A global–local analytical framework for social-ecological systems: A deductive–inductive approach

Analyzing the complexity of social-ecological systems (SESs) remains an empirical challenge, particularly when analytical frameworks must operate across decision-making scales. Global SESs frameworks are applied locally, but often imperfectly, and local evidence seldom informs their refinement. Here, we integrate global deductive and local inductive approaches to operationalize a cross-scale analytical framework tailored to local decision-making contexts and evaluate its representativeness using indicators available for the Long-Term research at Chamela–Cuixmala SESs in Mexico. Through a deductive approach, we drew on two global frameworks—the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Essential Ecosystem Services Variables (EESV)—to identify three initial components: (1) ecological supply of nature’s contributions to people (NCP), (2) co-production of NCP, and (3) demand for NCP. Complementing this, an inductive assessment of how 245 indicators have been used across three local decision-making scales (plot, smallholder, and land tenure) revealed two additional components: benefits derived from NCP and SESs management. We found that research to date in Chamela-Cuixmala has predominantly focused on the co-production of NCP (42 % of indicators) and SESs management (21 %). Our results demonstrate that iterating between deductive and inductive approaches strengthens the alignment between local SESs characterization and global sustainability frameworks. The resulting analytical framework is both context-specific and operational across scales, offering a practical tool for improving the understanding of SESs complexity and informing global sustainability debates from grounded local evidence.