Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•
combining different types of knowledge (indigenous and scientific) forlearning;
and
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creating opportunity for self-organization through:
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strengthening community-based management;
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building cross-scale management capabilities;
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strengthening institutional memory;
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nurturing learning organizations and adaptive co-management.
The logic of a systems analysis is that economic activity, environmental impact,
social experience, political action and cultural attitudes are not discrete and contain-
able. Another possible implication of this approach is a policy of precaution and
prudence; with knowledge being limited, decision-making on sustainability issues
becomes clearly both political and ethical.
Box 2.2
Resilience and systems thinking in practice
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) is a clear example of resilience thinking
and sustainability science (Reid
et al.
, 2006). The MEA is deeply complex, complicated
and often difficult to follow in detail, particularly when one's long-held assumptions
and established habits of mind and behaviour are overturned.
Strategies that have a high probability of enhancing resilience to future change
Strategies
Description
Foster ecological,
Diversity provides the seeds for new opportunities and
economic, social and
maximizes options for coping with change. By supporting
cultural diversity
and protecting diversity, countries or regions render themselves
less vulnerable to adverse effects of future change.
Plan for changes that
By recognizing the directional nature, and drivers, of
may possibly occur
current changes, countries have the opportunity to design the
institutional flexibility necessary to anticipate and adjust to
change.
Foster learning
Countries, communities, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and government agencies can learn by collaborating
closely to examine patterns of response to hazards and learn
which policy options show promise. Particularly effective are
learning networks of public, private and civil society actors.
Communicate the
Societal consequences of hazards are felt at multiple
societal consequences
levels. The communication of the consequences of
of recent changes
perturbations is important in order to understand actual local
impacts and adaptations. This communication enables a
convincing case to be argued that the global nature of causes
warrants global action.
Source: Adapted from Berkes (2007, p. 293).
