Interdisciplinarity in action                                       19/07/11




               Interdisciplinarity in action

    Linking science and policy to preserve
biodiversity and restore ecosystem functions


               Luis Santamaria
               Pablo F. Méndez
               Laboratorio de Ecologia Espacial
               Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Mallorca, Spain



               Jaime Amezaga
               University of Newcastle, UK
Interdisciplinarity in action             19/07/11



   Halting biodiversity loss by 2010

        2002

                                2006

                                       2010
Interdisciplinarity in action                        19/07/11




                                Coverage of protected areas
Interdisciplinarity in action                                                                  19/07/11




                                                         FSM Church: Pirates cause climate change


                       Average global temperature ( C)




                                                                                                    Number of pirates (approx.)
Interdisciplinarity in action                                                                  19/07/11




                                                          Protected areas cause biodiversity loss
                                                         FSM Church: Pirates cause climate change


                       Average global temperature ( C)




                                                                                                     Cover of pirates (approx.)
                                                                                                    Numberof protected areas
                                Biodiversity
Interdisciplinarity in action   19/07/11



Case study:
Doñana Nature Reserves
Interdisciplinarity in action            19/07/11




                                Values
Interdisciplinarity in action               19/07/11




                                Pressures
Interdisciplinarity in action             19/07/11




                                Impacts
Interdisciplinarity in action                             19/07/11




Intrinsic hydrologic uncertainty, caused by strong inter-annual
variation in precipitation regime + historical impact on inflows
                % of surface flooded
Interdisciplinarity in action                                  19/07/11




Large spatial variation in flooding period (from 0.5 to 9 months/year)
                                     Overimposed on a even stronger
                                        variation between years
                                   E.g. maximum inundation in two consecutive
                                             years (1995 and 1996)
Interdisciplinarity in action                            19/07/11




     Flooding intensity (timing, duration and water depth) is a key
             determinant of aquatic-ecosystem structure.

Why? Because turbidity caused by siltation determines the yearly shifts
               between two alternative stable states:
              -macrophyte dominated (high diversity)
       -algae dominated (low diversity, risk of toxic blooms)
Interdisciplinarity in action                            19/07/11



   Water management: Cannot define an optimum flooding regime.
 Instead, enhance resilience by increasing biotic connecivity, reducing
       herbivore pressure and structuring water management.

        Wetland restoration: Cannot define an optimum design.
Instead, increase resilience by maximizing wetland size/depth diversity –
       and learn from the design to improve future management.

 Funded and executed by River Authority, distrusted by Park managers!
Interdisciplinarity in action                               19/07/11




    Perceptual trap - never look under the surface (of water)

         Fear of uncertainty - resort to single-goal panaceas
Interdisciplinarity in action                                  19/07/11



Focusing on wetland conservation + water resources management :

    1. Practical case of adaptive restoration (demonstration site)

                             2. Institutional background
                                  -Historical analysis
                        -Narrative analysis (policy narratives)

                                    3. Action research
                               -(Semi-structured) interviews
                                       - Workshops

                            Key objectives
        -Introduce the concepts of uncertainty and resilience
  -Build trust among management agencies and with stakeholders
              -Introduce flexibility and foster innovation
1928




National




Regional




 Local         Livestock
           (comunal pastures)
1928




National   River Authority




Regional




 Local                           Livestock
                             (comunal pastures)
1928         1964


                             Biological Reserve
National   River Authority




Regional




 Local                           Livestock
                             (comunal pastures)
1968
    1928         1964


                             Biological Reserve
National   River Authority
                               National Park




Regional




 Local                           Livestock
                             (comunal pastures)
1968
    1928         1964        1989


                               Biological Reserve
National   River Authority
                                    National Park




Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
1968
    1928         1964        1989        2006


                               Biological Reserve
National   River Authority
                                    National Park



                                    National Park
Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
1968
    1928         1964        1989        2006


