promising or effective measures should be selected and tested based on the concepts
of Adaptive Management. Different management options should be implemented,
monitored and evaluated under controlled conditions.
One of the most promising strategies for climate change adaptation is to
strengthen the resilience of natural systems by reducing non-climatic pressures
from land-use, land-use changes, fertilisation, traffic, recreational activities, etc.
A wide set of management activities focusing on the alleviation of existing pressures is well known and has already been implemented. In many cases such
activities need to be intensified due to the additional pressure of climate change.
The advantage of such a strategy is that it can be started immediately and that it
will already be effective under current climatic conditions. However, this strategy
requires profound knowledge about management effectiveness and a sufficiently
equipped area management team.
10.7 Lessons Learned from Adaptation of Management
Plans in HABIT-CHANGE
In HABIT-CHANGE the adaptation process was tested in six investigation areas
and discussed with several conservation managers in Central and Eastern Europe.
Experience showed that the process of adaptation needs to be tailored in a sitespecific manner to meet the needs of each protected area. There is no simple
solution or general approach beyond the recommended working steps. Many
decisions relevant for an effective adaptation are not solely in the hands of conservation administrators. The process of adaptation depends on local expertise and
intensive communication with relevant stakeholders who may shape and design
tasks and processes in a way very specific to the site. Important stakeholders need to
be included, convinced and motivated to act. Local adaptation processes should be
supported and partly coordinated by regional and national policies, programmes
and guidance. Also the provision of funds and resources for the climate adaptation
of management in protected areas has to be ensured. Many strategies have to be
prepared at the national or regional level, before they can be applied at a local level.
This is especially true for monitoring tasks, for modelling and assessment and for
the legal framework as well as for institutional competencies and structures that
cannot be implemented at or initiated from the protected area level.
From the HABIT-CHANGE project it was apparent that providing checklists
and guideline documents can be helpful in supporting protected area managers, but
it takes more than guidelines to initiate and maintain the adaptation process. It must
be accompanied by intensive consultations with experts and it has to be tailored to
the specific and individual situation of each protected area. In most cases, protected
area management is not sufficiently equipped for gathering and analysing relevant
data or information on its own, due to limited resources.
170
C. Wilke and S. Rannow
of Adaptive Management. Different management options should be implemented,
monitored and evaluated under controlled conditions.
One of the most promising strategies for climate change adaptation is to
strengthen the resilience of natural systems by reducing non-climatic pressures
from land-use, land-use changes, fertilisation, traffic, recreational activities, etc.
A wide set of management activities focusing on the alleviation of existing pressures is well known and has already been implemented. In many cases such
activities need to be intensified due to the additional pressure of climate change.
The advantage of such a strategy is that it can be started immediately and that it
will already be effective under current climatic conditions. However, this strategy
requires profound knowledge about management effectiveness and a sufficiently
equipped area management team.
10.7 Lessons Learned from Adaptation of Management
Plans in HABIT-CHANGE
In HABIT-CHANGE the adaptation process was tested in six investigation areas
and discussed with several conservation managers in Central and Eastern Europe.
Experience showed that the process of adaptation needs to be tailored in a sitespecific manner to meet the needs of each protected area. There is no simple
solution or general approach beyond the recommended working steps. Many
decisions relevant for an effective adaptation are not solely in the hands of conservation administrators. The process of adaptation depends on local expertise and
intensive communication with relevant stakeholders who may shape and design
tasks and processes in a way very specific to the site. Important stakeholders need to
be included, convinced and motivated to act. Local adaptation processes should be
supported and partly coordinated by regional and national policies, programmes
and guidance. Also the provision of funds and resources for the climate adaptation
of management in protected areas has to be ensured. Many strategies have to be
prepared at the national or regional level, before they can be applied at a local level.
This is especially true for monitoring tasks, for modelling and assessment and for
the legal framework as well as for institutional competencies and structures that
cannot be implemented at or initiated from the protected area level.
From the HABIT-CHANGE project it was apparent that providing checklists
and guideline documents can be helpful in supporting protected area managers, but
it takes more than guidelines to initiate and maintain the adaptation process. It must
be accompanied by intensive consultations with experts and it has to be tailored to
the specific and individual situation of each protected area. In most cases, protected
area management is not sufficiently equipped for gathering and analysing relevant
data or information on its own, due to limited resources.
170
C. Wilke and S. Rannow