Ministry of Forests Branches Search the Forest Practices Branch Web Site Send a Note to the Forest Practices Branch Contact Information for the Forest Practices Branch
Adaptive Management Logo

    

An Introductory Guide to Adaptive Management

References

Key References

Holling, C.S., editor. 1978. Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management. John Wiley and Sons, London.

Keeney, R.L. 1982. Decision analysis: an overview. Operations Research 30:803-838.

Lee, K.N. 1993. Compass and Gyroscope: integrating science and politics for the environment. Island Press, Washington, D.C. 243 pp.

Raiffa, H. 1968. Decision Analysis: Introductory Lectures on Choices Under Uncertainty. Addison-Wesley, Don Mills, Ont. 875 pp.

Taylor, B, L. Kremsater, and R. Ellis. 1997. Adaptive Management of Forests in British Columbia.  British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Forest Practices Branch, Victoria. 93pp. (Note that in developing this introductory guide, the elements of adaptive management (outlined in chapter 5) have been updated and revised.)

Walters, C.J. 1986. Adaptive Management of Renewable Resources. McGraw-Hill, New York. 374pp

References on Organizational Learning

Argyris, C. and D.Schon. 1978. Organizational Learning: A Theory of Action Perspective. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.

Argyris, C. 1993. Actionable Knowledge: Especially for Changing the Status Quo. Jossey-Bass. San Francisco.

Kline, P.and B. Saunders. 1996. 10 Steps to a Learning Organization. Pfeiffer and Co., Prentice Hall Canada.

Kofman, F. and P.M. Senge. Communities of commitment: the heart of learning organizations. Organizational Dynamics 22: 5-23.

Senge, P.M. The Fifth Discipline - the Art and Science of the Learning Organization. Doubleday

Quick reference:

Steps in adaptive management

1. Assess Problem

  • Define scope of management problem.
  • Define measurable management objectives.
  • Identify key indicators for each objective.
  • Explore effects of alternative actions on indicators
  • Make explicit forecasts about responses of indicators to management actions
  • Identify and assess key gaps in understanding.

2. Design (management plan)

  • Design management plan that will provide reliable feedback and fill gaps in understanding.
  • Evaluate management options/alternative designs, and choose one to implement.
  • Design monitoring protocol.
  • Plan data management and analysis.
  • State how management actions or objectives will be adjusted.
  • Set up system to communicate results and information.

3. Implement

  • Follow the plan!
  • Monitor implementation and document any deviations from plan.

4. Monitor

  • Monitor for: implementation, effectiveness, validation and surprises.
  • Follow the monitoring protocol designed in Step 2.

5. Evaluate

  • Compare actual outcomes to forecasts made in Step 1.
  • Document results and communicate them to others facing similar management issues.

6. Adjust

  • Identify where uncertainties have been reduces and where they remain unresolved.
  • Adjust the model used to forecast outcomes, so that it reflects the hypothesis supported by results.
  • Adjust management actions and reevaluate objectives as necessary.
  • Make new predictions, design new management experiments, test new options...repeat cycle.

Document plans and communicate results

  • Document all major steps in the process.
  • Ensure that information is accessible over the long term.
  • Define who is responsible for co-ordinating and for carrying out each task.
  • Set time lines for carrying out each task or part of project.
  • Distribute interim an final results.

Create Success

  • Create an atmosphere and promote an attitude that is conducive to long-term learning.
  • Ensure that all participants have a clear, consistent understanding of adaptive management.
  • Build contingency plans into project.
  • Anticipate potential barriers and develop strategies for overcoming or minimizing them.

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Appendix 3

     Back to the top