Adaptive Co-Management: BEAUFORT SEA

Adaptive Co-Management Working Group Ocean Management Research Network Conference

Ottawa, Ontario October 26th, 2007

Asked to :

Give a general reaction to the concept of ACM principles and concepts

identify barriers / opportunities to the application of ADM in the Beaufort Sea LOMA planning context

elaborate an applied research agenda around ACM to support policy makers and practitionerS

Looking north over Kugmallit Bay from Tuktoyaktuk

Principles and Concepts include: Policy Considerations Partnerships and power

sharing Institutional design for

adaptive co-management Complex systems thinking Adaptive capacity and

resilience Conditions of success and

failure Learning, knowledge and

social capital

Martha Flaherty, a steadfast advocate for Inuit Women, children and youth at

CZC 06

Policy Considerations:

Treat ACM as a process focused on problem solving

Recognize that a process–oriented approach may have high transaction costs in the short-term but benefits in the long-term

Partnerships and power sharing

Create incentives for partners to engage in new ways of sharing power

Seek appropriate roles for the partners

Institutional Design for Adaptive co-management Make sure to use

existing institutions and include all of the key players

Complex systems thinking

Bring decisions as close to the user as possible

Pay attention to drivers of change that originate outside the local or regional system to be managed

Adaptive capacity and resilience Acknowledge scientific uncertainty and

incorporate local and traditional knowledge Use adaptive management approaches to

encourage systematic learning Encourage systematic learning, be flexible

in making management decisions Build adaptive capacity at multiple levels View building adaptive capacity and

resilience as a long-term process

Conditions of success and failure: Seek an understanding of local rules and

definition of group membership Ensure clear objectives, accountability and

adequate fiscal support. Engender platforms for negotiation and conflict resolution

Allow enough time to build mutual trust and respect

Find ways to overcome bureaucratic rationality

Learning, knowledge and social capital: Focus on learning-by-doing through

iterative, reflexive practice, problem solving, action modification

Focus on instrumental learning to enhance the efficiency of management practice

Question standard operation procedures so as to consider a broad range of options (double-loop learning)

Create information clearinghouses to build a shared understanding

THANK YOU