Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems
Many case studies in adaptive-management planning for riparian ecosystems have failed to produce useful models for policy comparison or good experimental management plans for resolving key uncertainties. Modeling efforts have been plagued by difficulties in representation of cross-scale effects (fro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Resilience Alliance
1997-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Society |
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| Online Access: | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol1/iss2/art1/ |
| _version_ | 1819031042997092352 |
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| author | Carl Walters |
| author_facet | Carl Walters |
| author_sort | Carl Walters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many case studies in adaptive-management planning for riparian ecosystems have failed to produce useful models for policy comparison or good experimental management plans for resolving key uncertainties. Modeling efforts have been plagued by difficulties in representation of cross-scale effects (from rapid hydrologic change to long-term ecological response), lack of data on key processes that are difficult to study, and confounding of factor effects in validation data. Experimental policies have been seen as too costly or risky, particularly in relation to monitoring costs and risk to sensitive species. Research and management stakeholders have shown deplorable self-interest, seeing adaptive-policy development as a threat to existing research programs and management regimes, rather than as an opportunity for improvement. Proposals for experimental management regimes have exposed and highlighted some really fundamental conflicts in ecological values, particularly in cases in which endangered species have prospered under historical management and would be threatened by ecosystem restoration efforts. There is much potential for adaptive management in the future, if we can find ways around these barriers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:39:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aef5d6c81d0d4a35902596eccb1af233 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1708-3087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:39:46Z |
| publishDate | 1997-12-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-aef5d6c81d0d4a35902596eccb1af2332022-12-21T19:12:46ZengResilience AllianceEcology and Society1708-30871997-12-0112110.5751/CE-00026-01020126Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystemsCarl Walters0University of British ColumbiaMany case studies in adaptive-management planning for riparian ecosystems have failed to produce useful models for policy comparison or good experimental management plans for resolving key uncertainties. Modeling efforts have been plagued by difficulties in representation of cross-scale effects (from rapid hydrologic change to long-term ecological response), lack of data on key processes that are difficult to study, and confounding of factor effects in validation data. Experimental policies have been seen as too costly or risky, particularly in relation to monitoring costs and risk to sensitive species. Research and management stakeholders have shown deplorable self-interest, seeing adaptive-policy development as a threat to existing research programs and management regimes, rather than as an opportunity for improvement. Proposals for experimental management regimes have exposed and highlighted some really fundamental conflicts in ecological values, particularly in cases in which endangered species have prospered under historical management and would be threatened by ecosystem restoration efforts. There is much potential for adaptive management in the future, if we can find ways around these barriers.http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol1/iss2/art1/adaptive managementcoastal ecosystemsecosystem managementfisheriesinstitutional barriersmanagement experimentsmodelingriparian ecosystemssimulation |
| spellingShingle | Carl Walters Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems Ecology and Society adaptive management coastal ecosystems ecosystem management fisheries institutional barriers management experiments modeling riparian ecosystems simulation |
| title | Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems |
| title_full | Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems |
| title_short | Challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems |
| title_sort | challenges in adaptive management of riparian and coastal ecosystems |
| topic | adaptive management coastal ecosystems ecosystem management fisheries institutional barriers management experiments modeling riparian ecosystems simulation |
| url | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol1/iss2/art1/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carlwalters challengesinadaptivemanagementofriparianandcoastalecosystems |