Building a systemic environmental monitoring and indicators for sustainability: What has the ecological network approach to offer?

摘要: Abstract The development of systemic environmental monitoring and indicators for sustainability requires one to tackle the complexity human–environmental systems. To this end ecosystem approach is proposed here as a framework ecological network analysis tool investigation while an urban system, represented water flow network, discussed case study. Flow distribution used calculate total system throughput, capacity, average mutual information, ascendency overhead. These indices condense structure (representing system's metabolism) into few measures that provide information on how systems grow develop; because they are consistent with context. Two alternative scenarios presented discuss effects management actions (policies) change level indices. While it shown increasing activity (intensity processes) augments potential but not realized development, improve organization flows, thus may reduce throughput drive toward more sustainable conditions. System holistic unveil relation between internal processes whole performance. Understanding crucial former target policies sustainability, objective such policies, overall trait. Because these features can be examples new quality assessment.