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Social norms and reference points: integrating sociology and ecology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2013

ROBERT E. MANNING
ROBERT E. MANNING*
Affiliation:
University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, 81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA
*
*Correspondence: Dr Robert Manning e-mail: robert.manning@uvm.edu
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Summary

Reference points are an approach to defining the thresholds of sustainable human use of environmental resources. The rationale for reference points can be found in a number of foundational environmental frameworks, including common property resources, carrying capacity, ecosystem management, and sustainability. However, these frameworks also suggest that reference points have both ecological and social components, and that formulation of reference points should be informed by society. Social norms, developed in sociology, offer a theoretical and empirical approach to informing reference points and have been useful in defining, measuring and managing the sustainability of parks and protected areas. Integrating sociology and ecology through the application of social norms to reference points may be a useful approach to environmental management. This paper describes social norms and their application, and illustrates the integration of sociology and ecology to more fully inform reference points.

Keywords

ecologyparksprotected areassocial normssociologysustainability
Type
THEMATIC SECTION: Politics, Science and Policy of Reference Points for Resource Management
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 40 , Issue 4 , December 2013 , pp. 310 - 317
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2013 

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