Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS)

Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS) refers to the interconnected relationship between humans and the environment. It recognizes that human activities—like agriculture, urbanization, and resource use—impact natural ecosystems, while environmental changes—such as climate shifts and habitat loss—also influence human societies. CHANS emphasizes that these systems are intertwined and evolve together, making it important to study them as a whole to better manage sustainability, resilience, and address complex issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. Understanding CHANS helps us see how our actions and the natural world continuously shape and depend on each other.