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Social Memory and the Resilience of Communities Affected by Land Degradation
Author(s) -
Wilson Geoff A.,
Kelly Claire L.,
Briassoulis Helen,
Ferrara Agostino,
Quaranta Gianni,
Salvia Rosanna,
Detsis Vassilis,
Curfs Michiel,
Cerda Artemio,
ElAich Ahmed,
Liu Honghu,
Kosmas Costas,
Alados Concepción L.,
Imeson Anton,
LandgrebeTrinkunaite Ruta,
Salvati Luca,
Naumann Sandra,
Danwen Hu,
Iosifides Theodoros,
Kizos Thanassis,
Mancino Giuseppe,
Nolè Angelo,
Jiang Min,
Zhang Pingcang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.2669
Subject(s) - land degradation , community resilience , china , psychological resilience , environmental degradation , resilience (materials science) , geography , environmental resource management , sociology , land use , psychology , social psychology , environmental science , ecology , computer science , engineering , archaeology , civil engineering , thermodynamics , physics , redundancy (engineering) , biology , operating system
Based on evidence collected in 22 village communities from nine study sites situated in Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco and China, this study analyses the complex interlinkages between social memory, community resilience and land degradation. Social memory is seen as an important explanation regarding the ability of a local community to manage and cope with land degradation. Emphasis is placed on the importance of three components of social memory—rites, traditions and social learning processes—for shaping community resilience in coping with land degradation processes. The study argues that although there are subtle differences between the 22 village communities, the loss of social memory and learning pathways associated with managing land degradation is emerging as a critical factor constraining stakeholders from effectively responding to land degradation issues. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.