Adapting Prospective Structural Analysis to strengthen sustainable management and capacity building in Community-Based Natural Resource Management contexts

MARIA DEL MAR DELGADO-SERRANO, ; PIETER VANWILDEMEERSCH; LONDON S, ROJAS M,; ROBERTO ESCALANTE

ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY

RESILIENCE ALLIANCE

Año: 2016

1708-3087

ABSTRACT. Local communities collectively managing common pool resources can play an important role in sustainable management,but they often lack the skills and context-specific tools required for such management. The complex dynamics of social-ecologicalsystems (SES), the need for management capacities, and communities? limited empowerment and participation skills present challengesfor community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) strategies. We analyzed the applicability of prospective structuralanalysis (PSA), a strategic foresight tool, to support decision making and to foster sustainable management and capacity building inCBNRM contexts and the modifications necessary to use the tool in such contexts. By testing PSA in three SES in Colombia, Mexico,and Argentina, we gathered information regarding the potential of this tool and its adaptation requirements. The results suggest thatthe tool can be adapted to these contexts and contribute to fostering sustainable management and capacity building. It helped identifythe systems? dynamics, thus increasing the communities? knowledge about their SES and informing the decision-making process.Additionally, it drove a learning process that both fostered empowerment and built participation skills. The process demanded bothtime and effort, and required external monitoring and facilitation, but community members could be trained to master it. Thus, wesuggest that the PSA technique has the potential to strengthen CBNRM and that other initiatives could use it, but they must be awareof these requirements.Key Words: Argentina; Colombia; Latin America; local knowledge; Mexico; participatory techniques; social-ecological systems; strategicforesight