Building capacity through participatory action learning for implementation of sustainable natural resource management

Lead Research Organisation: James Hutton Institute
Department Name: Ecological Sciences

Abstract

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Description The work has shown the value of map-based participatory methods (participatory GIS) to integrate local knowledge with ecological understanding across the landscape over which the resource occurs. This approach provides visual and flexible tools to support a voluntary process for negotiating management options for achieving multiple interests. Our experience reinforces the importance of using good practice guidelines for effective stakeholder participation (see http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/economics/research/SERPpb1.pdf).
Exploitation Route Requests for assistance indicate a demand for increased capacity to utilise this framework when considering the future land management decisions. SNH have requested support to assess the impacts of proposed fencing on deer range use, using the mapping approach to predict risks to SSSI woodlands. The Association for DMGs has requested a joint presentation on the mapping approach from private sector (ADMG), public sector (National Park) and researchers.

The need for SNH to implement the new Code of Practice for Deer Management (2011) and translating ecosystem service strategy into practice will create further impetus for governing bodies to seek adaptable and accessible frameworks to facilitate negotiation, and is likely to lead to changes in agency working practice. The UK-wide expansion of deer populations, particularly in urban areas, is anticipated to generate interest in collaborative frameworks that incorporate multiple values. Wider engagement will be needed to improve public and local authority understanding and debate acceptable social and environmental carrying capacities and costs of differing management options. Some deer managers are now taking a greater interest in habitat impacts caused by deer and this may generate a need for researcher engagement to provide training and develop acceptable indicators for monitoring impacts.
Sectors Environment
URL http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/RELU/
 
Description Policy impact: Policy implementation depends on regulation and incentive. Regulatory enforcement can have limited impact because of the resultant conflict and lack of policing resources. Collaboration and voluntary approaches can generate local solutions, yet there is a lack of capacity to achieve this. This project provided insights to the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs Committee during deliberations on a statutory versus voluntary approach to deer management in new legislation. The Scottish Government recognise the need for an ecosystem approach and mapping-based tools provide part of the mechanism for combining stakeholder and scientific knowledge and exploring social, economic and environmental implications of future management options. Reflections on Government goals & capacity: Our work prompted acknowledgement of resource constraints affecting policy delivery and revealed significant differences between managerial and frontline agency staff over perceived needs and barriers (Section 2d). In Cumbria, our reframing of deer management and map-based communication approach has resulted in the regional Deer Officer being invited to join the NE ecosystem planning process. Building capacity & momentum: Interest in our work and momentum generated through the Scottish case study benefited from early awareness-raising via newsletters and attendance at networking events. With GIS support from the Park Authority and by identifying relevant existing datasets, we reduced the technical complexity of our framework to meet stakeholder capabilities, so reducing potential barriers to uptake. Our mapping report has been instrumental in disseminating these principles and examples (ROS: Mapping tools for collaborative deer management). Continuing influence and impacts: The balance of engagement has shifted as our framework becomes embedded within practice: the Scottish case study built sufficient momentum for participants to take a lead, with ongoing support from project staff. This stakeholder-led strategy replaced proposed deer sector and good practice workshops, and is reaching a wider range of users than is possible through single events. By contrast, in NW England, a Best Practice event enabled us to generate wider awareness about changing policy drivers, disseminate lessons from Scotland, and gather information on capacity-building needs in England. These efforts are generating increased demand for the participatory framework
First Year Of Impact 2012
Sector Environment
Impact Types Societal,Policy & public services
 
Title Collaborative frameworks in land management : a case study on integrated deer management, 2006-2009 
Description This is a mixed method data collection. The study is part of the Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme. It is widely accepted, at least in principle, that most kinds of natural resources are best handled collaboratively. Collaborative management avoids conflict and enhances the efficiency with which the resource is managed. However, simply knowing that collaboration is a good idea does not guarantee that collaboration can be achieved. In this project, the researchers have addresse, This is a mixed method data collection. The study is part of the Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme. It is widely accepted, at least in principle, that most kinds of natural resources are best handled collaboratively. Collaborative management avoids conflict and enhances the efficiency with which the resource is managed. However, simply knowing that collaboration is a good idea does not guarantee that collaboration can be achieved. In this project, the researchers have addressed is 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The knowledge supported a policy not from the EU project "SPIRAL" 
URL http://www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=6545
 
Description Innovations in collaboration : developing mapping for adaptive deer management 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Poster presented at Scottish Game Fair 2011 workshop

Generated discussion and helped recruit people for a choice experiment
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Putting deer on the map 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited speaker presentation given to a deer management group to stimulate discussion on map-based communication and collaboration strategies, and to disseminate learning from experience in Scotland

The mapping works was subsequently used in deer management conflicts in other deer management groups
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011