Navigating the Deluge_ Dubai Floods and the Resilience of Dubai International...
Interdisciplinarity in action - Linking science and policy to preserve biodiversity and restore ecosystem functions
1. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Interdisciplinarity in action
Linking science and policy to preserve
biodiversity and restore ecosystem functions
Luis Santamaria
Pablo F. Méndez
Laboratorio de Ecologia Espacial
Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Mallorca, Spain
Jaime Amezaga
University of Newcastle, UK
4. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
FSM Church: Pirates cause climate change
Average global temperature ( C)
Number of pirates (approx.)
5. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Protected areas cause biodiversity loss
FSM Church: Pirates cause climate change
Average global temperature ( C)
Cover of pirates (approx.)
Numberof protected areas
Biodiversity
13. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Intrinsic hydrologic uncertainty, caused by strong inter-annual
variation in precipitation regime + historical impact on inflows
% of surface flooded
14. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Large spatial variation in flooding period (from 0.5 to 9 months/year)
Overimposed on a even stronger
variation between years
E.g. maximum inundation in two consecutive
years (1995 and 1996)
15. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Flooding intensity (timing, duration and water depth) is a key
determinant of aquatic-ecosystem structure.
Why? Because turbidity caused by siltation determines the yearly shifts
between two alternative stable states:
-macrophyte dominated (high diversity)
-algae dominated (low diversity, risk of toxic blooms)
16. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Water management: Cannot define an optimum flooding regime.
Instead, enhance resilience by increasing biotic connecivity, reducing
herbivore pressure and structuring water management.
Wetland restoration: Cannot define an optimum design.
Instead, increase resilience by maximizing wetland size/depth diversity –
and learn from the design to improve future management.
Funded and executed by River Authority, distrusted by Park managers!
17. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Perceptual trap - never look under the surface (of water)
Fear of uncertainty - resort to single-goal panaceas
18. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Focusing on wetland conservation + water resources management :
1. Practical case of adaptive restoration (demonstration site)
2. Institutional background
-Historical analysis
-Narrative analysis (policy narratives)
3. Action research
-(Semi-structured) interviews
- Workshops
Key objectives
-Introduce the concepts of uncertainty and resilience
-Build trust among management agencies and with stakeholders
-Introduce flexibility and foster innovation
20. 1928
National River Authority
Regional
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
21. 1928 1964
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
Regional
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
22. 1968
1928 1964
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
Regional
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
23. 1968
1928 1964 1989
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
24. 1968
1928 1964 1989 2006
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
National Park
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
25. 1968
1928 1964 1989 2006
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
26. 1968
1928 1964 1989 2006 2010
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
River Authority
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
27. 1968
1928 1964 1989 2006 2010
Biological Reserve
National
National Park
River Authority
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
28. 1968 2011
1928 1964 1989 2006 2010
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
River Authority
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
29. 1968 2011
1928 1964 1989 2006 2010
Biological Reserve
National River Authority
National Park
Regional
Natural Park
Local Livestock
(comunal pastures)
31. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Management narratives
1. WRM: water is used to maximise productivity and foster economic
growth
2. NC: conservation areas (incl. wetlands) are managed to safeguard
nature “as it was” (in the 1960’s) and foster human welfare (non-
economic values)
32. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Meta-narrative: management for productivity, using comparable (single-
minded, optimality-oriented, hyerarchical) approaches.
1. WRM produces commodities (crops, game, fishing)
2. NC produces protected species (linx, eagle, waterbirds)
33. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Interviews and workshops:
1. Semi-structured interviews to 30 key actors
2. Workshop on uncertainties (card-sorting method)
-> Subset of actors included in management workshop
3. Workshop on management (facilitated discussion + group-
model building)
-> Got together WRM and NC!
34. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Recommendations of management workshop:
1. Develop transparent, shared management objectives
2. Re-structure monitoring and improve institutional coordination
3. Incorporate research and social participation to policy-making
process
4. Define a specific Doñana–subcatchment in the River Management
Plan
5. Continue and expand the cooperation dynamics created by the
Aznalcollar mining accident
6. Develop pilot projects to prove success and generate trust
35. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Current prospects
1. Forthcoming revision/evaluation of adaptive restoration design
2. Discussions on “adaptive management” of horse/cattle within the
park and restoration area
3. “Institutional closure” – window of opportunity progressive closed,
as institutional system regains rigidity
4. Prospects of change – major political change expected
Open question: have we introduce enough flexibility so that these
crises trigger innovation & learning?
36. Interdisciplinarity in action 19/07/11
Take home message
1. Use of patchwork of approaches, rather than all-embracing
frameworks
2. Key role of individuals and politics
3. Need to “get your hands dirty” to introduce change
4. It is probably impossible to become a perfect ID-hybrid
– but it is often effective to try!
