The need to develop sustainably on a finite planet has become increasingly evident [1,2]. Sustainable development requires multi-scale policies, plans and decision-making that acknowledge the importance of meeting current and future human needs without undermining the resilience of natural systems and the environment. In the past decade, we have seen significant advances in our understanding of the social and biophysical aspects that determine the state and dynamics of social-ecological systems [3,4,5]. However, the translation of this knowledge into actionable strategies, designed to inform management and policy and enhance equitable sustainable development and environmental stewardship, is limited [6,7,8,9].