Showing papers on "Resource management published in 1970"

Implementing invasive species management in an adaptive management framework

Abstract: Adaptive management theory has attracted substantial interest in recent years, in natural resource management in general and also for invasive alien species management. However, whilst many theoretical and conceptual advances have been made, documented cases of practical applications are rare. Coupling invasive species management components with adaptive feedback processes is not without challenges, requiring a substantial change in the thinking and practice of all those involved. Drawing on a decade of experience in South African National Parks, we suggest an approach to implementing adaptive management for controlling invasive alien species. Whilst efforts have been made to advance components of the overall management strategy, the absence of a framework for decision making and feedback mechanisms, inflexibility in the system and shortcomings in the governance structure are all identified as barriers to learning and knowledge integration for the purposes of effective invasive alien species management. The framework provided here, encompassing documents, committees and processes, is aimed at addressing these shortcomings. Conservation implication: Adaptive management theory offers a robust tool for managing inherently complex systems. Its practical application, however, requires distilling the theory into useable functions. We offer a framework to advance implementation of strategic adaptive management for the control of invasive alien species using experiences gained from South African National Parks.

Advances and challenges in the implementation of strategic adaptive management beyond the Kruger National Park - making linkages between science and biodiversity management

Abstract: South African National Parks (SANParks) makes use of strategic adaptive management (SAM) to achieve its primary mandate of biodiversity conservation. This involves an iterative adaptive planning, management and review cycle to ensure appropriate alignment of stakeholder values with conservation objectives, to address the uncertainty inherent in complex social– economic–ecological systems and to learn explicitly whilst doing so. Adaptive management is recognised as the most logical framework for continuous improvement in natural resource management; nevertheless, several challenges in its implementation remain. This paper outlined these challenges and the various modifications to SANParks’ adaptive planning and management process that have emerged during its development. We demonstrated how the establishment of a regular Science–Management Forum provides opportunities for social colearning amongst resource managers and scientists of a particular park, whilst providing other positive spin-offs that mature the SAM process across the organisation. We discussed the use of particular conceptual constructs that clarify the link between monitoring, management requirements and operational endpoints, providing the context within which Thresholds of Potential Concern (TPCs) should be set, prioritised and measured. The evolution of the TPC concept was also discussed in the context of its use by other organisations, whilst recognising its current limitations within SANParks. Finally, we discussed remaining implementation challenges and uncertainties, and suggested a way forward for SAM. Conservation implications: This paper outlined practical methods of implementing SAM in conservation areas, beyond what has already been learnt within, and documented for, the Kruger National Park. It also highlighted several implementation challenges that prove useful to other conservation agencies planning to adopt this approach to managing complex ecosystems.

Applying adaptive management in resource use in South African National Parks: A case study approach

Abstract: South African National Parks (SANParks) has a history of formal and informal natural resource use that is characterised by polarised views on national conservation interests and benefits to communities. Current efforts aim to determine the sustainability of existing resource use in parks and to formalise these activities through the development of resource use protocols. The resource use policy of SANParks outlines principles for sustainable resource use, including greater involvement of local communities in management of protected areas and an adaptive management approach to determining sustainable use levels. This paper examines three case studies on plant use in national parks with regard to the development of criteria and indicators for monitoring resource use, and the role of thresholds of potential concern in measuring effectiveness of managing for sustainable use levels. Opportunities and challenges for resource use management are identified. Findings show that platforms for discussion and knowledge sharing, including research committees and community associations, are critical to building relationships, trust and a shared vision of sustainable resource use between stakeholders. However, additional capacity building is needed to enable local community structures to manage internal social conflicts and jealousy, and to participate fully in monitoring efforts. Long-term monitoring is essential for developing flexible harvest prescriptions for plant use, but this is a time-consuming and resource-intensive exercise. Flexible management strategies are difficult to implement and sometimes command-and-control measures are necessary to protect rare or endangered species. A holistic approach that considers resource use in national parks as a complement to broader community development initiatives offers a way forward. Conservation implications: There is no blueprint for the development of sustainable resource use systems and resource use is often addressed according to multiple approaches in national parks. However, the SANParks resource use policy provides a necessary set of guiding principles for resource use management across the national park system that allows for monitoring progress.

SANParks, people and adaptive management: Understanding a diverse field of practice during changing times

