The 60th annual meeting of ATBC (Association of Tropical Biological Conservation), held in Kigali (Rwanda) from 14-18 July 2024, included an international conference on “Achieving Inclusive Science for Effective Conservation, Adaptation, and Resilience in the Tropics“. The ideal place for SECORES to present our insights and link it with actual work in the field. SECORES organized a specific session on Social-Ecological Resilience and Biodiversity with 5 speakers.
Dr. Tania D’Haijere (CEBioS) facilitated the session and gave an overview of key concepts of Social-Ecological Resilience (SER), the link with planetary boundaries, the risk of collapse of a system, social and ecological driving forces, ecosystem services, how SECORES translated this in its conceptual framework and Theory of Change, how we work on capacity building on SER, and the learning trajectories on assessing resilience and on the link between gender/inclusion and SER.
Prof. Jacques Nkengurutse (University of Burundi) explained more in detail the work done on assessing SER with two field case studies in Burundi testing the SEPLS tool (Social-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes toolkit). Via this toolkit, SER is assessed in participatory workshops on 20 indicators over 5 categories: landscape/seascape diversity and ecosystem protection; biodiversity (including agricultural biodiversity); knowledge and innovation; governance and social equity; and livelihood and well-being. The case studies show that the added value of the tool include: (a) awareness and capacity building on SER of the participants; (b) gather participants on a shared vision/goal to improve SER; (c) possibility to evaluate the needs of the community (based on scores and trends); and (d) a reliable base of the definitions of stakeholders of the resilience of their social-ecological system.
Marion Iceduna (Join For Water Uganda) showed how SER is put into practice in Uganda with a specific focus on gender and empowerment of women via the WORIA project (Women River Ambassadors). Join For Water and its partners adopt a systemic approach. But translating system-thinking into practice is also challenging, e.g., on how to define the boundaries of a social system around natural resource management, given the many interests and actors involved (especially those of women), as well as measuring impact at the level of the system. Also considering that river planning in Uganda is largely male dominated. The experimental question in this ongoing project is “Will strengthening the capacity of women to participate in knowledge development and conservation planning (in the form of Women River Ambassadors, or WORIAs) help women become drivers of positive change in sustainably managing the land-river interface?”.
Dr. Venuste Nsengimana (University of Rwanda) described how to use an Adaptive Planning Process (APP) to plan for the management of water resource and its biodiversity in Rwanda. The research includes two objectives: (a) to assess the current involvement of stakeholders in water resource governance; and (b) to use the APP approach to overcome challenges identified during the implementation of the IWRM approach. Findings of this study showed the lack of engagement of stakeholders, particularly local community members in planning for water-related governance activities. APP indicated the ways and importance to integrate local communities among key stakeholders while planning for water resource management. The APP allows stakeholders to express individual views and allows deep understanding of threats affecting the catchment through knowledge sharing. Shared knowledge serves as a reference to formulate the vision, and to agree on values that guide the achievement of the vision through a hierarchy of objectives.
Setondé Constant Gnansounou (PhD Student at University of Namur) explained how social-ecological resilience can contribute to biodiversity conservation in tropical coastal zones via the case of mangroves and legal frameworks in Benin. His study confirmed that there is a plethora of legal provisions that enhance the SER of mangroves in Benin. But there is no efficient application of the resilience-driven laws in Benin. However, resilience-driven laws are more respected around deity mangroves (sacralised and sanctuary).
Questions from the audience included on how to enhance resilience in vulnerable areas and the specific actions implemented; on which follow-up processes are needed when applying the SEPLS tool and on the to integrate gender in a more practical way as in the WORIA project in addition to the Integrated Water Resources Management approach.
More info on the conference, please click here
