Resilience Science » Joern Fischer http://rs.resalliance.org coping with ecological surprise in a human dominated world Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:54:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Integrating Optimization and Resilience Thinking in Conservation http://rs.resalliance.org/2009/09/05/integrating-optimization-and-resilience-thinking-in-conservation/ http://rs.resalliance.org/2009/09/05/integrating-optimization-and-resilience-thinking-in-conservation/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:13:46 +0000 Garry Peterson http://rs.resalliance.org/?p=1575
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    • ]]>     Resilience thinking and optimization are often viewed as opposites, but resilience thinking is more critical of how optimization is frequently applied rather than the technique per-se.  A new paper in TREE Integrating resilience thinking and optimisation for conservation (doi:10.1016/j.tree.2009.03.020) by Joern Fischer and others, including myself, attempt to integrate resilience thinking and optimization.  We propose that by actively embedding optimisation analyses within a resilience-thinking framework ecosystem management could draw on the complementary strengths of both, thereby promoting cost-effective and enduring conservation outcomes.

    The paper’s Table 1 provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of optimization for conservation and resilience thinking:

    		 Optimisation for conservation

    		 Resilience thinking
    Strengths (inherent) Recognises resource scarcity Recognises system complexity
    Encourages transparency in resource allocation Recognises interdependence of social and biophysical systems
    Strengths (in practice) Can provide specific answers to a well-defined problem Encourages anticipation of undesirable surprises or thresholds
    Fits well with how business and governments operate Encourages reflection on how a system works
    Weaknesses (inherent) Sensitive to accuracy of underlying assumptions and system model Potentially difficult to apply to systems without identifiable alternate states
    Weaknesses (in practice) Targets or budget constraints are often informed by politics rather than an in-depth understanding of underlying system dynamics Reliant on tools from other disciplines to be operational to inform policy
    The term ‘optimal’ can sound absolute to policymakers and the general public The term ‘resilience’ can appear vague to policymakers and the general public

    And we discuss three themes that both approaches need to address (i) dealing with social issues; (ii) dealing with uncertainties and the limited extent to which they can be controlled; and (iii) avoiding undesirable states that constrain reversibility.

    Related posts:

    1. What is resilience thinking and what is it not
    2. Wiki launch of the practitioner’s guide to resilience assessment
    3. WWF seeks conservation social scientist

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