Itzkin, AdelaScholes, MaryCoetzer, Kaera L.Clifford-Holmes, Jai Kumar2024-12-032024-12-032025-03Itzkinm, A., Scholes, M., Coetzer, K. et al. 2025, 'A relational social-ecological systems approach to determine essential variables for monitoring sustainability at a catchment level', Environmental Development, vol. 53, art. 101106, pp. 1-17, doi : 10.1016/j.envdev.2024.101106.2211-4645 (print)2211-4653(online)10.1016/j.envdev.2024.101106http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99725DATA AVAILABILITY : The data collected by the authors of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. Data are not publicly available due to the need to comply with the ethics clearance certificateThis publication introduces Essential Social-Ecological System Variables (ESEVs), an approach aimed at addressing integration and monitoring challenges in Social-Ecological System (SES) projects at the catchment scale. ESEVs are defined as 'the minimum set of critical social-ecological variables to capture key features, processes, and interactions driving SES dynamics over time and space.' Notably, ESEVs differ from other essential variable approaches as they are based on the relational connection between the 'Social' and 'Ecological' aspects of SESs and are derived from a transdisciplinary process involving systems thinking and social learning. The ESESV approach was rooted in systems thinking to identify variables for monitoring progress towards improved SES sustainability within the Tsitsa River Catchment in South Africa. ESEVs were identified through a process involving interviews, workshops, and surveys with experts from a transdisciplinary SES project in the catchment. The criteria for prioritizing ESEVs and their associated indicators were determined based on ‘essentiality scores,’ and the degree of consensus among participants. The resulting ESEVs for the Tsitsa River Catchment included 'soil erosion related to human actions on the land,' 'participation in natural resource governance,' 'grazing and rangeland sustainability,' and 'land cover and condition.' Additionally, participants proposed 'access to water,' 'local natural resource governance system,' and 'human well-being in the landscape' as potential ESEVs. Monitoring ESEVs could be achieved through a mix of data sources, with reduced emphasis on biophysical earth observations. Applying the ESEV approach at the catchment scale ensured its contextual relevance and practicality. The study provides valuable insights for monitoring SES sustainability, offering an effective approach and process applicable to various SES landscapes.en© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Essential social-ecological system variables (ESEVs)Social-ecological system (SES)Essential variablesSystems thinkingRelationalityIntegrated landscape monitoringTransdisciplinary practicesSocial learningSDG-15: Life on landArticle