ökologischer Inselsysteme Adaptivität sozial-ökologischer Inselsysteme Wissen, Lernen und Governance aus einer komplexitätstheoretischen Resilienzperspektive am Beispiel der Insel Abaco, Bahamas Deckblatt: Die Fischer-Community Fox Town, Little Abaco (eigenes Bild 2016) Adaptivität sozial-ökologischer Inselsysteme Wissen, Lernen und Governance aus einer komplexitätstheoretischen Resilienzperspektive am Beispiel der Insel Abaco, Bahamas Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades an der Fakultät für Mathematik, Informatik und Naturwissenschaften im Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Universität Hamburg vorgelegt von Lars Bomhauer-Beins Hamburg, August 2019 Seite II Seite IV Abstract Small island states are generally seen as highly vulnerable to external stressors and environmental changes. Phenomena such as sea-level rise, heavy storms, storm surges, floods, but also resource depletion, mass tourism or overfishing confront small island communities with huge challenges for a sustainable development process. In view of this situation, the ability to adapt is crucial for affected is- land communities to cope with change and uncertainty. An effective adaptation is a social negotiation and decision-making process that requires comprehensive knowledge, learning and flexible governan- ce at different scales. In this context, this research paper deals with how small island communities re- spond to environmental changes and how the social variables of knowledge, learning and governance shape the process of societal adaptation. The approaches of complexity theory and social-ecological resilience are applied to provide a better understanding of interactions and feedbacks between island communities and their natural environ- ment. A complexity theoretical based resilience perspective on social-ecological adaptation has the potential to develop, to analyze and to understand societal reactions and actions regarding to environ- mental changes. Here, the main focus is on the emergent interaction processes of various acting indi- viduals and the closely linked modes of action of knowledge, learning and governance in the dynamic process of adaptation. In order to investigate the adaptation process of small island communities in regard to environmental changes, this paper focuses on Abaco Island (The Bahamas). In concrete terms, empirical results are presented on the adaptation of the Abaconian society in response to an increasing depletion of the marine resource Conch, which has a high social, cultural and economic value for the islanders of The Bahamas. A mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches of social science was used to investigate the dynamics and the role of knowledge, learning and governance in the context of the marine gastro- pod Conch and to analyze the potential of this approach for the social adaptation to environmental changes on small islands. The final results demonstrate the relevance of knowledge, learning and governance, in which these social variables act and become significant in different ways in the process of adaptation. Knowledge and learning are fundamental components of adaptation as they have a crucial influence on indivi- duals' behavior, actions and decision-making process. Learning-based forms of collaboration can benefit from an open and network-based governance regime, which in turn can become relevant to create potential adaptation strategies. Whereas knowledge, learning and governance are meaningful and necessary in the process of adaptation, they are not sufficient enough to achieve an effective adaptation. In the end, the willingness and determination to make decisions for change are vital. Seite V Seite VI Zusammenfassung Kleine Insel(staate)n werden gemeinhin als besonders vulnerabel gegenüber externen Stressoren und Umweltveränderungen gesehen. Phänomene, wie etwa der Anstieg des Meeresspiegels, Starkstürme, Sturmfluten, Überschwemmungen, aber ebenso Ressourcenknappheit, Massentourismus oder Über- fischung konfrontieren kleine Inselgesellschaften mit zunehmenden Herausforderungen für einen nachhaltigen Entwicklungsprozess. Angesichts dieser Situation ist die Fähigkeit der Adaptivität für be- troffene Inselgesellschaften von entscheidender Bedeutung, um nachhaltig mit Wandel und Unsicher- heit umzugehen. Eine wirksame Anpassung ist ein sozialer Aushandlungs- und Entscheidungspro- zess, bei dem umfassende Wissensbestände, Lernfähigkeit und eine flexible Governance auf unter- schiedlichen Maßstabsebenen erforderlich sind. In diesem Kontext befasst sich die vorliegende For- schungsarbeit damit, wie kleine Inselgesellschaften auf Umweltveränderungen reagieren und wie die sozialen Variablen Wissen, Lernen und Governance im Zuge einer gesellschaftlichen Anpassung wir- ken. Insofern kommen komplexitätstheoretische und