Adaptive management of natural resources--framework and issues

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Natural resource management
• Conservation science

Background:

• Adaptive management is a long-standing approach for managing natural resources while learning.
• Its adoption is widespread in conservation, yet practical understanding and implementation remain ambiguous.
• There is a need for a clear framework and conditions for effective adaptive decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a framework and conditions for adaptive decision-making.
• To discuss critical challenges in the application of adaptive management.
• To clarify the concept and implementation of adaptive management for practitioners.

Main Methods:

• Described adaptive management as a sequential two-phase process: deliberative and iterative.
• Highlighted key elements, processes, and issues within this framework.
• Focused on geographic scale, non-stationarity, and organizational challenges.

Main Results:

• A framework for adaptive decision-making is presented.
• Key implementation challenges, including scale and non-stationarity, are discussed.
• The deliberative and iterative phases of adaptive management are detailed.

Conclusions:

• Adaptive management requires a clear framework and understanding of its phases.
• Addressing challenges like geographic scale and non-stationarity is crucial for successful application.
• This work aims to reduce ambiguity and guide practitioners in implementing adaptive management effectively.