The document discusses the development of sustainability indicators for upland estate management in Scotland, emphasizing the need for expert knowledge and a toolkit that incorporates diverse stakeholder perspectives. It outlines a methodology involving multiple rounds of feedback and reflections to create practical management strategies and tools for sustainability. The research highlights the importance of adapting management practices to foster long-term resilience, ecological health, and community engagement.

1. Beyond the usual suspects?
The role of expert knowledge in sustainability
indicator development for Scotland’s upland estates
Jayne Glass1, Alister Scott2 and Martin Price1
1 Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College UHI Millennium Institute
2 Birmingham City University
Global Change and the World’s Moutains Conference
Wednesday 29th September 2010
Knowledge systems and mountain sustainability concerns
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2. Outline
• Research context
• Methodology
• A toolkit for sustainable
upland estate management
• Using the toolkit
• Reflections
2

3. Research context I
Upland estate
management in Scotland
• Diverse models (Warren 2009)
• Uncertain futures (Reed et al. 2009)
• Uncertainty about
sustainability ‘on the ground’
3

4. Research context II
• Conflicts between sustainability
principles present a stumbling
block (Jordan 2008)
Sustainable
upland
management • ‘Learning from doing’ (Berkes 2009;
Ioris et al. 2008)
• Integrating approaches and
interests (Bonn et al. 2009)
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5. Research context III
• ‘Top-down’ vs. ‘bottom-up’
approaches (Reed et al. 2006)
Sustainability
indicators for • Local experience and values of
natural relevant stakeholders (Holden 2008)
resource
management
• ‘Governance thinking’ (Rist et al.2007)
• Wider range of actors (Holman 2009)
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6. Methodology I
Land managers Landowners Moorland Forum RSPB
NTS
Estate
management NGOs & other
interest groups JMT
professionals
Land Agents Southern Uplands Partnership
Scottish
CNPA Government
LINK Panel Government
Representative agencies & DCS
bodies other bodies
SRPBA
Sustainable Development
RICS
SAC Commission
Academics &
International consultants
Consultants
Relu programme
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7. Methodology II
Round One:
Establishing a context for
sustainability Compiling and feeding back
ideas
Round Two:
Discussing practical
management strategies Developing first draft
Round Three:
Reflecting on the first draft
Developing second draft
Round Four:
Reflecting on the second
Redrafting and piloting the
draft
toolkit
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8. 8

9. Sustainability classes
Creativity Positive impacts Maintaining a status quo
Innovation Sound science A short-term view
Novel approaches A long-term view Unwilling to collaborate
Leadership Willing to collaborate Not responding to change
Pre-empting change Adapting to change Managing for personal
preference
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10. Outcomes and opportunities
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11. Adapting
Adapting
Broadening Ecosystem Linking into
Thinking
beyond the
management management
options thinking social fabric
estate
Economic Improved quality of Environmentally and
Long-term
planning
Long-term
resilience and
A biodiverse
environment
life and socially responsible
financial viability representation business(es)
►Developing and
planning
► Developing long- ► Maintaining and ► Playing a role in ► Reducing carbon-
implementing long-
term management
►Developing and
term income streams
to cope with shocks
enhancing
environments for
delivering community
aspirations
focussed impacts of
estate activities
implementing long-
plans for all aspects of priority habitats and ► InvolvingProactive ► Supporting local
estate management species communities in estate trades, suppliers and
term management ► Restoring key decision-making and markets
plans for all aspects of habitats management
estate management
Customer-led Well-maintained ImprovedActive External
Risk management and enhanced livelihood collaboration and
approach
ecosystem services opportunities dialogue
► Adapting Risk
► Adding value to ► Maximising the ► Facilitating
Under- ► Involvement in
management on the
basis of sound
estate products and
management
services
carbon storage
potential of the estate
!
employment and
active
people development
planning and delivery
beyond the estate
knowledge and ► Maintaining and opportunities scale
understanding ► Adapting enhancing catchments ► Sharing knowledge
to good ecological and learning from
management on the condition others
basis of sound ► Conserving and
protecting landscapes
knowledge and and upland cultural
heritage
understanding 11

12. Using the toolkit
• Management plans and other
documentation
• In-depth interview with estate
representative
• Triangulating data
• Feeding back
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13. Reflections
• Creating a deliberative space for
reflection and learning
• A qualitative tool that facilitates
monitoring and learning
•Building on sustainability
perceptions
• Active role of the researcher in
stimulating knowledge generation
for sustainability
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14. Thank you
References
Berkes, F., 2009. Evolution of co-management: Role of knowledge generation, bridging
organizations and social learning. Journal of Environmental Management, 90, 1692-1702.
Holman, N., 2009. Incorporating local sustainability indicators into structures of local governance:
a review of the literature. Local Environment, 14 (4), 365-375.
Ioris, A.A.R., Hunter, C. and Walker, S., 2008. The development and application of water
management sustainability indicators in Brazil and Scotland. Journal of Environmental
Management, 88 (4), 1190-1201.
Jordan, A., 2008. The governance of sustainable development: taking stock and looking forwards.
Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 26, 17-33.
Reed, M.S. et al., 2006. An adaptive learning process for developing and applying sustainability
indicators with local communities. Ecological Economics, 59(4), 406-418.
Reed, M.S., et al., 2009. The future of the uplands. Land Use Policy, 26S, S204-S216.
Warren, C., 2009. Managing Scotland’s Environment. Second edition. Edinburgh University Press,
Edinburgh.
For more information about the research,
please contact: jayne.glass@perth.uhi.ac.uk
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