A Word to the Wise: Advice for Scientists Engaged in Collaborative Adaptive Management

Abstract

Collaborative adaptive management (CAM) is a process for making decisions about the environment in the face of uncertainty and conflict. Scientists have a central role to play in these decisions. However, while scientists are well-trained to reduce uncertainty by discovering new knowledge, most lack experience with the means to mitigate conflict in contested situations. To address this gap, we drew from our efforts coordinating a large CAM effort, the Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project, to offer advice to our fellow environmental scientists. Key challenges posed by CAM include the confusion caused by multiple institutional cultures, the need to provide information at management-relevant scales, frequent turn-over in participants, fluctuations in enthusiasm among key constituencies, and diverse definitions of success among partners. Effective strategies included a dedication to consistency, a commitment to transparency, the willingness to communicate frequently via multiple forums, and the capacity for flexibility.CAM represents a promising, new model for scientific engagement with the public. Learning the lessons of effective collaboration in environmental management is an essential task to achieve the shared goal of a sustainable future.

Incorporating climate change into invasive species management: insights from managers

“…In addition to formal Extension programs at landgrant institutions, several organizations provide excellent models for facilitating researcher-practitioner relationships throughout project planning, execution, and research application. For example, in 2005, a multi-institutional science team created the Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project (SNAMP) to provide transparency and foster mutual learning with respect to land management of forest fires in the Sierra Nevada Region (Hopkinson et al 2017). SNAMP used a website to disseminate research information (e.g., project updates, meeting agendas, publications), facilitate regular meetings, and moderate a discussion board that allowed stakeholders to communicate directly with researchers (Kelly et al 2012).…”

Tree conservation can be constrained by agents from conservation permitting and funding agencies

“…When individual participants of conservation projects are changed, the driving motivations and personal agendas will also change, and the collaborations may fail as a direct result of the participant turnover [32,33]. The dysfunction caused by rapid turnover of federal agency personnel damages performance of proficient practitioners and ensures diminished success of terrestrial conservation efforts.…”

Negotiating Improved Multifunctional Landscape Use: Trails as Facilitators for Collaboration Among Stakeholders

“…The workshop took place in April 2016 during the association's meetings called Fjällforum. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss topics that stakeholders had expressed to be pressing and important and to involve the stakeholders in the research process, including presentations of recent research to co-generate knowledge through communication and collaboration [54,77]. The parts of the workshop organized by the researchers was much strengthened by the knowledge gained through the interviews and field walks, as well as our increased familiarity with various stakeholder groups.…”