                               Biological Reserve
National   River Authority




                                    National Park
Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
1968
    1928         1964        1989        2006 2010


                               Biological Reserve
National   River Authority




                                    National Park
           River Authority
Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
1968
    1928         1964        1989        2006 2010


                               Biological Reserve
National




                                    National Park
           River Authority
Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
1968                         2011
    1928         1964        1989        2006 2010


                               Biological Reserve
National   River Authority




                                    National Park
           River Authority
Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
1968                         2011
    1928         1964        1989        2006 2010


                               Biological Reserve
National   River Authority




                                    National Park
Regional
                                    Natural Park



 Local                            Livestock
                              (comunal pastures)
Interdisciplinarity in action                         19/07/11




                    Path dependency   Rigidity trap         RIR
Interdisciplinarity in action                           19/07/11




                                    Management narratives

1. WRM: water is used to maximise productivity and foster economic
                              growth

2. NC: conservation areas (incl. wetlands) are managed to safeguard
   nature “as it was” (in the 1960’s) and foster human welfare (non-
                            economic values)
Interdisciplinarity in action                            19/07/11




Meta-narrative: management for productivity, using comparable (single-
         minded, optimality-oriented, hyerarchical) approaches.

            1. WRM produces commodities (crops, game, fishing)

        2. NC produces protected species (linx, eagle, waterbirds)
Interdisciplinarity in action                                  19/07/11




                                 Interviews and workshops:

              1. Semi-structured interviews to 30 key actors

        2. Workshop on uncertainties (card-sorting method)

       -> Subset of actors included in management workshop

 3. Workshop on management (facilitated discussion + group-
                      model building)

                                -> Got together WRM and NC!
Interdisciplinarity in action                           19/07/11



                Recommendations of management workshop:

        1. Develop transparent, shared management objectives

 2. Re-structure monitoring and improve institutional coordination

 3. Incorporate research and social participation to policy-making
                               process

4. Define a specific Doñana–subcatchment in the River Management
                                 Plan

 5. Continue and expand the cooperation dynamics created by the
                     Aznalcollar mining accident

   6. Develop pilot projects to prove success and generate trust
Interdisciplinarity in action                            19/07/11




                                    Current prospects

  1. Forthcoming revision/evaluation of adaptive restoration design

2. Discussions on “adaptive management” of horse/cattle within the
                       park and restoration area

3. “Institutional closure” – window of opportunity progressive closed,
                    as institutional system regains rigidity

        4. Prospects of change – major political change expected

Open question: have we introduce enough flexibility so that these
                crises trigger innovation & learning?
Interdisciplinarity in action                                  19/07/11



                                Take home message

1. Use of patchwork of approaches, rather than all-embracing
                         frameworks

                     2. Key role of individuals and politics

     3. Need to “get your hands dirty” to introduce change

  4. It is probably impossible to become a perfect ID-hybrid
                – but it is often effective to try!

Interdisciplinarity in action - Linking science and policy to preserve biodiversity and restore ecosystem functions

