Rethinking Resilience: How to Make Socio-ecological Sustainability Actually Sustainable

"When it feels like everything in the world is going wrong and nothing is hopeful about climate change, I look at grassroots organisations for inspiration. It gives me hope to see committed people doing their best in their communities," says María Alejandra Cely Gómez, Colombian ecologist and alumna of ifa’s CrossCulture Programme. Alejandra is a firm believer in grassroots organisations and their ability to inspire hope in the face of the overwhelming challenge of climate change. As a master’s student in Social-ecological Resilience for Sustainable Development at Stockholm University, Alejandra understands the importance of building resilience in both social systems and ecosystems. 

Persistence maintains vital components of a system under pressure, such as wetland restoration amidst urbanisation, runoff or climate change. Necessary measures include reviving degraded areas, managing water flow and curbing pollution while adaptation means changing the system to cope with new challenges, including new technologies, practices, and social and cultural norms. For example, communities may need to adjust their water use practices and infrastructure during droughts. Resilience is shown by means of measures such as water conservation, rainwater harvesting and drought-resistant landscaping. The last strategy is transformation, which involves major changes to align with sustainability principles and goals like transitioning to a renewable energy-based economy with policies, research and technology development.

Alejandra recognises that applying these strategies depends on the context. "It is a privilege to be able to apply transformation strategies," adds Alejandra. "We can see some examples of transformation in the Global North, but we cannot expect people experiencing conflict and disaster, like Sudan, Pakistan or Ukraine, to think about transformation when their main focus is on survival."  

Red de Viveros Huellas Verdes, an indigenous farmers' network in Nariño, Colombia, exemplifies grassroots resilience. Initially funded by a UNDP grant during Alejandra's tenure, they continue to independently implement their restoration planting and seed collection projects. They also establish restoration networks with farmers from different regions and supply cultivated species to governmental bodies.

Alejandra believes this principle should transcend theory and be put into practice. Red de Viveros Huellas Verdes exemplifies horizontal coordination with other farmers' networks and vertical coordination with government and NGOs, reflecting the application of polycentricity. "Polycentricity is one reason which makes socio-ecological resilience projects impactful," adds Alejandra. 

"Some people dislike the word ‘resilience’ and see it as a buzzword," admits Alejandra, "especially when approaches overlook political and power dynamics in socio-ecological systems." The resilience approach, if solely focused on the individual and community level, risks depoliticising resilience and absolving governments of their responsibility to provide the necessary resources and support for promoting resilience. This lack of accountability can lead to long-term vulnerability and inequality. To truly promote resilience, it is crucial to address the causes of vulnerabilities, like poverty, discrimination and environmental degradation, which are often rooted in political and structural issues, requiring political solutions. 

Alejandra stresses the importance of evaluating resilience critically and its implications in different contexts. One must ask questions such as what the resilience is being built for, who is being helped and who may be left behind or negatively impacted. It is essential to consider who benefits from resilience-building efforts.