Celebrating Diversity: Adaptive Planning and Biodiversity Conservation

Abstract

We are only now becoming aware of the complexity and surprising dynamics of the living environment. The paradox of biodiversity science is that the more knowledge we acquire, the more uncertainty we encounter -- which renders planning for conservation a sticky business indeed.

Biodiversity conservation in Canada is being undertaken by all levels of government, and by many non-government organisations (such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, and the Evergreen Foundation). The primary means of protecting biodiversity are "in-situ" methods -- that is, in their natural setting, in protected areas. Indeed, most conservation initiatives world-wide are based on protected areas, set aside because of natural heritage or economic resource values, or to protect species classified as endangered, threatened, vulnerable or rare. In Canada, most protected areas are found within national and provincial parks systems. Local Environmentally Significant Areas, Ecological Reserves, Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, Conservation Areas, and several World Biosphere Reserves also form part of the public protected areas network. However, the degree of biodiversity conservation depends largely on the definition of "protection" afforded by each type of area.

There are three key problems with this current approach. First, policies and plans do not generally reflect emerging scientific perspectives on ecosystems as complex and uncertain, and in which change is inevitable and normal. Second, values for biodiversity are often hidden within the decision-making process. Third, the set of policy tools for conservation planning remains largely dominated by expert-led, prescriptive, regulatory methods which rely almost entirely on publicly-funded parks and protected areas. More creative approaches are needed if Canadians are to meet their national and international commitments to biodiversity protection.

This chapter considers an emerging approach, known as adaptive planning and management -- an approach characterised by flexibility in learning through change, integration of new science with values, and resilience through a diversity of innovative tools, methods, and perspectives. A case example of the Huron Natural Area in south-western Ontario will demonstrate a practical application of an adaptive planning approach.

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The biodiversity WWW site, a companion to the book.

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