Deconstructing adaptive management: criteria for applications to environmental management

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Management
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Adaptive management is widely adopted for environmental initiatives facing ecological uncertainty.
• However, many applications lack core adaptive management principles, leading to implementation challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose explicit criteria for selecting between passive and active adaptive management strategies.
• To aid managers and decision-makers in assessing the suitability of adaptive management for specific environmental problems.

Main Methods:

• Development of four categories of criteria: spatial/temporal scale, uncertainty dimensions, cost-benefit analysis, and institutional/stakeholder support.
• Application of these criteria to hypothetical yet realistic case-study scenarios.

Main Results:

• The criteria help differentiate appropriate contexts for adaptive management.
• Case studies illustrate the practical application of the criteria across diverse environmental management issues.

Conclusions:

• Many challenges in adaptive management stem from its application in unsuitable contexts.
• Proper contextual assessment using defined criteria is crucial for successful adaptive management implementation.