The role of social and policy learning in changing forest governance: An examination of community-based forestry initiatives in the U.S.

Community based forest enterprises in Britain: Two organising typologies

“…This transition to enterprise development shifts motivations from a predominant focus on social causes and benefits, to foregrounding the woodlands whilst matching costs of woodland management to the wider potential benefits. This mirrors experiences documented in the USA (Cheng et al, 2011). There is potential for community based enterprises to carry this learning into the wider small woodland owner arena.…”

When peer-reviewed publications are not enough! Delivering science for natural resource management

“…Since the end of the post-war development era around 1960, the expert-driven model of decision-making has been increasingly replaced with participatory models (Steelman, 2001;Collins and Evans, 2002). This change is a result of a changing culture, which is increasingly skeptical of management and demands representation of broader public values (Steel and Weber, 2001;Steelman, 2001;Munnichs, 2004;Groffman et al, 2010;Cheng et al, 2011;Clement and Cheng, 2011). This view is reflected in the National Forest Management Act of 1976, which requires public input in any management action and planning on National Forests.…”

“…Also, public inclusion could increase ecological literacy and scientific transparency (Ananda and Herath, 2003;Bonney et al, 2009;Dickinson et al, 2010;Groffman et al, 2010). Some practitioners of participatory approaches believe that there will be greater public support for subsequent management interventions and conservation goals based on outcomes of the research (White, 2001;Thompson et al, 2005;Cooper et al, 2007;Dickinson et al, 2010;Ottinger, 2010;Sekloca, 2010;Cheng et al, 2011;Talwar et al, 2011). John Dewey, an early American philosopher , argued that a complete democracy requires an educated and fully informed public, which is accomplished only through communication among citizens, technical experts, and decision-makers (Dewey, 2009).…”

Evaluating Management Effectiveness of National Parks as a Contribution to Good Governance and Social Learning

“…Borowski et al (2008) present a conceptual framework regarding the perspective of social learning in participatory resource management. They find that social learning may take place at many places in the governance and management processes (such as context, inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes) and provide indicators for the extent and effectiveness of social learning (see also Cheng et al, 2011). Consequently, social learning is supported by a range of different participatory instruments (e.g.…”