Ecosystem Approach Review
Project aim
This project explored existing examples of the Ecosystem Approach, to identify implications for future equitable and holistic natural resource management.
Project objectives
We understand the Ecosystem Approach as an holistic and inclusive approach to natural resource management, to be implemented via 12 'Malawi Principles' as first described by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) over 10 years ago. The concept is mentioned in several international and UK policy documents (including, for example, the Scottish Land Use Strategy). However, there are unresolved questions about exactly what it means to do the/an Ecosystem Approach, what it may achieve, and why. What does it mean to support, implement and evaluate the Ecosystem Approach? Better understanding existing examples of the Ecosystem Approach is of broad relevance to academics, policy groups and practitioners in Scotland, the UK and beyond.
This project was funded by the Scottish Government RESAS Strategic Research Programme 2011-16.
Staff involved and key contacts
Kerry Waylen, Kirsty Blackstock
Methodology
This project was based on a qualitative analysis of past experiences with the “Ecosystem Approach” in the UK. We searched for examples of projects for natural resource management in the UK that had been labelled an “ecosystem approach, and then reviewed and compiled publically-available information about these. We carried out semi-structured interviews with contacts (typically a project officer) associated with each project, and subsequently sent a short questionnaire to each interviewee, to complement the interviews. Our analysis of this data used a mixed inductive and deductive qualitative approach, aided by Nvivo (9 & 10). Our analysis was informed by and contributes to various literatures including on environmental governance and project evaluation.
This research has now been completed. Our initial synthesis and findings are presented in our main project report "Exploring experiences of the Ecosystem Approach" from the list below. Further analysis supported the development of outputs oriented to specific audiences, including academic papers - all outputs are listed below. In September 2015 we were invited to host an dialogue event on the Ecosystem Approach for the UK Natural Capital Initiative - the report below focuses on how we could respond to the challenges to better implement the Approach. Our last portion of this work also focused on the implications for monitoring and evaluation of environmental management projects, discussed in our third academic paper listed below. Finally, in 2016 we were invited to speak about the Ecosystem Approach at the 13th Convention of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Mexico: that presentation is also listed below.
We now work on new projects that relate to and build on this research, such as the challenges of delivering multiple benefits, and of integrating policy goals: to find out more you can also visit our personal staff pages, via the links on the side of this page.
Project outputs
Briefings for non-academic audiences
- Turnpenny, J., Russel, D., Waylen K.A. and Blackstock K.L. (2016). Embedding the value of the natural environment in decision-making - overcoming barriers and encouraging enablers. This 6-page briefing reviews the 'sticking points' that tend to oppose consideration of environmental issues in decision-making, together with tips for how to overcome these. This briefing is relevant to decision-makers across sectors, and draws on work from the NEAFO at the University of East Anglia, University of Exeter together with insights from this project.
- Waylen K.A and Blackstock K.L (2016) Concepts: ‘Eco’ terminology. In: Ecosystem Services (eds) Brooker R, Hester A and Pakeman R, the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen 28pp.
- Blackstock K.L and Waylen K.A (2016) Delivering ecosystem services at a national scale: institutions and governance. In: Ecosystem Services (eds) Brooker R, Hester A and Pakeman R, the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen 28pp.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L. 2014. Eco-what?! The need for clarity and consistency in communication using ecosystem terminology. This short briefing is available as a KnowledgeScotland webpage, is the basis of a Viewpoint piece on the Ecosystems Knowledge Network and can also be downloaded as 2-page document (pdf file: 200KB). It summarises some of the key concepts underlying different ecosystem terms currently in use, and provides some suggestions to avoid confusion.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L. 2015. Sticking points: Implications for environmental management. This short 2-page document (pdf file: 309KB) also available as a KnowledgeScotland webpage explains why it is important to consider how legacy effects can give rise to sticking points that affect new attempts to manage the environment. More detail on this subject is provided by the Ecology & Society paper below.
- Blackstock, K.A.; Waylen, K.A.; Holstead, K.L. 2014. Experiences of implementing an Ecosystem Approach: Policy implications. This short 2-page document (pdf file: 131KB) briefly summarises the project findings and explores some policy implications.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Holstead, K.L. 2014. Research summary: experiences of applying the Ecosystem Approach. This 5-page report (pdf file; 152KB) summarises the findings explained in our main project report below.
