The Integration and Synthesis Group Progress and Possibilities Roundtable on Sustainable Forests November 17, 2004

The Integration and Synthesis Group Formed by the Roundtable Network in October, 2003 Participants from four roundtables and other indicator projects

Integration and Synthesis Group Objectives Develop a conceptual framework, based on systems models, within which to place indicators of sustainability. Provide a strong theoretical foundation for further integration and synthesis. Provide a basis for integrated sustainability assessments of mixed resource systems.

Two Hierarchical Bases for Assessment Value-Based Concepts Knowledge- Based Concepts

Diverse Values and Sustainability Concepts Sustainability is both knowledge based and value based Diversity of values and concepts requires a framework that is general, flexible and able to facilitate integration and synthesis using a range of concepts

Building Bridges to Promote Integration Not eco-centric, nor anthropocentric, but bi-centric Not specialized by resource system, but general and inclusive Use of systems concepts promotes logical consistency and comprehensiveness

The Role of Feedback In Policy, Planning and Management Evaluate Alternative Actions Decide Implement Consequences Interactions Within & Across Systems Actions Feedback Research Values Knowledge Set Goals

The Conceptual Hierarchy More Integration and Distillation Less Integration and Distillation Tier 1 Tier 4 : Indicators? Tier 2 Tier 3

Environmental SubsystemHuman Subsystem Earth’s Ecosystem Tier 0 – ISG Conceptual Framework

Current Environmental Conditions Natural Resource Capital Social Capacity & Economic Capital Current Human Conditions State t 0 Processes Current Environmental Conditions Natural Resource Capital Social Capacity & Economic Capital Current Human Conditions Environmental & Natural Resource Processes Social & Economic Processes Time State t 1 Evaluation of Sustainability Tier 1 - ISG Conceptual Framework Interactions Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem

Initial Environmental Conditions Initial Natural Resource Capital Initial Social Capacity And Economic Capital Initial Human Conditions New Human Conditions New Social Capacity And Economic Capital New Natural Resource Capital New Environmental Conditions Interaction with Tangible Env. Events Interaction with Intangible Env. Attributes Land cover, land form and water flow alterations; Waste discharges; Biota transport Processes Producing Tangible Environmental Outputs Processes Producing Intangible Environmental Attributes Processes Producing Tangible Environmental Events Underlying Environmental Processes: Atmospheric Hydrologic Biologic/ Ecologic Geologic Investment, Use of Goods And Services Air, Water. Climate, Plants, Animals Soil, Microbes, Rocks Air, Water. Climate Plants, Animals Soil, Microbes, Rocks Production of Economic Goods and Services Extraction Flow of Tangible Environmental Outputs Flow of Intangible Environ. Attributes Flow of Tangible Environmental Events Environmental SubsystemHuman Subsystem Tier 2 – ISG Conceptual Framework Biomass, Water, Minerals Biomass, Water, Minerals Economic Assets & Liabilities Social Opportunities & Constraints Values & Norms Income, Health, Security Economic Assets & Liabilities Social Opportunities & Constraints Values & Norms Income, Health, Security Demographic, Cultural, Governance’ Legal, Market, Interaction, Family, Education Underlying Social And Economic Processes:

Important Features of the ISG Framework Accounting for Flows from the Environment –Cover everything from the environment that enters the human subsystem –Use concepts and terminology that facilitate integration and synthesis in indicator development and use –Connect flows from the environment to environmental conditions and processes

Important Features of the ISG Framework Accounting for Human Processes that Affect the Environment –Alterations in land cover, land form and water flows; transportation of biota –Discharges of wastes and residuals –Resulting from both extraction/production and use of goods and services

Important Features of the ISG Framework Underlying Environmental Processes –Living things interacting in adaptive networks that sustain life –Processes in combinations that produce interactions affecting humans

Important Features of the ISG Framework Underlying Human Processes - Humans interacting with each other to meet their needs - Processes in combinations that produce interactions affecting the environment

Environmental Flows to Humans Tangible Environmental Outputs –Resources and commodities Intangible Environmental Attributes –Cultural and aesthetic Tangible Environmental Events & Processes –Weather events, air and water quality

Tangible Environmental Outputs Crops Forage Livestock Fish Game Wood and fiber Biomass for fuel Water Minerals Energy Gases Biochemicals Medicinals

Intangible Environmental Attributes Valued for Beauty Recreation Spiritual and religious experiences Cultural values Education and inspirational experiences

Tangible Environmental Events and Processes Precipitation Wind Air temperature Solar radiation Lightning Floods Storm surge Droughts Wildfires Landslides Subsidence Earthquakes & tsunami Volcanic eruptions Spread of bacteria and viruses Distribution of airborne matter Distribution of waterborne matter Mutagenic processes

Underlying Environmental Processes Reproduction and Growth Death and Decomposition Succession and Migration Competition and Adaptation Climatological Meteorological Water Cycling Nutrient Cycling Carbon Cycling Disturbance Soil genesis and erosion

Underlying Social and Economic Processes Demographic Cultural Educational Governance Legal Social Family Market

Future ISG Topics Systems models for Tier 3 with appropriate details Connection to Criteria and Indicators Identify opportunities to test in indicator synthesis Identify opportunities to test in integrated assessment