Browsing by Author "Sayer, Jeffrey A."

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Assessing the Performance of Natural Resource Systems
(2002) Campbell, Bruce; Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Frost, Peter; Vermeulen, Sonja; Ruiz-Pérez, Manuel; Cunningham, Anthony; Prabhu, Ravi
"Assessing the performance of management is central to natural resource management, in terms of improving the efficiency of interventions in an adaptive-learning cycle. This is not simple, given that such systems generally have multiple scales of interaction and response; high frequency of nonlinearity, uncertainty, and time lags; multiple stakeholders with contrasting objectives; and a high degree of context specificity. The importance of bounding the problem and preparing a conceptual model of the system is highlighted. We suggest that the capital assets approach to livelihoods may be an appropriate organizing principle for the selection of indicators of system performance. In this approach, five capital assets are recognized: physical, financial, social, natural, and human. A number of principles can be derived for each capital asset; indicators for assessing system performance should cover all of the principles. To cater for multiple stakeholders, participatory selection of indicators is appropriate, although when cross-site comparability is required, some generic indicators are suitable. Because of the high degree of context specificity of natural resource management systems, a typology of landscapes or resource management domains may be useful to allow extrapolation to broader systems. The problems of nonlinearities, uncertainty, and time lags in natural resource management systems suggest that systems modeling is crucial for performance assessment, in terms of deriving 'what would have happened anyway' scenarios for comparison to the measured trajectory of systems. Given that a number of indicators are necessary for assessing performance, the question becomes whether these can be combined to give an integrative assessment. We explore five possible approaches: (1) simple additive index, as used for the Human Development Index; (2) derived variables (e.g., principal components) as the indices of performance; (3) two-dimensional plots of indicators and cases emerging from multivariate techniques used to visualize change; (4) graphical representation of the five capital assets using radar diagrams; and (5) canonical correlation analysis to explore indicators at two different scales."
Can Conservation and Development Really be Integrated?
(2009) Sayer, Jeffrey A.
"Most biodiversity conservation projects in poor tropical countries also aspire to alleviate the poverty of local people. The results of these integrated conservation and development projects have often been disappointing. This paper argues that it would be impossible for both practical and ethical reasons for conservation programmes to ignore the needs of poor people who live in and around the natural areas that we seek to conserve. The problem is not whether we should attempt to integrate conservation and development but rather how we should attempt to do so. Recommendations are made for a number of principles that should underlie such programmes. It is argued that they should operate at the scale of landscape mosaics, they should be firmly rooted in local social processes and they should make the trade-offs between conservation and development explicit. Less effort should go into planning them and more into working with local stakeholders to explore options and find solutions that meet both local livelihood needs and global conservation goals."
Forestry Research within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(1994) Sayer, Jeffrey A.
"The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is an informal consortium of more than 40 donor agencies, together with representatives of developing countries, elected through the FAO regional agricultural commissions. CGIAR was established in 1971 to support a system of agricultural research around the world."
Improving the Effectiveness of Interventions to Balance Conservation and Development: A Conceptual Framework
(2007) Garnett, Stephen T.; Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Du Toit, Johan
"There are numerous case studies around the world describing integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs). Recently some localized syntheses have been published that use sophisticated statistics to identify patterns and causal linkages, but no attempt has yet been made to draw together lessons from across the globe. This paper is an attempt to provide a framework for such an analysis. A set of lessons is proposed for improving the prospects of ICDPs by giving consideration to each of the five capitals: natural, social, human, built, and financial. The language of ICDPs has been adopted by development agencies of all persuasions. There is now some urgency to identify the characteristics of the environment and the community in which success is most likely. This paper is intended as a step in that direction."
Mediating Forest Transitions: 'Grand Design' or 'Muddling Through'
(2008) Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Bull, Gary; Elliott, Chris
"Present biodiversity conservation programmes in the remaining extensive forest blocks of the humid tropics are failing to achieve outcomes that will be viable in the medium to long term. Too much emphasis is given to what we term 'grand design'-ambitious and idealistic plans for conservation. Such plans implicitly oppose or restrict development and often attempt to block it by speculatively establishing paper parks. Insufficient recognition is given to the inevitable long term pressures for conversion to other land uses and to the weakness of local constituencies for conservation. Conservation institutions must build their capacity to engage with the process of change. They must constantly adapt to deal with a continuously unfolding set of challenges, opportunities and changing societal needs. This can be achieved by long term on-the-ground engagement and 'muddling through'. The range of conservation options must be enlarged to give more attention to biodiversity in managed landscapes and to mosaics composed of areas with differing intensities of use. The challenge is to build the human capacity and institutions to achieve this."
Navigating Trade-Offs: Working for Conservation and Development Outcomes
(2010) Campbell, Bruce; Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Walker, Brian H.
"In this introductory essay, we synthesize some lessons from integrated conservation-development initiatives in developing countries, drawing particularly on the case study material in this special issue. There is an emerging consensus that at the heart of achieving positive outcomes are a core of institutional issues involving landscape governance, trust building, empowerment, and good communication, all implying long-term commitment by, and flexibility of, external actors. Fundamental to success is the recognition of the significant trade- offs that occur between conservation and development goals."
Overview on Forest Research in Africa
(1995) Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Palmer, J.R.
