THE INVISIBLE WAND Adaptive Co-Management as an Emergent Strategy in Complex Bio-Economic Systems A Paper written by Jack Ruitenbeek and Cynthia Cartier Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Occasional Paper No. 34, October 2001 Presentation by Rowan B. Martin  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts illustrated with René Magritte’s paintings

Zombies are physically identical to normal human beings but lack conscious experience completely Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts 

Why did evolution bother to produce us if zombies would have survived and reproduced just as well ?

 Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts An important element of ACM is conscious participation Social learning Individuals respond to incentives and disincentives – they may spend time and money on learning for the sake of getting a better paid job But this incentive effect is limited to simple systems In complex systems other relationships can take precedence over simple incentive effects Adaptation through learning and experimentation is a fundamental component of ACM

“All for one, one for all... and everyone for himself ” Collaboration In complex systems, collaboration is a potential strategy for an individual Individuals may copy successful strategies of other people A complex system may even self-organise around a collaborative effort if the common good is at stake This diminishes the classic problem of open-access... in complex systems, feedback creates the incentives to limit harvesting  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

The concept of responsibility suggests that it rests with individuals ACM always involves sharing of responsibility A key lesson from ACM is that the behaviour of an individual Responsibility if they share commensurate goals is most likely to align with the behaviour desired by a principal This implies they must have the same measures of success  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Devolution Some might argue that devolution is a policy tool Others might argue that it is itself an emergent property from a democratising society  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Devolution continued The lessons from economic literature are unanimous on the fact that benefit sharing is a significant issue Corruption is often a serious factor affecting benefit sharing It is often advisable to delay implementation of projects until strong institutions have been developed to reduce corruption In complex systems, the nature of the beast is acknowledged

“Integrated Projects”... are common in the delivery of foreign aid BUT The rigid project designs LOG FRAME ANALYSIS are unable to accommodate the changing preferences typical of complex systems  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

In the drive for efficiency, by eliminating redundant or duplicated systems... Integrated Projects continued... the resilience is removed from complex systems  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Integrated Projects The risks attached to disruptions in the status quo of complex systems are seldom adequately anticipated

By introducing new interaction patterns in an ad hoc fashion and focussing entirely on material rewards, social criteria for success are overlooked In summary, these projects ignore the fact that people are human Integrated Projects continued  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

The Arrival of Homo sustinens The human that lives in accordance with sustainability must be capable of – ●cooperation and communication ● learning and creativity ● emotion as well as rationality with regard to nature ● moral responsibility IS THIS HUMAN OUT THERE ?  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Humans would not have survived this long without communication and cooperation... essential to catch dinner and raise children  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

The brain’s process of learning is one of constant innovation  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Homo sustinens and moral responsibility Psychologists believe that environmental responsibility can only be engendered intrinsically Extrinsic motivation such as monetary rewards will not bring about the lifestyle changes required for conscious environmental stewardship  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Lastly, our emotional response to nature is a survival trait – it is often a source of joy and peace  Perspectives: A Fresh Look at some ACM Concepts

Intermission if required