Mediating Forest Transitions: ′Grand Design′ or ′Muddling Through′

Abstract

Present biodiversity conservation programmes in the remaining extensive forest blocks of the humid tropics are failing to achieve outcomes that will be viable in the medium to long term. Too much emphasis is given to what we term 'grand design'-ambitious and idealistic plans for conservation. Such plans implicitly oppose or restrict development and often attempt to block it by speculatively establishing paper parks. Insufficient recognition is given to the inevitable long term pressures for conversion to other land uses and to the weakness of local constituencies for conservation. Conservation institutions must build their capacity to engage with the process of change. They must constantly adapt to deal with a continuously unfolding set of challenges, opportunities and changing societal needs. This can be achieved by long term on-the-ground engagement and 'muddling through'. The range of conservation options must be enlarged to give more attention to biodiversity in managed landscapes and to mosaics composed of areas with differing intensities of use. The challenge is to build the human capacity and institutions to achieve this.

Forest Landscape Restoration: Who Decides? A Governance Approach to Forest Landscape Restoration

“…This, in the belief that the maintenance of natural ecological processes and biodiversity as essential life support systems can only be done through restoring natural ecosystems with limited human interference and professional organizations as gatekeepers to nature (Wiersum 2013, unpublished). This approach has been heavily criticized, as these 'grand design' conservation plans as implemented for example in Borneo, the Congo Basin and the Amazon have often been less sensitive to the development objectives of its host countries, or the power of market forces (Sayer et al 2008). As a response, an alternative approach has been developed, which is more focused on the assumption that agrarian land-use and forests can co-exist in mosaic landscapes.…”

Reforestation at a Landscape Scale

“…These may have a role to play in some situations but, by themselves, are rarely sufficient to drive the process. At the other end of the spectrum is a more informal process that tries to take account of biological goals but is a more consultative process that Sayer et al (2008) describe as 'muddling through'. By this they mean a sometimes messy process that tries to help build human capacities and foster institutions in order to improve forest landscape restoration outcomes at a local level.…”

Can Community Forests Be Compatible With Biodiversity Conservation in Indonesia?

“…People's needs and expectations are evolving. The dilemmas created by conflicting demands on land need to be resolved through landscape scale processes that allow all stakeholder voices to be heard [31].…”