Dryland social-ecological systems in changing environments / Bojie Fu, Mark Stafford-Smith, editors

1 The Global-DEP: A Research Programme to Promote Sustainability of Dryland Social-Ecological Systems -- Part I Thematic Issues of Dryland SESs -- 2 Dryland Dynamics and Driving Forces -- 3 Structure, Functions, and Interactions of Dryland Ecosystems -- 4 Dryland Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in a Changing Environment and Society -- 5 Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Livelihoods in Drylands -- Part II Dryland SESs in Different Regions -- 6 Socioeconomic and Environmental Changes in Global Drylands -- 7 Dryland Social-Ecological Systems in Central Asia -- 8 Dryland Dynamics in the Mediterranean Region -- 9 Dryland Social-Ecological Systems in Africa -- 10 Dryland Social-Ecological Systems in Americas -- 11 Dryland Social-Ecological Systems in Australia -- 12 Structure and Functioning of China’s Dryland Ecosystems in a Changing Environment.

This open access book prepared by a joint working group committed to critical research on dryland social-ecological systems (SESs) presents a timely synthesis of up-to-date knowledge in various thematic fields relevant to dryland SESs. It aims to organize key salient concepts and establish a conceptual framework relevant to the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural understanding of dryland SESs, which have specific contexts and a geographically representative structure. Through synthesizing research across the world and analyzing scientific evidence for good practices, it has the potential to promote collaboration among global researchers as well as communication with policy makers, managers, and practitioners for dryland ecosystem management to promote sustainability. It calls for synergies between different sectors and countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in drylands.