ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Beyond Binaries: Integrating Socio-Ecological Systems Thinking in Planning for Sustainable Rural-Urban Futures

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 16 | FOOD

Speaker

Dr Sıla ÖZKAVAF ŞENALP

Description

Traditional planning narratives often rely on binary distinctions, such as rural versus urban and human versus nature, which obscure the complex interrelations shaping contemporary landscapes. In light of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food system challenges, planning must shift towards a socio-ecological systems (SES) perspective that recognizes human settlements—whether rural or urban—as interconnected components of larger ecological and social processes. This paper argues that adopting an SES approach in planning offers a novel and necessary narrative to guide sustainable transitions, particularly in rural areas where ecosystem functioning, food production, and socio-economic structures are undergoing profound transformations.
The rural-urban dichotomy is increasingly blurred as multifunctionality expands beyond agriculture, and political, economic, and environmental shifts redefine rural landscapes. Instead of viewing rural areas as spaces of decline or urban dependency, SES thinking can frame them as productive landscapes. Drawing on the case of Güdül, Beypazarı, and Ayaş districts in northwestern Ankara, this paper examines the interplay between agricultural production, biodiversity preservation, and governance structures. The selected region highlights the need for planning approaches that integrate local knowledge, adaptive governance, and ecosystem-based management.
A critical gap in current SES resilience research and planning approaches is the insufficient incorporation of local knowledge, human decision-making, and actor responses to change. The adaptive strategies of local farmers, rooted in their intimate knowledge of the land, offer essential lessons in resilience and adaptation to climate change. While indicator-based assessments in SES resilience research provide useful insights, they fail to fully encapsulate the complex, dynamic nature of these systems. A broader, more nuanced understanding that includes human agency, power dynamics, cultural contexts, and social actor diversity is essential for a holistic representation of SES resilience.
Recognizing and integrating these social dimensions into planning necessitates a transdisciplinary approach that bridges scientific and local knowledge. Such an approach fosters co-production of knowledge between planners, scientists, policymakers, and local communities, leading to more context-specific, adaptive, and sustainable solutions. In the case study region, the presence of emerging bottom-up agricultural organizations and cooperatives presents an opportunity to develop participatory governance models that balance economic viability with ecological sustainability. Furthermore, planning strategies must be informed by the lived experiences of those directly engaged in landscape management, ensuring that planning frameworks align with the realities of rural livelihoods.
Currently, the absence of an overarching landscape plan in the region has led to fragmented governance, loss of agricultural land, and vulnerability to climate change. The shift to a centralized metropolitan system under Law No. 6360 has further complicated interrelation of divided rural-urban and planning of rural areas. In response, SES-informed planning emphasizes cross-scale interactions, resilience-based strategies, and community-led governance models to ensure that rural and urban development are approached in a balanced, interrelated manner.
This paper contributes to the broader discussion on changing planning narratives by challenging conventional binaries and advocating for an SES approach that fosters integration between human and ecological systems. By reframing rural areas as socio-ecological productive landscapes rather than static, administrative categories, planning can become a transformative tool for sustainability, justice, and resilience in both urban and rural contexts. Ultimately, embedding local knowledge and transdisciplinary collaboration within SES-based planning enables a more just and adaptive transition toward sustainable landscapes, food systems, and human settlements.