Participatory Indicator Development: What Can Ecologists and Local Communities Learn From Each Other

Abstract

Abstract. Given the growing popularity of indicators among policy-makers to measure progress toward conservation and sustainability goals, there is an urgent need to develop indicators that can be used accurately by both specialists and nonspecialists, drawing from the knowledge possessed by each group. This paper uses a case study from the Kalahari, Botswana to show how participatory and ecological methods can be combined to develop robust indicators that are accessible to a range of users to monitor and enhance the sustainability of land management. First, potential environmental sustainability indicators were elicited from pastoralists in three study sites. This knowledge was then evaluated by pastoralists, before being tested empirically using ecological and soil-based techniques. Despite the wealth of local knowledge about indicators, this knowledge was thinly spread. The knowledge was more holistic than published indicator lists for monitoring rangelands, encompassing vegetation, soil, livestock, wild animal, and socioeconomic indicators. Pastoralist preferences for vegetation and livestock indicators match recent shifts in ecological theory suggesting that livestock populations reach equilibrium with key forage resources in semiarid environments. Although most indicators suggested by pastoralists were validated through empirical work (e.g., decreased grass cover and soil organic matter content, and increased abundance of Acacia mellifera and thatching grass), they were not always sufficiently accurate or reliable for objective degradation assessment, showing that local knowledge cannot be accepted unquestioningly. We suggest that, by combining participatory and ecological approaches, it is possible to derive more accurate and relevant indicators than either approach could achieve alone.

Knowing, farming and climate change adaptation in North-Central Namibia

“…Berkes (2004) argued that there are few examples of science and local knowledge being fitted together to provide input into resource management. Happily, however, in the case of Southern Africa, there are a number of examples of instances where this has been attempted, with encouraging results (Reed et al, , 2008Stringer et al, 2007Stringer et al, , 2009). Here we add a Namibian case study to this exciting body of work.…”

Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change in Dryland Livelihood Systems: Conceptual Challenges and Interdisciplinary Solutions

“…However, a similar combination of climate and socioeconomic pressures are being observed in North Africa (Christensen et al 2007, Thomas 2008, Asia (Lioubimtseva et al 2005, Cruz et al 2007, and Latin America (Eakin and Wehbe 2009). Considerable uncertainty, however, remains about how future climatic changes will affect drylands (Sitch et al 2007) and it is imperative that new and interdisciplinary research agendas are developed focusing on livelihood security in these dynamic, complex, and risk-prone environments (Reed et al 2008). Specifically, research is needed to explore how development strategies and other socioeconomic changes can help livelihoods to become more resilient and robust at a time of growing climatic risk and uncertainty (Thompson and Scoones 2009).…”

“…Sen recognizes that if households have access to a range of different resources then they will have greater capacity to adapt to a problem. For example, a rural household with extensive friends or other social relations may be able to maintain productivity without outside institutional help during a drought because they may be better able to move cattle between regions to obtain fodder (Reed et al 2008). Sen's work, which provides a theoretical foundation for understanding such capabilities, has given rise to the "sustainable livelihoods approach," a set of methodological tools that are used to explore how households deploy "capital assets" to maintain livelihoods during shocks (Scoones 1998).…”

Decision Support in Assessing the Sustainable Use of Forests and Other Natural Resources - A Comparative Review

“…If stakeholders' influence is minimal, the motivation to participate in the process decreases [22]. Active participation of locals could provide reliable knowledge [135], which might not be the case if participation does not permit open discussion and modification of the process.…”