Systems Thinking and Sustainability

Flashcards focusing on key concepts related to systems thinking, sustainability issues, and the interplay of cultural and ecological diversity.

System

A set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole.

Mental Models

Cognitive frameworks that shape how individuals perceive the world and respond to it.

Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP)

The shared beliefs, values, and norms that guide a society's worldview, particularly in human interaction with the natural world.

Paradigm Shift

A fundamental change in beliefs, methods, and approaches when old assumptions fail to explain reality.

Deforestation

The permanent clearing of forest land for other uses, resulting in complete loss of the original ecosystem.

Agroforestry

A farming system that intentionally combines trees or shrubs with crops and/or animals on the same land.

Biocultural Diversity

The link between biological diversity and cultural diversity, recognizing that protecting one helps protect the other.

Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)

The principle that communities must be consulted before any development or resource use on their lands.

Indirect Causes of Deforestation

Broader social, economic, or political factors that drive direct actions leading to deforestation, such as population growth.

Leakage Effect

A situation where efforts to reduce environmental harm in one area unintentionally cause harm elsewhere.