Back to the future with the ecosystem approach

Lake Vättern demonstrates how participatory, holistic management can successfully reverse eutrophication and sustain iconic fish species like Arctic char.

Bill Henry applies his expertise in food safety and automation to advocate for the Great Lakes, exploring microbial solutions to reduce agricultural runoff.

Practical strategies for applying systems thinking to ecosystem management, from mapping feedback loops to broadening timelines and discovering your story.

Alana Tedeschi researches coastal and riverine systems, focusing on hydrological connectivity in wetlands and the impact of climate change on the Great Lakes.

The Great River Rapport combines Indigenous Knowledge and scientific data to assess the health of the Upper St. Lawrence River in an accessible format.

Jennifer Powell studies the effects of hypoxia and temperature on Lake Chubsucker physiology to develop habitat models for climate adaptation.

An agrosystem approach inspired by UN Sustainable Development Goals offers a path to regenerative agriculture that reduces runoff and supports community well-being.

A study of 43 Areas of Concern shows how evolving institutional arrangements and nonprofit partnerships have driven successful restoration and economic revitalization.

William D. Taylor (1950–2022) was a pioneering limnologist whose research on phosphorus cycling and microzooplankton fundamentally advanced Great Lakes science.

The Nature Conservancy traces its evolution from a land trust to a global systems-based organization tackling climate change and biodiversity loss through science.

A SWOT analysis reveals that while the ecosystem approach is simple to communicate, its implementation in the Baltic Sea suffers from unclear language and resource fragmentation.

Lake Victoria's experience with Nile perch and cage aquaculture highlights the tension between ecosystem principles and the immediate economic needs of local communities.

Alicia Sendrowski integrates science and communication to study phosphorus runoff in the Eastern Lake Erie Watershed and engage the public in remediation.

Managing complex large lakes requires systems thinking to understand interactions, leverage points, and the human dimensions often ignored in reductionist approaches.

Mapping social-ecological systems reveals that effective invasive species management requires aligning human governance structures with ecological interdependencies.

A new special issue explores how integrating diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous and scientific, is crucial for effective ecosystem governance and sustainability.