Abstract: Biodiversity conservation is often measurable and achievable and has been reasonably successful within the boundaries of national parks. However, the concept of parks providing tangible benefits and hence being seen as ‘valuable’ to the majority of the nation has been more difficult to define, measure and, importantly, deliver on. This function has traditionally fallen under what is currently known as the People and Conservation Department, which has a rich history in South African National Parks (SANParks) of change and adaptive learning in terms of defining core functions and associated management strategies, spanning from its original inception as the Information Services Department over 80 years ago. Learning from and in some cases, adapting to change, is evident throughout this broad scale national evolution of the department, from an initial focus on information sharing and education in the 1930s, to what we see today. This includes the primary focus areas of cultural resource management and indigenous knowledge, community relations, environmental education, awareness, youth outreach, interpretation and training. At a more local, park scale, there is a current drive to formalise the adaptive management and learning process for the people component of protected areas through the alignment of relevant project, programme and park objectives with those at a corporate or national level. Associated with this is an attempt to further align the associated monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes, thereby completing the formal adaptive management loops in order to facilitate and stimulate co-learning within and between relevant responsible departments within the organisation. Conservation implications: Benefit sharing through biodiversity conservation has been shown to be crucial for the long-term success of protected areas, but the practicalities of implementing this are thwart with challenges. Despite this, SANParks is attempting to facilitate and promote benefits through conservation, specifically in the sense of benefits that support livelihoods whilst reducing vulnerability. With this in mind, we acknowledge the importance of the concepts of scale, resilience, complexity and adaptive learning for, and during, this process.

Pollution problems, resource policy, and the scientist.

Abstract: Through exponential increase in population, accompanied by rapid industrial and agricultural expansion, we have reached the point where decisions involving the use of natural resources are much more important and also much more difficult than they were even 10 years ago. The same conditions that make decisions more urgent make them more time-consuming. The Cayuga Lake case illustrates many aspects of a present-day resource management controversy.

Safe Yield of Aquifers: An Economic Reformulation

Abstract: Certain concepts of safe yield of ground-water reservoirs have been criticized by hydrologists as ambiguous, pseudohydrologic and overly limited in scope. From the perspective of economics, these difficulties are seen to stem from application of an essentially descriptive (factual) concept to the prescriptive (normative) problem of resource allocation. From the theory of optimal resource allocation in economics, it is shown that ground water basin management becomes an issue of public concern because of the existence of technical conditions which prevent the market mechanism from properly functioning in the allocation of ground water. The rules for allocating ground water implicit in the prescriptive definition of safe yield are addressed to significant issues, problems which are termed external diseconomies in economics. However, these rules are deficient in that they focus on costs of ground water withdrawals while ignoring associated benefits. The objective of maximizing net economic yield (the present value of social benefits minus social costs) is suggested as an alternative to safe yield criteria for ground water basin management.

Foresters and the Challenge of Integrated Resource Management

Abstract: Increasing public pressure on Canada's land resources to produce a greater variety of social values indicates an urgent need for integrated resources management This, in turn, requires a reorientation in the traditional "single resource" thinking of foresters and others However, it is believed that the current major impediments to developing integrated resource management are to be found in the attitudes and opinions which prevail in the administrative centres of government in respect to social, political, economic, legal, and other matters Integrated resource management is fundamentally a social concept and a prerequisite to long-term progress in this area is a better knowledge and awareness of the social-environmental needs of society on the part of all resource personnel Foresters are closely identified in the public mind with responsibilities in wildland management and should be actively concerned with integrated resource management

Effective water resources management in the urban setting

Abstract: Water resources management in the urban areas of the United States to be effective must include dimensions far beyond water supply and sewerage This paper concerns itself with those problem areas of water resource management outside of potable water supply and sanitary sewers These areas include flood plain management, greenways and blueways, storm water, vistas of waterways, and other attributes of living in or near a water-related environment The perceptions and attitudes of the concerned public and community power structure must be known in order to manage the water environment effectively Methods of measuring these perceptions and attitudes are described and ways in which the resulting citizen-resource can be tapped and used as a management device are explored

Land and water resource planning in developing countries.

Abstract: Land and water resources must be identified, characterized and quantified as an essential preliminary to agricultural development. Some of the techniques employed are described and discussed. The successful exploitation of these resources demands an accurate appraisal of socio-economic targets, which themselves must be amenable to adjustment in the light of fresh information on resource availability. Human understanding, if not compassion, is a desirable attribute of the planner.

Meshing natural resource use and development with increasing urbanization

Abstract: C. R. Enock, speaking as a conservationist in 1913, made a plea for the merging of the sciences into a new science “ …a comprehensive and constructive science whose aim would be to evolve and teach the principles under which economic equilibrium in the life of communities may be attained”. He stated, further: …the real science of living on the earth, or “human geography,” the adaption of natural resources and national potentialities to the life of the community, has never been formulated. The congestion of the population in towns, the desertion of countryside, the high cost of living, low wages, unemployment and so forth are related phenomena, intimately connected with the conservation and development of natural resources …

Water Resources and Regional Land-Use Plan

Abstract: Water resources development and management plans for urbanizing areas must be prepared within the framework of a regional land-use plan if the water resource is to be preserved, protected, and utilized efficiently. Land and water resource planning should be concurrent and interacting so that land use does not exceed the capability of the water resource base and so development of water resources can best serve the urban community. Water resources plans for urban areas should include consideration of all purposes and should retain maximum flexibility for future decisions. A recommended planning procedure includes the following steps: study design, establishment of objectives principles and standards, inventory, analysis and forecast, formulation of alternative plans, plan test and evaluation, and plan selection. The selection of the plan to be adopted is the prerogative of the public and the planner is responsible for formulating viable alternatives from which selection can be made.