Peer-reviewed academic papers
- Waylen, K.A. & Blackstock, K.L. 2017. Monitoring for adaptive management or modernity? Lessons from recent initiatives for holistic environmental management Environmental Policy and Governance 27(4): 311-3. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eet.1758
- Waylen, K.A., Blackstock, K.L., Holstead, K.L. 2015. How does legacy create sticking points for environmental management? Insights from challenges to implementation of the 'Ecosystem Approach'. Ecology & Society, 20(2): 21. Open Access paper available from http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-07594-200221
- Waylen, K.A.; Hastings, E.; Banks, E.; Holstead, KL; Irvine, R.J.; Blackstock, K. L. 2014. The need to disentangle key concepts from “Ecosystem Approach” jargon, Conservation Biology 28(5): 1215-1224. Open Access paper available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12331.
Project and workshop reports
- Blackstock K.L, Waylen K.A and Kyle C (2015) “Putting the Ecosystem Approach into practice – what can it do for you?” Report of Natural Capital Dialogue Event, 28th September 2015, Edinburgh.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Irvine, R.J. 2014. Starting points for evaluating implementation of the "Ecosystem Approach". This is a 7-page research briefing available for download via this link (pdf file: 465KB).
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Holstead, K. 2013. Exploring experiences of the Ecosystem Approach. This is the main project report and is available for download via this link (pdf file: 1.41MB).
Conference presentations
- Waylen, K.A. 2018. Attempting to implement the Ecosystem Approach in the UK: Innovative change or hopelessly constrained? Invited presentation for the EcoGov Conference, 4-5 October 2018, Bordeaux, France.
- Waylen, K.A. 2016. Experiences of the Ecosystem Approach – what can we learn? Invited presentation for the 3rd Science Forum at the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1-2 December 2016, Cancun, Mexico.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Holstead, K. 2016. What does studying the ‘Ecosystem Approach’ tell us about transformative approaches? Presentation in session "Transformative Perspectives and Practices: Toward a Policy Analysis for Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability" at Interpretive Policy Analysis, 5-7th July 2016, Hull, UK.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L. 2014. What insights are offered by experiences of the "Ecosystem Approach"? Exploring the critical effects of institutional inertia and evolution. Presentation given at the Third International Science and policy Conference on the resilience of social & ecological systems: Resilience and Development, mobilising for transformation, Montpellier, France, 4-8 May 2014.
- Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L. 2014. Jargon-busting: Understanding Ecosystem Approaches, Ecosystem Service Assessments and their mutual interdependence. The powerpoint presentation is available via this link to the ESCom website, and was given at the Launch Event of ESCom (Ecosystem Services Community) Scotland, Edinburgh, 29 April -1 May 2014.
- Kirsty and Kerry together with Bruce Howard at CEH & Ecological Knowledge Network, co-organised a symposium called " Does an Ecosystem Approach offer anything new for environmental decision-making?" at the annual meeting of the Royal Geographical Society ‘Crossing Frontiers’ Conference, London, 26-29th August 2013. The report on this is available from the Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN) website at http://ecosystemsknowledge.net/about/background/rgs2013
- Waylen K.A.; Blackstock K.L. and Holstead K. 2013. Do the Malawi principles contribute to managing ‘wicked’ natural resource management problems? Presented at the RGS-IBG ‘Crossing Frontiers’ Conference, London, 26-29th August 2013. Presentation within the above the session on ‘What difference does an Ecosystems Approach make to environmental decision making?’. A pdf of this presentation is available from the Ecological Knowledge Network (EKN) website http://ecosystemsknowledge.net/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/WaylenBlackstockHolstead-RGS-2013.pdf
- Banks, E.A.; Waylen, K.A.; Hastings, E.J.; Holstead, K.L.; Irvine, J. 2012. Implementing the `Ecosystem Approach?: distilling insights from experience to date. 18th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference, People, Progress and Environmental Protection, University of Hull, 24-26 June 2012.
- Holstead, K.L.; Banks, E.A.; Waylen, K.A.; Hastings, E.J.; Irvine, J. 2012. Reviewing implementation of the CBD ecosystem approach: empty label or useful guide? Presentation given at the Third European Congress of Conservation Biology, SECC, Glasgow, 28 August - 1 September 2012.