Principle 2 – Manage connectivity

Connectivity refers to the structure and strength with which resources, species or social actors disperse, migrate or interact across patches, habitats or social domains. Here we discuss how connectivity may confer resilience to the supply of ecosystem services. High levels of connectivity can facilitate recovery after a disturbance. At the same time, highly connected systems increase the potential for disturbances to spread. Additionally, the structure characterizing how system components are connected appears to play a role. Thus, the effect of connectivity on the provision of ecosystem services is highly context dependent. Despite increasing theoretical work that evaluates how connectivity affects the resilience of social–ecological systems, we still largely lack empirical studies that quantify these effects. We discuss this disparity and suggest new areas for further research.