What does a resilience approach mean for monitoring & evaluation programs? Resilience as an NRM planning framework Implications for Monitoring & Evaluation April 2012 Dr Francesca Andreoni Program Manager Strategy & Planning
Introduction Resilience-based Catchment Planning Conceptual framework Namoi CAP Implications for MERI Focus of MERI programs Methods & tools Adaptive management Next steps for Namoi CMA
Map of the Namoi
Resilience Approach: What is it?: What does resilience mean? - The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganise so as to retain essentially the same function, structure and feedbacks to have the same identity
Resilience conceptual framework In a few words.! Define socio-ecological systems Understand drivers of change Conceptual models of systems Critical assets (trends & shocks) Thresholds (known or suspected)
Types of threshold: V2 no threshold V2 step change threshold V1 V1 V2 threshold with alternate V2 stable states irreversible threshold change V1 V1
Accepting that thresholds exist you can: ID thresholds (known or suspected) for critical assets Set targets to stay away from thresholds Design intervention to maintain or increase distance from thresholds Monitor proximity to thresholds over time
Figure 1: Conceptual model Critical functions of the Namoi Catchment Social Adaptive capacity Well being Economic Agricultural viability Other Industries Maximum Choices Productive land Fresh & available surface water Fresh & available ground water Biophysical Healthy soils Extent of woody vegetation cover Complexity of vegetation cover
Biodiversity example
Critical thresholds identified through the resilience assessment include: Woody vegetation cover at 30% in cleared subcatchments Woody vegetation cover at 70% in intact sub-catchments Regional Vegetation Communities maintain 30% extent Catchment Target Biodiversity 1 By 2020 there is an increase in native vegetation extent and vegetation does not decrease to less than 70% in less cleared subcatchments and 30% in over cleared subcatchments and no further Regional Vegetation Community decreases to less than 30% extent as identified by 2010 baseline.
Implications for Monitoring & Evaluation A resilience thinking approach has sharpened the focus on resource condition monitoring at the catchment scale
Catchment scale monitoring priorities Baseline information Critical assets Trend Proximity to threshold Continuity at project level Baseline information Monitoring Evaluations
Implications for Monitoring & Evaluation cont. Whilst the tools, methods and approaches in monitoring & evaluation remain relevant, the focus & underlying rationale may shift
Conceptual models of system & critical thresholds identified inform Assumptions Key Evaluation Questions Assumptions easier to tease out Key Evaluation Questions are more clearly defined Drives development of MERI frameworks,
Implications for Monitoring & Evaluation cont. Adaptive management is critical and MERI strategies need to focus on gathering information to inform decision making rather than just reporting
Adaptive management Evidence Decisions and underlying information/evidence Auditable trail Adaptive management (test assumptions) Systems to record Knowledge gaps identified and prioritised (baseline & trend information) Annual and mid term evaluation of Investment Plans & their implementation CAP Review Triggers for review/resubmission of CAP
Adaptive management Organisational Culture 1. Knowledge Management: knowledge recognition knowledge capture, collection, storage institutional memory, knowledge re-access 2. Organisational learning motivation and systems Organisational learning Single-Loop Learning- Efficiency Did we achieve the objectives and to what extent? Double-Loop Learning-Effectiveness Were they the right objectives? What is the evidence base? Triple-Loop (Strategic) How will we align to new evidence? Learning- Governance Who was engaged? Who set the agenda What processes were used?
Current focus for Namoi CMA CAP approval pending MERI Strategy under revision Implementing Investment Program Adaptive management systems Information management systems Collaboration Whole of Government Whole of Community
Resilience approach provides a useful framework to focus MERI efforts and target available resources across scales to what is most critical to inform ongoing NRM efforts
Further information The September 2011 Namoi Catchment Action Plan (Ministerial approval pending) and the Preliminary Resilience Assessment of the Namoi Catchment are available online at www.namoi.cma.nsw.gov.au