sozial-ökologische Resilienz-Ansätze zur Anwendung, da sie ein besseres Verständnis über die Wechselwirkungen und Rückkopplungen zwischen Inselge- sellschaft und ihrer natürlichen Umwelt ermöglichen. Eine komplexitätstheoretisch begründete Resi- lienzperspektive mit Blick auf die sozial-ökologische Adaptivität besitzt das Potenzial, gesellschaftliche Reaktionen und Handlungen in Bezug auf Umweltveränderungen zu erschließen, zu analysieren und zu verstehen. Hierbei stehen verstärkt die emergenten Interaktionsprozesse diverser handelnder In- dividuen und die daran eng gekoppelten Wirkungsweisen von Wissen, Lernen und Governance im dy- namischen Prozess der Anpassung im Fokus. Um die Anpassung kleiner Inselgesellschaften an Umweltveränderungen zu untersuchen, konzentriert sich die vorliegende Arbeit auf die Insel Abaco (Bahamas). Konkret werden empirische Ergebnisse zur Anpassung von Abacos Inselgesellschaft in Reaktion auf eine zunehmende Verknappung der Meeres- ressource Conch präsentiert, die einen hohen sozialen, kulturellen und ökonomischen Wert für die In- selbewohner der Bahamas besitzt. Ein Methodenmix aus qualitativen und quantitativen Ansätzen der Sozialforschung wurde herangezogen, um die Dynamik und Wirkungsweise von Wissen, Lernen und Governance für die Fallstudie zur Meeresschnecke Conch zu untersuchen und die Potenziale des An- satzes für eine gesellschaftliche Anpassung an Umweltveränderungen auf Kleininseln zu analysieren. Die Ergebnisse belegen die Relevanz der sozialen Variablen, wenngleich Wissen, Lernen und Gover- nance im Zuge einer Anpassung auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise wirken und bedeutsam werden. Wissen und Lernen sind grundlegende Komponenten für eine Adaptivität, da sie einen entscheiden- den Einfluss darauf nehmen, wie Individuen sich verhalten, handeln und wie Entscheidungen getroffen werden. Eine offene und netzwerkbasierte Form der Governance erweist sich als besonders förderlich für lernbasierte Formen der Zusammenarbeit, die wiederum für die Entwicklung von potenziellen An- passungsstrategien relevant sind oder werden können. Obgleich Wissen, Lernen und Governance für eine gesellschaftliche Anpassung an Umweltveränderungen sinnvoll und notwendig sind, so sind sie bei weitem nicht hinlänglich genug, um eine wirksame Anpassung zu erzielen. Entscheidend sind letztendlich der endgültige Wille und die Entschlossenheit zur Veränderung. Seite VII Seite VIII Danksagung Die vorliegende Dissertation entstand während meiner knapp vierjährigen Tätigkeit als wissenschaft- licher Mitarbeiter am Institut für Geographie an der Universität Hamburg mit finanzieller Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). Mit dieser Forschungsarbeit beende ich einen für mich durchweg spannenden, aber vor allem intensiven und lehrreichen Lebensabschnitt, der ohne die vielen Menschen um mich herum nicht so verlaufen wäre und denen ich von ganzem Herzen für ihre Unterstützung, in welcher Form auch immer, bedanke. Zugleich hatte ich die einmalige Gelegenheit, auf den Bahamas nicht nur zu forschen, sondern auch sozial und kulturell einzutauchen und in dem einen oder anderen Moment dem karibischen Lebensgefühl zu folgen. Zuerst gilt mein besonderer Dank meiner Betreuerin Prof. Dr. Beate M.W. Ratter. Vielen Dank für die wertvollen Anregungen, die richtungsweisenden Anmerkungen und die konstruktive Kritik, die wesent- lich zum Gelingen der Promotion beigetragen haben. Bei Frau Prof. Dr. Martina Neuburger möchte ich mich in erster Linie für die bereitwillige Übernahme und Erstellung des Zweitgutachtens bedanken. Ein großes Dankeschön gebührt meinen Kollegen/Innen aus der Arbeitsgruppe am Institut für Geogra- phie, die mir mit viel Geduld, Interesse und Hilfsbereitschaft zur Seite standen. Bedanken möchte ich mich im Besonderen bei Arne, Birgit, Corinna, Cormac, Diana, Jan, Jenny, Jürgen, Lea, Martin, Mar- tin, Susanne und Vera, die mich während der Anfertigung der Dissertation unterstützt, inspiriert, aber vor allem motiviert haben. Nicht weniger bedeutsam waren die gemeinsamen Kaffeerunden bei Heike, die die alltägliche Arbeit bereichert haben und stets in warmer Erinnerung bleiben werden. Des Weiteren gebührt ein großes Dankeschön den vielen Menschen auf den Bahamas, ohne deren Offenheit, Zeit, Interesse und Neugier eine erfolgreiche Inselforschung nicht möglich gewesen wäre. Die vielen persönlichen Erzählungen gewährten einen tiefen Einblick in das alltägliche Leben der In- selbewohner, einschließlich ihrer Sorgen, Probleme und Ängste, aber auch ihrer Wünsche, Träume, Sehnsüchte und Hoffnungen. Zudem danke ich den Mitarbeitern der NGO Friends of the Environment, die mir neben der Bereitstellung der Unterkunft stets mit nützlichen Tipps und einem offenen Ohr zur Seite standen. Namentlich erwähnen möchte
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