Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
species has had their incentives shaped by their family, their education, or by their
contact with inspirational conservationists. Thinking about individual incentives,
and especially their heterogeneity, leads us to devise ways to influence these incen-
tives, and understanding why our actions may have unintended consequences. An
incentives-based approach is the fundamental building block for successful con-
servation.
In this topic we have emphasised the importance of developing a quantitative
approach to conservation science, through the use of statistically robust methods
of data collection and analysis, mathematical models and decision analysis. We have
also emphasised the importance of considering both the social and biological
aspects of conservation, which is particularly important when human use is the
main driver of population decline. By taking a quantitative approach, we can pro-
duce robust, defensible and generalisable research that feeds into a transparent
management process. A quantitative approach does not require a strong math-
ematical background—it is more a state of mind. We also place emphasis on the
importance of setting clear goals, monitoring our actions, evaluating the out-
comes and learning from them. Although we can find no examples in the conser-
vation literature in which people have used all these tools from start to finish,
perhaps this is not unexpected; there are excellent examples of each component
available, which we have highlighted throughout the topic.
Conservation modellers tend to work in isolation—they rarely produce models
as a response to requests for advice from users, follow their recommendations to
implementation, learn from the outcomes, revise their models accordingly and
start the process again. Conservation managers, almost without exception, do not
first use models to understand the consequences of their assumptions about the
system, and to help them to avoid pitfalls. This is a serious issue which leads to a
trial-and-error approach to conservation action, and so to a longer learning period
than would otherwise be necessary. By giving a comprehensive, though necessarily
superficial, overview of the quantitative methods which are useful for conserving
and managing a harvested resource, we hope to have contributed in some way to
improving the sustainability of human interactions with our environment.
7.8 Resources
7.8.1 Websites
Participatory Monitoring :
Participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity (online workshop):
http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/biodiversity/
Participatory monitoring case studies: http://www.monitoringmatters.org/
Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (planning and managing development pro-
jects): http://portals.wdi.wur.nl/ppme/
Putting Fisher's Knowledge to Work. Conference, 27-31 Aug. 2001, Fisheries Centre, UBC,
Vancouver, Canada. www.fisheries.ubc.ca/publications/reports/ 11-1/11-1B.pdf
 
 
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