Human well-being indicators as a boundary object for social science integration into conservation

Abstract

Social science integration into conservation has taken many forms. We considered social science integration through human well-being indicator development and monitoring in Puget Sound (Washington, USA). We frame human well-being as a boundary object, which through boundary work and embedded social science research, has led to the integration of the social sciences into regional conservation. Through our framing, we show how human well-being indicator development and monitoring has produced 5 outcomes, which include the enhancement of a social-ecological narrative; institutionalization of social scientific expertise; integrated restoration planning and actions; funding for social science and monitoring; and provision of environmental justice data.