Finding Common Ground between Adaptive Management and Evidence-Based Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation

Lindsey Gillson; Harry Biggs; Izak P J Smit; Malika Virah-Sawmy; Kevin Rogers

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2018.10.003

Finding Common Ground between Adaptive Management and Evidence-Based Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation

Trends Ecol Evol. 2019 Jan;34(1):31-44. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.10.003. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Authors

Lindsey Gillson¹, Harry Biggs², Izak P J Smit³, Malika Virah-Sawmy⁴, Kevin Rogers⁵

Affiliations

¹ Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. Electronic address: Lindsey.Gillson@uct.ac.za.
² Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350, South Africa; Current address: PO Box 230, Bathurst 6166, South Africa.
³ Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350, South Africa; Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa.
⁴ Geography Department, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Alfred-Rühl-Haus, Rudower Chaussee 16, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
⁵ School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa.

PMID: 30447939
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.10.003

Abstract

Adaptive management (AM) and evidence-based conservation (EBC) have emerged as major decision-making frameworks for conservation management. AM deals with complexity and the importance of local context in making conservation decisions under conditions of high variability, uncertainty, and rapid environmental and social change. EBC seeks for generality from empirical data and aims to develop and enhance best practice. The goal of this review is to explore opportunities for finding common ground between AM and EBC. We propose a framework for distinguishing the subset of conservation problems that are amenable to an evidence-based approach, based on levels of uncertainty, complexity, and social agreement. We then suggest ways for combining multiple lines of evidence and developing greater opportunities for iteration and co-learning in EBC.

Keywords: Complexity; adaptive management cycle; conservation decisions; uncertainty.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biodiversity*
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Decision Making*
Uncertainty