Evaluation Methods Workshop

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Definitions: an introductionEvaluation Methods Workshop

Sponsored by the

Community Based Collaboratives Research Consortium

June 6-7, 2004

Evaluation Methods Workshop

Definitions for discussion clarityDefinitions for discussion clarity

A quick overview of definitions A quick overview of definitions

Ensure that we understand each other Ensure that we understand each other (before we go too far…)(before we go too far…)

Not seeking agreement, just basic Not seeking agreement, just basic clarityclarity

Any other words we might add?Any other words we might add?

Credit to Resilience Alliance, www.resalliance.org

Evaluation Methods Workshop

Community Based CollaborativeCommunity Based CollaborativeThe Community-Based Collaboratives Research Consortium’s working definition of a community-based collaborative (CBC)):

http://www.cbcrc.org, October, 1999

• A group that has been convened voluntarily from within the local community to focus on a resource management issue(s) or planning involving public lands or publicly owned or regulated resources whose management impacts the physical, environmental and/or economic health of the local community;

• A group brought together by a shared desire to influence the protection and use of natural resources through recommendations or direct actions that will impact the management of the resource;

• A group whose membership includes a broad array of interests, some of which may conflict; and

• A group using a decision-making process that requires participation by local stakeholders.

Evaluation Methods Workshop

PanarchyPanarchy

Dynamic interaction of societies and ecosystems Dynamic interaction of societies and ecosystems linking theories from ecology, economy and linking theories from ecology, economy and sociology including:sociology including:

Gunderson and Holling, 2002

A view of cross-scale dynamic interactions A view of cross-scale dynamic interactions which considers the interplay between change which considers the interplay between change and persistence, and between the predictable and persistence, and between the predictable and unpredictable. and unpredictable.

An intent to provide a predictive tool by An intent to provide a predictive tool by examining the properties and processes that examining the properties and processes that shape the future.shape the future.

Evaluation Methods Workshop

Adaptive CycleAdaptive Cycle

A general model of systemic change that proposes that the internal dynamics of some systems cycle through four phases:

rapid growth, conservation, collapse, and re-organization.

r: growth or exploitation

K: conservation

Ω: collapse or release

ά: reorganization

Gunderson and Holling, 2002

Evaluation Methods Workshop

Adaptive Capacity Adaptive Capacity

Systems with high adaptive capacity are able to Systems with high adaptive capacity are able to re-configure themselves without significant re-configure themselves without significant declines in crucial functions in relation to declines in crucial functions in relation to primary productivity, hydrological cycles, social primary productivity, hydrological cycles, social relations and economic prosperityrelations and economic prosperity

Resilience is key to enhancing adaptive Resilience is key to enhancing adaptive capacity.capacity.

The ability of a social-ecological system to he ability of a social-ecological system to cope with novel situations without losing cope with novel situations without losing options for the future.options for the future.

Evaluation Methods Workshop

Resilience Resilience

The amount of change the system can The amount of change the system can undergo and still retain the same controls on undergo and still retain the same controls on function and structure, function and structure,

The degree to which the system is capable of The degree to which the system is capable of self-organization, and self-organization, and

The ability to build and increase the capacity The ability to build and increase the capacity for learning and adaptation. for learning and adaptation.

As applied to ecosystems, or to integrated systems As applied to ecosystems, or to integrated systems of people and the natural environment, has three of people and the natural environment, has three defining characteristics:defining characteristics:

Evaluation Methods Workshop

ConnectednessConnectedness

An organism, ecosystem An organism, ecosystem or organization or or organization or economic sector with economic sector with high connectedness is high connectedness is little influenced by little influenced by external variability.external variability.

Stonefly: sensitive macro-invertebrate, its presence and abundance indicate health of the aquatic system. Highly sensitive to most disturbances = low connectedness

Aquatic worm: highly tolerant aquatic organisms, its abundance and lack of other more sensitive organisms, indicate a damaged environment. Highly tolerant to most disturbances so = high connectedness.

Gunderson and Holling, 2002

The degree of internal control that a The degree of internal control that a system can exert over external variability.system can exert over external variability.

Can be measured by Can be measured by the the speed of return speed of return to equilibrium after a to equilibrium after a disturbancedisturbance..

Evaluation Methods Workshop

ComplexityComplexity

Study of complex ecological-economic systems entails a Study of complex ecological-economic systems entails a trans-disciplinary approach relating ecological economics to trans-disciplinary approach relating ecological economics to complex systems complex systems (Anderson et al. 1988, Costanza 1991, (Anderson et al. 1988, Costanza 1991, Holland 1995, Waldrop 1992) Holland 1995, Waldrop 1992) Four basic interactions: Four basic interactions: economic agents, institutions,economic agents, institutions, physical economy, ecosystemsphysical economy, ecosystems..

From systems theory, to a more organic view of systems as dynamic and learning, characterized by nonstop flow of information within the ‘system’ and by individual actors making continual adjustments in their patterns and behaviors.

Agent based modeling is one method for modeling complexity (Brogden, 2003).

Evaluation Methods WorkshopOther terms to add?Other terms to add?

Evaluation Methods Workshop

The EndThe End(for now…)(for now…)