Exploring Ecological Citizenship, Systems Thinking, and Environmental Governance in Southwest Yukon
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Wilfrid Laurier University Scholars Commons @ Laurier Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) 2020 Seeking a Path to Wellness and Flourishing: Exploring Ecological Citizenship, Systems Thinking, and Environmental Governance in Southwest Yukon Amanda Solmes [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd Part of the Environmental Studies Commons, Human Geography Commons, and the Nature and Society Relations Commons Recommended Citation Solmes, Amanda, "Seeking a Path to Wellness and Flourishing: Exploring Ecological Citizenship, Systems Thinking, and Environmental Governance in Southwest Yukon" (2020). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2244. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2244 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) by an authorized administrator of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Seeking a Path to Wellness and Flourishing: Exploring Ecological Citizenship, Systems Thinking, and Environmental Governance in Southwest Yukon by AMANDA ROSE SOLMES Bachelor of Business Administration, WLU, 2009 Thesis Submitted to the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Master of Environmental Studies degree Wilfrid Laurier University 2019 © Amanda Solmes 2019 Abstract While efforts toward environmental management (EM) have been increasing, the state of our natural world is getting worse. Numerous reports have outlined that today’s environmental problems are predominantly human-induced, yet approaches to EM often only address “environmental” rather than “human” issues. More holistic approaches are required. This thesis explores “ecological citizenship” (EC) as an alternative framework that may have the potential to address elements too often left out of top-down and reductionist approaches. Academic and case-based notions of this concept are explored, and a new definition for the term is developed. A case study, drawn from the rich results of in-depth interviews, and analyzed and presented using social-ecological systems theory, examines the dynamics of ecological citizenship in southwest Yukon and how they have been shaped by formal and informal institutions over time. Results have indicated the importance of addressing human-based components across all scales, whereby internal virtues are shaped by elements closer to home: community values, education, and time spent on the land; and external behaviours are often affected by systemic structures and institutions. Systemic and institutional elements are considered to play a positive role when they foster participation, awareness, and/or a culture of respect. The highest results are believed to be achieved when a culture of environmentalism is reflected in all social and institutional structures and brought together by a high-level integrated governance plan that utilizes democratic and community-oriented decision-making processes. i Acknowledgments First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Scott Slocombe for supporting me in the process of completing this thesis. It has been a long journey for me, and he has always been kind, understanding, and supportive at every turn. Even during the periods when I retreated from writing, he offered just enough timely lecturing and/or conferencing opportunities to keep me continuously engaged and enthusiastic for the world of academia. I would like to thank the rest of the committee – Derek Armitage, Alex Latta, and Emily Huddart-Kennedy – for taking the time to read my work, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in some insightful discussion. In a short time, your questions and remarks have helped to evolve my thinking on this work and have helped to provide it with further direction and meaning. I am thankful to countless friends and family for always believing in me and offering many kind words of encouragement throughout this process. I would like to extend a special thanks to a few individuals who were a part of this journey at crucial points, and who may not realize how important their contributions truly were: Russ Christianson, Matthew King, Corey Grant, Doug McRae, and Barry Colbert. Your support of me in and out of this process, either professionally or personally, were directly tied to my ability to follow this work through to completion. To the Yukon and the many Yukoners that I met while there, I do not have the words to express how crucial you were in shaping my life. I will never forget the years that surrounded my research. I have never felt so myself, as I did in your world. The conversations and experiences that were shared there have become foundational building blocks for who I am today. And for that, I am forever grateful. ii Of course, a many great thanks to the granting agencies and financial programs that allowed me to complete this remote and distant research: WLU Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Dr. John McMurry Research Chair in Environmental Geography (Scott Slocombe), and the Northern Scientific Training Grants Program. And again to Dr. Slocombe, for being a crucial component to accessing them. Finally, to my son Theo, for coming along at just the right time, and providing me the added inspiration to get back to the things that matter to me. You have refueled me with a new purpose and understanding for why the good fight is worth it, and you fill me with enough joy and compassion to finally approach it in the right way. iii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Thesis Goal ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Theoretical Context .......................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Methodology and Methods ............................................................................... 4 1.5 Case Study Overview ....................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Outline of Thesis .............................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2: Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Sustainability and Environmental Discourse ................................................................... 9 2.1.1 Defining Sustainability ........................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Early Sustainability Discourse ................................................................................ 11 2.1.3 Sustainability Evolved ............................................................................................ 15 2.1.4 Values-Based Discourses ........................................................................................ 19 2.2 Ecological Citizenship.................................................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Addressing Ecological Well-being through the “Citizenship” Lens ...................... 24 2.2.2 Defining Ecological Citizenship ............................................................................. 26 2.2.3 Utilizing “Ecological Citizenship” in Practice ....................................................... 29 2.2.4 Summary of Literature, Gaps and Opportunities .................................................... 32 2.3 Social-Ecological Systems & Environmental Governance ............................................ 34 2.3.1 Social-Ecological Systems Theory ......................................................................... 35 2.3.2 Resilience, Transformation, & Change ................................................................... 42 2.3.3 Environmental Governance .................................................................................... 46 2.3.4 Citizen-centered Approaches to Governance.......................................................... 49 2.4 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 3: Methodology and Methods ..................................................................................... 54 3.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................... 54 3.1.1 Goals, Objectives, and Research Questions ............................................................ 54 3.1.2 Perspective of Analysis ..........................................................................................