A Community-Based Nature Understanding Framework for exploring socio-ecological dynamics in rural Romania

This study introduces the Community-Based Nature Understanding Framework (CBNUF) to explore social-ecological dynamics in rural central Romania. Using insights from participatory workshops, we examined how local stakeholders perceive nature, its vulnerabilities, and sustainable pathways forward. Six main categories emerged through grounded theory and causal network modeling: Defining nature, Nature’s role (past, present, and future), Challenges and vulnerabilities, Governance and community action, Opportunities for innovation, and Barriers to sustainable development. These were aligned with Nature-based Solutions principles, emphasizing co-benefits and participatory governance. The framework adopts a hierarchical structure of “parent,” “child,” and “sibling” categories, reflecting how local perceptions shape actions and constraints without enforcing strict causality. The foundational Defining nature category captures how communities understand and value the environment, influencing all other categories. Shifting from typical ecological-loss narratives, our vulnerability-focused approach enabled residents to express adaptive concerns and strategies. In Saschiz (Mureș county), locals linked orchard decline to seasonal drought, prompting collective initiatives like festivals and agro-tourism. These insights reveal how cultural practices intertwine with ecological realities. By centering local knowledge and lived experience, the study offers a grounded perspective on adaptive governance and resilience amid socio-environmental change in the Anthropocene. • Developed a framework to explore local socio-ecological dynamics in rural Romania; • Captured six interlinked categories through grounded theory and workshop data; • Used “parent-child-sibling” hierarchy to reflect socio-ecological dynamics; • Perceptions of nature shaped its economic and cultural uses across time; • Local innovation inspired effective governance.