Using Participatory System Dynamics Modeling to Address Complex Conservation Problems: Tiger Farming as a Case Study

Erica Rieder,Michael 'T Sas-Rolfes,Birgit Kopainsky,Lincoln R Larson

doi:10.3389/fcosc.2021.696615

Abstract

Conservation practitioners routinely work within complex social-ecological systems to address threats facing biodiversity and to promote positive human-wildlife interactions. Inadequate understanding of the direct and indirect, short- and long-term consequences of decision making within these dynamic systems can lead to misdiagnosed problems and interventions with perverse outcomes, exacerbating conflict. Participatory system dynamics (SD) modeling is a process that encourages stakeholder engagement, synthesizes research and knowledge, increases trust and consensus and improves transdisciplinary collaboration to solve these complex types of problems. Tiger conservation exemplifies a set of interventions in a complex social-ecological system. Wild tigers remain severely threatened by various factors, including habitat constraints, human-wildlife conflict, and persistent consumer demand for their body parts. Opinions differ on whether commercial captive tiger facilities reduce or increase the threat from poaching for trade, resulting in policy conflict among diverse stakeholder groups. This paper explains how we are working with international conservation partners in a virtual environment to utilize a participatory SD modeling approach with the goal of better understanding and promoting coexistence of humans and wild tigers. We highlight a step-by-step process that others might use to apply participatory SD modeling to address similar conservation challenges, building trust and consensus among diverse partners to reduce conflict and improve the efficacy of conservation interventions.

Highlights

To navigate complex social-ecological systems and promote coexistence with wildlife, researchers and practitioners must focus on knowledge generation while increasing access to and use of information that already exists
Participatory Modeling: Tiger Farming these social relationships and processes exists, this knowledge often remains on the periphery of decision-making that impacts wildlife management (Bennett et al, 2017)
This paper explores how a participatory system dynamics (SD) modeling process can be used to address a complex problem: conservation of wild tigers

Summary

INTRODUCTION

To navigate complex social-ecological systems and promote coexistence with wildlife, researchers and practitioners must focus on knowledge generation while increasing access to and use of information that already exists. Participatory Modeling: Tiger Farming these social relationships and processes exists, this knowledge often remains on the periphery of decision-making that impacts wildlife management (Bennett et al, 2017). Use of the Conservation Standards provides a number of benefits, including identifying potential interventions, clarifying theories of change and increasing collaboration; it does not explicitly incorporate system behavior such as feedbacks, nonlinear behavior or the consequences of time delays With such a diversity of tools that could be used for understanding complex systems (Voinov et al, 2018), it can be difficult for managers to know where to start. This paper explores how a participatory SD modeling process can be used to address a complex problem: conservation of wild tigers. Respondents review summarized responses and highlight areas of disagreement (Hsu and Sandford, 2007), as well as additional questions informed by the modeling (Vennix et al, 1990)

Introduction and Problem Familiarization

Findings

ETHICS STATEMENT