How does adaptive co-management relate to specified and general resilience? An approach from Isla Mayor, Andalusia, Spain

Abstract

Resilience provides a framework to study the dynamics of social-ecological systems (SESs). The inherent complexity and uncertainty of SESs reveals the necessity for new approaches in management, such as adaptive co-management (ACM). The objective of the present research is to analyse the link between ACM and specified/general resilience debate. For the empirical analysis, a qualitative case-study approach is conducted in Isla Mayor, a southern municipality of Spain with an intensive rice cultivation tradition and a few limited secondary activities such as fishing and tourism. First, we explore five different faces of ACM in Isla Mayor’s rice farming: (1) institution building, (2) power sharing, (3) governance, (4) problem solving, and (5) knowledge co-production, social learning and adaptation. Secondly, we analyse specified and general resilience from two perspectives: (1) stakeholders’ perceptions, (2) adaptive capacity and self-organization. The results highlight the existence of a task-oriented process aimed at solving problems related to the rice activity. This process has contributed to shape a new multi-level governance system and sharing of power between public authorities and local rice farmers, seemingly contributing to an improved rice cultivation specified resilience. However, the lack of collective power and vertical/horizontal links in the governance framework of the remaining socio-economic activities in the region have given rise to some difficulties in their management and interactions with the rice sector, thereby raising barriers to diversify activities and enhance general resilience. The case shows that ACM can provide the opportunity to navigate the trade-offs between specified and general resilience.