"Long and consultative planning processes have been undertaken to develop priorities for strategic forestry research in Africa. The results have contributed to the development of CIFOR's medium-term plan, so that there seems to be a good match between Africa's needs and CIFOR's intentions. The political divisions of Africa make it difficult to achieve critical mass in public sector institutions. There should be renewed attempts to establish group-country research so as to maximize the effectiveness of the small pool of trained research staff . Institutional strengthening and human resource development needs more attention nationally and from donor agencies. Forestry research institutions should recruit staff from a wider range of disciplines or should develop partnerships with a wider range of organizations. A much greater effort in economics and social science research is required to compensate for the frequent policy failures. CIFOR seeks active collaboration with appropriate organizations in Africa."
The Principles of Conservation and Development: Do They Apply in Malinau?
(2007) Boedhihartono, A. K.; Gunarso, Petrus; Levang, Patrice; Sayer, Jeffrey A.
"Attempts to reconcile economic development with environmental conservation in a forest area in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, are reviewed for the district of Malinau, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, an area of 42,000 km2 that is still largely covered in rainforest. The history of the region is described and the conservation and development impacts of external drivers of change are assessed. Both government and conservation organizations have subscribed to the rhetoric of pursuing development pathways that would be sustainable and would conserve the rich biodiversity of the area. Three distinct approaches to conservation have been attempted. First spatial planning has been used to attribute land to different uses and particularly to identify and designate protected areas. Second, measures have been taken to lessen the negative environmental impact of industrial logging and to promote the preservation of biodiversity in logged forests. Last, decentralized and community-based management has been promoted on the assumption that this would yield better environmental and social outcomes than large-scale industrial development. These conservation measures have been pursued during a period when the governance of the region has been weak. Corruption, political collusion, and nepotism have been major factors in decision making about natural resources. We argue that a sustainable future for the district of Malinau must lie in finding an appropriate balance between protected areas, forests managed at both industrial and community scales, and land conversion. However, there is little empirical evidence that allows the outcomes of these approaches to be measured. The problem of knowing how conservation investments can be made in ways that optimize sustainable benefits to local livelihoods remains largely unresolved. A number of possible conservation and development pathways for the district are discussed."
The Role of International Research Agencies in Strengthening Forest Research in Africa
(1994) Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Ng, F.S.P.; Palmer, J.R.
"Among the range of problems requiring research, some are most relevant for particular countries and require special local knowledge or facilities for research. Others are common to eco-regions or ecosystems which span several countries; for these, a regional approach through networked research groups may be more efficient and effective. CIFOR has identified a set of strategic problems, through surveys of demands, which involve research leading to generalizable results, adaptable to local situations. CIFOR will work through institution-strengthening associations with national partners towards resolution of these strategic problems."
The Role of Participatory Modeling in Landscape Approaches to Reconcile Conservation and Development
(2010) Sandker, Marieke; Campbell, Bruce; Ruiz-Pérez, Manuel; Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Cowling, Richard; Kassa, Habtemariam; Knight, Andrew T.
"Conservation organizations are increasingly turning to landscape approaches to achieve a balance between conservation and development goals. We use six case studies in Africa and Asia to explore the role of participatory modeling with stakeholders as one of the steps towards implementing a landscape approach. The modeling was enthusiastically embraced by some stakeholders and led to impact in some cases. Different stakeholders valued the modeling exercise differently. Noteworthy was the difference between those stakeholders connected to the policy process and scientists; the presence of the former in the modeling activities is key to achieving policy impacts, and the latter were most critical of participatory modeling. Valued aspects of the modeling included stimulating cross-sector strategic thinking, and helping participants to confront the real drivers of change and to recognize trade-offs. The modeling was generally considered to be successful in building shared understanding of issues. This understanding was gained mainly in the discussions held in the process of building the model rather than in the model outputs. The model itself reflects but a few of the main elements of the usually rich discussions that preceded its finalization. Problems emerged when models became too complex. Key lessons for participatory modeling are the need for good facilitation in order to maintain a balance between 'models as stories' and technical modeling, and the importance of inviting the appropriate stakeholders to achieve impact."
Science and International Nature Conservation
(1995) Sayer, Jeffrey A.
"International nature conservation programs were originally driven by field biologists. As environment has assumed increasing prominence on the international political agenda, the role of biologists has been marginalised. International programs now have ambitious targets set by politicians and aspire to save the world. There is a need to balance these global environmental initiatives with a set of shorter term practical actions to maximise biodiversity conservation. Biological scientists can cooperate with other natural resource specialists and social scientists in defining more targeted cost-effective nature conservation programs. A case is made for the Prince Bernhard Chair at the University of UTRECHT to focus on this interface between science and conservation practices."
Technologies for Sustainable Forest Management: Challenges for the 21st Century
(1997) Sayer, Jeffrey A.; Vanclay, Jerome K.; Byron, R.N.
"Technology will help to address the challenges for sustainable forestry in the 21st century. Some of the challenges will include the shift of production from native forest to plantations in areas of comparative advantage, more efficient processing delinking end-use products from raw wood characteristics, increased demand, better information technologies to support decision makers, and more options for conserving biodiversity. Definitions of sustainability will vary in time and space as society’s expectations and aspirations change, so there can be no 'silver bullet' to ensure sustainability. However, progress may be facilitated with a systematic approach to forest management embracing the usual planning cycle: formulation of objectives, preparation of a strategy, planning, implementing, monitoring, and reappraisal. This requires a good understanding of each particular situation. Managers need good resource assessment and decision support systems; they must foster stakeholder participation in decisions, costs and benefits; and ensure effective procedures to resolve conflicts. Within an appropriate system, technical advances such as better machines and new implements may help to make a difference, but will not in themselves ensure sustainability. The important technologies for sustainable forestry are those that foster better communication between stakeholders and allow informed decisions spanning scales from the gene to the ecosystem. This remains an important challenge for forest managers in their search for sustainability."