Abstract
Trade-offs are manifestations of the complex dynamics in interdependent social-ecological systems. Addressing trade-offs involves challenges of perception due to the dynamics of interdependence. We outline the challenges associated with addressing trade-offs and analyze knowledge coproduction as a practice that may contribute to tackling trade-offs in social-ecological systems. We discuss this through a case study in coastal Kenya in which an iterative knowledge coproduction process was facilitated to reveal social-ecological trade-offs in the face of ecological and socioeconomic change. Representatives of communities, government, and NGOs attended two integrative workshops in which methods derived from systems thinking, dialogue, participatory modeling, and scenarios were applied to encourage participants to engage and evaluate trade-offs. Based on process observation and interviews with participants and scientists, our analysis suggests that this process lead to increased appreciation of interdependences and the way in which trade-offs emerge from complex dynamics of interdependent factors. The process seemed to provoke a reflection of knowledge assumptions and narratives, and management goals for the social-ecological system. We also discuss how stakeholders link these insights to their practices.
Highlights
Worldwide, the livelihoods and well-being of communities are deeply intertwined with ecosystems, which in turn are affected by institutions and ecological change (Berkes et al 2000)
Reflecting on the challenges of addressing trade-offs (Table 1), we propose that knowledge coproduction processes can support tackling trade-offs, by: (1) developing a systemic perspective and reviewing assumptions of how the system works; (2) understanding how trade-offs have an impact on different people differently; (3) supporting the development of a collaboration and new relations among stakeholders; (4) supporting the development of shared goals; and (5) stimulating new practices that address trade-off dynamics
The context We based our analysis of the contribution of knowledge coproduction to learning about trade-offs on a process developed within the context of the “Participatory modeling of wellbeing trade-offs in Coastal Kenya” project
Summary
The livelihoods and well-being of communities are deeply intertwined with ecosystems, which in turn are affected by institutions and ecological change (Berkes et al 2000). In these interdependent social-ecological systems, management or policy interventions in one element may directly or indirectly affect other elements of the system (Axelrod and Cohen 2000, Brown et al 2001). A policy designed to improve ecological status might lead to improvements on the well-being of some people and to a decrease in the wellbeing of others This is what we call a social-ecological trade-off.
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