In Canada and around the world, new concerns with adaptive processes, feedback learning, and flexible partnerships are reshaping environmental governance. Meanwhile, ideas about collaboration and learning are converging around the idea of adaptive co-management. This book provides a comprehensive synthesis of the core concepts, strategies, and tools in this emerging field, informed by a diverse group of researchers and practitioners with over two decades of experience. It also offers a diverse set of case studies that reveal the challenges and implications of adaptive co-management thinking.
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are designated areas in geographical regions of global socio-ecological significance. This definitive book shows their global relevance and contribution to environmental protection, biocultural diversity and education. Initiated in the 1970s as part of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, BRs share a set of common objectives, to support and demonstrate a balance between biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and research. The world’s 701 BRs form an international, intergovernmental network to support the aims of sustainability science, but this purpose has not always been widely understood. In three distinct sections, the book starts by outlining the origins of BRs and the MAB Programme, showing how they contribute to advancing sustainable development. The second section documents the evolution of BRs around the world, including case studies from each of the five UNESCO world regions. Each case study demonstrates how conservation, sustainable development and the role of scientific research have been interpreted locally. The book concludes by discussing thematic lessons to help understand the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainability science, providing a unique platform from which lessons can be learned. This includes how concepts become actions on the ground and how ideas can be taken up across sites at differing scales. This book will be of great interest to professionals engaged in conservation and sustainable development, NGOs, policy-makers and advanced students in environmental management, ecology, sustainability science, environmental anthropology and geography.
This book explores how participatory governance processes help to find integrated solutions to resource-based development while protecting ecosystems in UNESCO designated areas. Participatory Governance of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Canada and Israel explores how stakeholders’ participation in decision-making processes related to natural resource management facilitates or hinders the obtainment of an acceptable balance between nature protection and sustainable development policies in the eyes of the participating stakeholders. A comparative analysis of nature versus development conflicts in the Megiddo and Mount Carmel biosphere reserves in Israel and the Mount Arrowsmith and Clayoquot Sound biosphere reserves in Canada, showcases the different approaches in implementing the biosphere reserve concept. The participatory processes of stakeholders, including governments, resource-based industries, local and indigenous communities and environmental NGOs established to address the local natural resource use problems are considered to be an opportunity of reconciliation among stakeholders with diverse interests, lifestyles and cultures but also improving the relationship between man and nature. Yet, achievement of these goals has proven to be a challenge. In some cases the participatory decision-making process yields benefits and in some cases it fails to deliver expected results. This book explores why is that the case. This title will be of great interest to students and scholars of natural resource management, integrated approaches to conservation and sustainable development, and participatory governance of social-ecological systems. It will also be of interest to environmental conflict mediators, participatory process facilitators, policymakers and professionals involved in managing social-ecological systems or establishing biosphere reserves.
This book explores how participatory governance processes help to find integrated solutions to resource-based development while protecting ecosystems in UNESCO designated areas. Participatory Governance of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Canada and Israel explores how stakeholders' participation in decision-making processes related to natural resource management facilitates or hinders the obtainment of an acceptable balance between nature protection and sustainable development policies in the eyes of the participating stakeholders. A comparative analysis of nature versus development conflicts in the Megiddo and Mount Carmel biosphere reserves in Israel and the Mount Arrowsmith and Clayoquot Sound biosphere reserves in Canada, showcases the different approaches in implementing the biosphere reserve concept. The participatory processes of stakeholders, including governments, resource-based industries, local and indigenous communities and environmental NGOs established to address the local natural resource use problems are considered to be an opportunity of reconciliation among stakeholders with diverse interests, lifestyles and cultures but also improving the relationship between man and nature. Yet, achievement of these goals has proven to be a challenge. In some cases the participatory decision-making process yields benefits and in some cases it fails to deliver expected results. This book explores why is that the case. This title will be of great interest to students and scholars of natural resource management, integrated approaches to conservation and sustainable development, and participatory governance of social-ecological systems. It will also be of interest to environmental conflict mediators, participatory process facilitators, policymakers and professionals involved in managing social-ecological systems or establishing biosphere reserves.
Presenting a pragmatic mixture of science, landscape ecology, ecosystem management, sociology, policy development and methods for transforming social and institutional cultures. Bioregional Planning: Resource Management Beyond the New Millennium is a timely and practical guide for the analysis, planning and development of bioregional projects for a sustainable future. Significantly, this book presents the strategic actions necessary to plan for, manage and adapt to Ecologically Sustainable Development with a view beyond the new millennium and towards the next. Postgraduates, researchers and policy makers in natural resources management, land planning, sustainable agriculture, rural sciences, ecosystem management and conservation biology will find this book captures the essence of bioregional planning succinctly and makes a compelling argument for why it is a key mechanism in the development of effective governance institutions.
The biosphere reserve concept was first launched in the mid-1970's, as part of UNESCO's international programme 'Man and the biosphere' (MAB), and has now become a practical field approach to combining the conservation of biological diversity with sustainable development needs. This publication has been prepared to mark the 30th anniversary of the MAB Programme. It provides an overview of the origins and development of the concept and its implementation, and goes on to consider recent activities and publications. It also discusses the difficulties and challenges in implementing the concept in different social, cultural, economic and biogeographic contexts.
A rare collection of articles that fuses academic theory, critique of practice and practical knowledge, Transforming Parks and Protected Areas analyzes and critiques the emerging issues in the design and operation of parks and protected areas.
In this book entitled "The Biosphere", researchers from all regions of the world report on their findings to explore the origins, evolution, ecosystems and resource utilization patterns of the biosphere. Some describe the complexities and challenges that humanity faces in its efforts to experiment and establish a new partnership with nature in places designated as biosphere reserves by UNESCO under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. At the dawn of the 21st century humanity is ever more aware and conscious of the adverse consequences that it has brought upon global climate change and biodiversity loss. We are at a critical moment of reflection and action to work out a new compact with the biosphere that sustains our own wellbeing and that of our planetary companions. This book is a modest attempt to enrich and enable that special moment and its march ahead in human history.
IUCN's Protected Areas Management Categories, which classify protected areas according to their management objectives, are today accepted as the benchmark for defining, recording, and classifying protected areas. They are recognized by international bodies such as the United Nations as well as many national governments. As a result, they are increasingly being incorporated into government legislation. These guidelines provide as much clarity as possible regarding the meaning and application of the Categories. They describe the definition of the Categories and discuss application in particular biomes and management approaches.
