facilitating integrated thinking

The Ecosystems Approach

The ecosystem approach has the following perspective about people and ecosystems

People

Humans are a part of nature not separate to it

The ecosystem approach includes both cultural and biological diversity

Effective decision-making requires proper empowerment so that stakeholders have the opportunity to assume responsibility and the capacity to carry out appropriate action supported by enabling policy and law.

Whilst ecosystems are affected by all levels of activity –local, regional, national and international - management decisions should decentralised to the lowest appropriate level leading to greater efficiency, effectiveness and equity.  The closer management is to the ecosystem, the greater the responsibility, ownership, accountability, participation and use of local knowledge

Decision making processes should involve all stakeholders and balance local interests with wider public interest. The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific discipline

All forms of information are valued, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices.

Information should be shared with all stakeholders and actors.  Assumptions should be explicit and checked against available knowledge and views of stakeholders

Progress is based on the quality, well-being, integrity, and dignity it accords to natural, social and economic systems

Ecosystems should be managed for their intrinsic value and for the tangible and intangible benefits for humans.

Ecosystems are dynamic - they evolve and change.  Humans need to be responsive to this and not try to freeze ecosystems in a particular state.  Management must be adaptive to be able to respond to the unexpected.

Conservation of ecosystem structure and function is a priority to maintain ecosystem services

Ecosystems have limits.  Humans need to work within these limits by understanding the systems carrying capacity and resilience

The environment includes natural, physical, economic, social and cultural

Ecosystems are not based on political boundaries but natural geographic units such as catchments or coastal cells.

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diana.pound@dialoguematters.co.uk