  • 1.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Interdisciplinarity in action Linking science and policy to preserve biodiversity and restore ecosystem functions Luis Santamaria Pablo F. Méndez Laboratorio de Ecologia Espacial Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Mallorca, Spain Jaime Amezaga University of Newcastle, UK
  • 2.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Halting biodiversity loss by 2010 2002 2006 2010
  • 3.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Coverage of protected areas
  • 4.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 FSM Church: Pirates cause climate change Average global temperature ( C) Number of pirates (approx.)
  • 5.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Protected areas cause biodiversity loss FSM Church: Pirates cause climate change Average global temperature ( C) Cover of pirates (approx.) Numberof protected areas Biodiversity
  • 6.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Case study: Doñana Nature Reserves
  • 7.
  • 9.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Pressures
  • 11.
  • 13.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Intrinsic hydrologic uncertainty, caused by strong inter-annual variation in precipitation regime + historical impact on inflows % of surface flooded
  • 14.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Large spatial variation in flooding period (from 0.5 to 9 months/year) Overimposed on a even stronger variation between years E.g. maximum inundation in two consecutive years (1995 and 1996)
  • 15.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Flooding intensity (timing, duration and water depth) is a key determinant of aquatic-ecosystem structure. Why? Because turbidity caused by siltation determines the yearly shifts between two alternative stable states: -macrophyte dominated (high diversity) -algae dominated (low diversity, risk of toxic blooms)
  • 16.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Water management: Cannot define an optimum flooding regime. Instead, enhance resilience by increasing biotic connecivity, reducing herbivore pressure and structuring water management. Wetland restoration: Cannot define an optimum design. Instead, increase resilience by maximizing wetland size/depth diversity – and learn from the design to improve future management. Funded and executed by River Authority, distrusted by Park managers!
  • 17.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Perceptual trap - never look under the surface (of water) Fear of uncertainty - resort to single-goal panaceas
  • 18.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Focusing on wetland conservation + water resources management : 1. Practical case of adaptive restoration (demonstration site) 2. Institutional background -Historical analysis -Narrative analysis (policy narratives) 3. Action research -(Semi-structured) interviews - Workshops Key objectives -Introduce the concepts of uncertainty and resilience -Build trust among management agencies and with stakeholders -Introduce flexibility and foster innovation
  • 19.
    1928 National Regional Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 20.
    1928 National River Authority Regional Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 21.
    1928 1964 Biological Reserve National River Authority Regional Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 22.
    1968 1928 1964 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park Regional Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 23.
    1968 1928 1964 1989 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 24.
    1968 1928 1964 1989 2006 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park National Park Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 25.
    1968 1928 1964 1989 2006 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 26.
    1968 1928 1964 1989 2006 2010 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park River Authority Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 27.
    1968 1928 1964 1989 2006 2010 Biological Reserve National National Park River Authority Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 28.
    1968 2011 1928 1964 1989 2006 2010 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park River Authority Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 29.
    1968 2011 1928 1964 1989 2006 2010 Biological Reserve National River Authority National Park Regional Natural Park Local Livestock (comunal pastures)
  • 30.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Path dependency Rigidity trap RIR
  • 31.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Management narratives 1. WRM: water is used to maximise productivity and foster economic growth 2. NC: conservation areas (incl. wetlands) are managed to safeguard nature “as it was” (in the 1960’s) and foster human welfare (non- economic values)
  • 32.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Meta-narrative: management for productivity, using comparable (single- minded, optimality-oriented, hyerarchical) approaches. 1. WRM produces commodities (crops, game, fishing) 2. NC produces protected species (linx, eagle, waterbirds)
  • 33.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Interviews and workshops: 1. Semi-structured interviews to 30 key actors 2. Workshop on uncertainties (card-sorting method) -> Subset of actors included in management workshop 3. Workshop on management (facilitated discussion + group- model building) -> Got together WRM and NC!
  • 34.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Recommendations of management workshop: 1. Develop transparent, shared management objectives 2. Re-structure monitoring and improve institutional coordination 3. Incorporate research and social participation to policy-making process 4. Define a specific Doñana–subcatchment in the River Management Plan 5. Continue and expand the cooperation dynamics created by the Aznalcollar mining accident 6. Develop pilot projects to prove success and generate trust
  • 35.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Current prospects 1. Forthcoming revision/evaluation of adaptive restoration design 2. Discussions on “adaptive management” of horse/cattle within the park and restoration area 3. “Institutional closure” – window of opportunity progressive closed, as institutional system regains rigidity 4. Prospects of change – major political change expected Open question: have we introduce enough flexibility so that these crises trigger innovation & learning?
  • 36.
    Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11 Take home message 1. Use of patchwork of approaches, rather than all-embracing frameworks 2. Key role of individuals and politics 3. Need to “get your hands dirty” to introduce change 4. It is probably impossible to become a perfect ID-hybrid – but it is often effective to try!