Applying the System Viability framework for cross scalar governance of nested social-ecological systems in the Guiana Shield, South America

2. Linking and analysing governance of natural resources at different scales requires the development 3. of a conceptual framework for analysing social-ecological systems which can be easily applied by a 4. range of stakeholders whose interests lie at different scales, but where the results of the analysis 5. can be compared in a straightforward way. This paper outlines the System Viability framework which 6. allows participants to characterise a range of strategies in response to environment challenges for 7. maintaining the long-term survival of their particular system of interest. Working in the Guiana 8. Shield, South America, and with a range of local, regional and international stakeholders, our aim 9. was to use System Viability to (1) investigate synergies and conflicts between distinct scales of 10. governance, (2) identify scale-related challenges, and (3) test the framework as a conceptual tool 11. for supporting cross-scalar analysis for environmental governance. 12. At the international and national levels, a number of civil society organisations explored System 13. Viability indicators that would measure the successful implementation of governance mechanisms 14. relevant to sustainable development and natural resource management. At the local level, we used 15. participatory video and photography within two Indigenous territories to enable local participants 16. to identify indicators of viability within community governance systems. A grounded theory approach 17. was then used to identify common themes across the different scales of analysis. 18. Five key themes emerged: land rights, leadership, partnerships, lifestyle and identity. We found 19. that while most categories of interest were theoretically aligned across scales, all perceived 20. systems of interest were struggling to face up to various cross-scalar challenges undermining Ecology and Society ES-2015-7865 (Version 3 of ES-2014-6797) 2 21. different system viability responses. In conclusion, we highlight how the System Viability framework 22. can be used with a disparate variety of stakeholders as a practical, participative and 'big-picture' 23. approach for facilitating the integrated governance of nested local and regional socio-ecological 24. systems. 25.