The Transboundary Mammal Project A Knowledge-based Approach to Species Management The transboundary Mammal Project is a project of the Directorate of Scientific Services (DSS) within the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Namibia (MET). The project is supported and financed by WWF/Life and the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). Windhoek, August 2003 Barbara Paterson

Improved access to expert knowledge Overview National Strategy Country wide vision, targets & general strategy Regional vision and targets Neighbouring countries Co-operation Communication local vision, targets & specific strategy Local Management Improved access to expert knowledge Strategy Species Report Collaboration Decision Support System Prototype Species Overview Species Management Plans Information System The aim of the project and its objectives. 3. These objectives relate to different issues of knowledge management. 4. The process of strategy development that is proposed by the project.

targets & general strategy Regional vision and targets Project Aim National Strategy Country wide vision, targets & general strategy Regional vision and targets Neighbouring countries Co-operation Communication To link local, national and transboundary strategies for selected endangered and high value mammal species local vision, targets & specific strategy Local Management The transboundary mammal project aims to link local, national and transboundary levels of the management of high value species, focusing on those species,which occur in the transboundary area of the Caprivi region of Namibia. The idea is to support the development of a national vision for each species which can then be communicated to the local management as well as be shared with neighboring countries to form part of a regional, transboundary vision for what can perhaps be called the regional meta population of each species.

Transboundary Collaboration Species Management Plans Objectives Transboundary Collaboration Species Management Plans Decision Support System Prototype Species Overviews Information System In order to achieve this aim of developing a vision and strategy for high value species the project has five objectives, that is To compile comprehensive species reports that give an overview about what is known for each species. To then develop Species Management Plans for each species based on this information. To create an information system to hold all the information on each species in computer format and make it more accessible. To examine the potential of an electronic decision support system to aid decision making and to develop the prototype of such a system. To enhance collaboration with the neighbouring countries on issues of species management.

Wildlife Knowledge Management Strategic Species Management A Knowledge Management Problem? These five objectives can be interpreted as different aspects of the problem of communicating and implementing wildlife management knowledge.

Munich Model of Knowledge Management Representation Knowledge Generation Research Strategy Adjust Adaptive Management Monitor Implement Knowledge Communication Knowledge Application The Munich Model describes Knowledge management as a cyclical process through which knowledge is represented in some form in order to be applied and communicated, which in turn results in the generation of new knowledge. Knowledge Management is an ongoing dynamic process in which new knowledge is constantly created based on existing old knowledge. This cycle of knowledge management corresponds with the adaptive management model. Adaptive management acknowledges that it is uncertain what policy or practice is "best" for the particular management issue. A strategy or plan of action is developed based on the best available scientific knowledge provided by research. The implementation of this strategy is constantly being monitored and evaluated in order to reveal the critical knowledge that is currently lacking so that both research and strategy can be adjusted. In other words new knowledge is created by applying and evaluating old knowledge.

Data – Information - Knowledge Old knowledge Forms basis of new knowledge Learning subjective INFORMATION Perception Knowledge, information and data are distinct, although we often use the three terms interchangeably. Data are of course the basis or the building blocks. They provide objective facts and observations, but are quite useless on their own. It is through individual perception that people put them into context and interpret them. Thus providing meaning. This process of perception and providing meaning to facts is a highly personalized and subjective one, based on core concepts that we use to organize and order the things we perceive. This process is also called learning and through learning we create new knowledge. What is important is that new knowledge is always created based on old knowledge, which we need to categorize and evaluate information. It is important to remember that not only are data, information and knowledge distinct, they also demonstrate the transition from objective facts to subjective meaning. DATA objective

Strategy development process Species Report Species Strategy Background Study Vision for Species 1. Information and knowledge are subjective 2. New knowledge is always created based on old knowledge Therefore the project has proposed and so far followed a development process for the strategic management plans that is based on these facts: To provide a starting point a consultant has been contracted to collate the available information on the background of a species and to compile a comprehensive report, which is then reviewed by MET. Thus this report contains subjective expert knowledge from various sources. Based on the report the consultant then produces a draft management Plan, which provides a structure and point of departure for MET to finalize a national vision for the species. In short the consultant’s job is it to provide well structured comprehensive documents. The MET’s responsibility is to contribute information, to review the documents and to ensure they represent the MET vision the species. information gathering Review and Input Content development Structure Comprehensive content compilation

Knowledge Representations multi-linear flexible highly accessible action oriented “frozen” into print Collaboration Decision Support System Prototype Species Overview Species Management Plans Information System The project has made considerable progress on all five fronts: 1.Species overview reports have been compiled by Rowan Martin for Buffalo, Roan, Sable and Tsessebe. 2.These reports as well as the draft species management plans that were developed based on the reports contain not only data and information but expert knowledge from various sources. 3.This information and expertise has been included into a hypermedia system for rare species management, IRAS, which was specially developed for this purpose. 4.A specific problem domain within the context of species management, i.e. game translocation, has been identified as suitable for the development of a decision support tool prototype. All these project outputs are knowledge representations of some kind. The Reports represent information and knowledge in printed format. They are comprehensive compilations of information from various sources. But because they are printed documents they are essentially linear and static. The contents have been frozen. The Management Plans are oriented towards action but they are in printed format and therefore still very static. The hypermedia system represents the same information in flexible, more accessible format, allowing the reader to navigate through information in which ever order is most useful. While IRAS provides access to specialist knowledge and serves as a knowledge management tool, the proposed decision support system will, for only a small problem context, go a step further and provide a high degree of problem solving power. But we will look into this in more detail tomorrow. printed format linear, sequential, “frozen” high problem solving power highly accessible

Transboundary Approach Result: Cumulative Regional strategy The project approach towards transboundary co-operation is modest and based on information sharing and exchange of expertise. The key idea is that each country manages their population themselves but collaborate on issues of a transboundary nature. These issues are identified in transboundary workshops with participants from the wildlife departments of the respective countries. Transboundary Co-operation based on Dialogue

Improved access to expert knowledge Project Aim National Strategy Country wide vision, targets & general strategy Regional vision and targets Neighbouring countries Co-operation Communication Improved access to expert knowledge local vision, targets & specific strategy Local Management The development and communication of national strategies for high value species both vertically towards local management as well as horizontally towards neighbouring countries is approached as a issue of improving knowledge management. This means facilitating strategy development as well as providing tools for knowledge management and information sharing.