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Proposal of a Socio-Ecological Resilience Integrated Index (SERII) for Colombia, South America (1985–2022)

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  • Cesar Augusto Ruiz-Agudelo

    (RINA-Consulting, 16129 Genoa, Italy
    Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Ingeniería, Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá 110311, Colombia)

Abstract

Colombia is a megadiverse, multiethnic, and multicultural country with a tremendous socio-ecological systems (SESs) diversity, which faces essential challenges arising from human activities, low levels of sustainable economic development, poverty, and social inequality rates, and the persistence of multiple forms of military, political, and social violence. Understanding the resilience of this complex system is both fundamental and challenging due to the contradictory effects of economic development and regional ecosystem degradation. This research proposes the Socio-Ecological Resilience Integrated Index (SERII) to assess historical changes in socio-ecological resilience in Colombia’s departments (political-administrative units) between 1985–2022. The SERII considers the trade-offs between ecosystems, social systems, and production systems, providing a complete perspective of integrated management with a geographic resolution at the level of general political-administrative units. The results reveal a spatial variation in the SERII, with worse conditions in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Colombian Amazon (on the country periphery) and better conditions in departments of the country center. From 1985 to 2022, the SERII experienced a decrease (51.5%), driven by ecosystem degradation, increased extractive activities (illegal and illegal), and the persistence of military, political, and social violence. While the limitations of the proposed indicator are described, the SERII effectively replicates the overall resilience of Colombia’s departments to external shocks and allows for suggesting regional management priorities for the targeted promotion of sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Cesar Augusto Ruiz-Agudelo, 2025. "Proposal of a Socio-Ecological Resilience Integrated Index (SERII) for Colombia, South America (1985–2022)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6461-:d:1701884
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