Adaptive capacity

Adaptive Capacity applies to both ecological systems and human social systems.

As applied to ecological systems, the adaptive capacity is determined by

• genetic diversity of species
• biodiversity of particular ecosystems
• heterogenous ecosystem mosaics as applied to specific landscapes or biome regions.

As applied to human social systems, the adaptive capacity is determined by

• the ability of institutions and networks to learn, and sotre knowledge and experience.
• creative flexibility in decision making and problem solving
• the existence of power structures that are responsive and consider the needs of all stakeholders

Adaptive capacity confers resilience to perturbation, giving ecological and human social systems the ability to reconfigure themselves with minimum loss of function.

• In ecolofical systems this resilence shows as net primary productivity and maintenance of biomass and biodiversity, and the stability of hydrological cycles.
• in human social systems it is demonstrated by the stability of social relations, the maintenance of social capital and economic prosperity.

--Enhacing Natural Capacity--

Adaptive capacity can be enhanced by

• learning to live with change and uncertainty;
• nurturing diversity for resilience;
• combining different types of knowledge for learning; and
• creating opportunity for self-organization towards social-ecological sustainability.