Adaptive Comanagement: a Systematic Review and Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This paper outlines the results of a systematic review of the literature on adaptive comanagement (ACM). Adaptive comanagement is an emergent governance approach for complex social-ecological systems that links the learning function of adaptive management (experimental and experiential) and the linking (vertically and horizontally) function of comanagement. Given the rapid growth of adaptive comanagement scholarship, there is value in a systematic analysis of how the concept is being conceptualized to elucidate agreement and discrepancies and to examine the challenges this presents for cross-case comparisons and the possibility of arriving at more generalizable insights. A synthesis-based methodology has been developed involving a comprehensive search and screening of academic databases and the internet. A detailed analysis of 108 documents was undertaken to characterize the state of the ACM literature, unpack the construct of ACM, and examine relationships among aspects of ACM based on accumulated experiences to date. The systematic review and analysis reveals imprecision, inconsistency, and confusion with the concept. Robust evidentiary insights into how the variables or components of ACM interrelate as well as relate to goals and outcomes are, therefore, presently not possible. These findings lead to the discussion of a series of challenges for ACM scholarship. Opportunities remain for ACM scholars to pursue theoretical development in rigorous ways that facilitate empirically based cross-site comparisons.

Institutional Change, Sustainability and the Sea

“…Far from a one-size-fits-all solution, co-management schemes tend to work better under specific scalar and institutional conditions [57,58]. Generally, participation focuses heavily on the inclusion of interested and affected parties.…”

Environmental Stewardship: A Conceptual Review and Analytical Framework

“…The effectiveness of local stewardship can be improved through monitoring and evaluation, either by scientists or through participatory processes (Driscoll et al 2012;Silbernagel et al 2015;Silva and Krasny 2016), and subsequently adapted based on this knowledge (Armitage et al 2010;Plummer et al 2012). As discussed above, in all environmental policy realms, there is an array of external interventions that target different leverage points to promote and facilitate environmental stewardship.…”

Learning and linking for invasive species management

“…That individuals working at a neighborhood or municipal level are in a key position to collect information on ecological change has been documented (Colding et al 2006), but we extend this thinking by suggesting that a regional ACM intervention crossing multiple communities (cf. Plummer et al 2012) may serve as a platform to compile and analyze the information, making it useable to both managers and researchers.…”

“…The generation of new ecological knowledge through learning-by-doing (adaptive management), and social or institutional learning (collaboration, joint decision making, and multistakeholder arrangements) are both necessary parts of ACM (Armitage et al 2008). The linking function of ACM makes connections between stakeholders horizontally (among public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors) and vertically among levels of government (Plummer et al 2012). …”

“…Adaptive comanagement (ACM) combines the "learning function" of adaptive management and the "linking function" of comanagement (Plummer et al 2012). The generation of new ecological knowledge through learning-by-doing (adaptive management), and social or institutional learning (collaboration, joint decision making, and multistakeholder arrangements) are both necessary parts of ACM (Armitage et al 2008).…”