A perspective on successful implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to management and conservation in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Authors

  • Stuart A. Ludsin Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43212 USA
  • Charles K. Minns Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2 Canada
  • Mohiuddin Munawar Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 867 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1 Canada
  • Peter J. Alsip National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 4840 South State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA
  • Angela L. Andrade Commission on Ecosystem Management, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland, and Conservation International, Columbia
  • Donald F. Boesch University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 429 Fourth St., Annapolis, MD 21403 USA
  • Caitriona Carter UR ETTIS INRAE, New Aquitaine, 50 Avenue de Verdun-Gazinet, 33612 Cestas-Cedex, France
  • Elizelle Juaneé Cilliers University of Technology Sydney, Design, Architecture and Building, 702-730 Harris Street, Ultimo, NWS, 2007 Australia
  • Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
  • Francisco J. Escobedo USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, CA 92507 USA
  • Kenneth T. Frank Queen's University, Department of Biology, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada
  • William C. Leggett Queen's University, Department of Biology, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada
  • Jason S. Link National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, Office of the Assistant Administrator, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
  • Kerry A. Waylen Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) Department, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland UK

Keywords:

socio-ecological systems, nature-based solutions, ecosystem-based fisheries management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, ecosystem restoration

Abstract

To celebrate the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a conference was held on the evolution of the Ecosystem Approach during the past half-century to learn how to enhance successful implementation of ecosystem-based approaches for resource management, conservation, and societal problems worldwide. Among several conference workshops, one focused on the origins and history of ecosystem approaches, which was attended by 14 researchers with global expertise in conservation biology, ecology, economics, ecosystem modeling, limnology, resource and ecosystem management, policymaking, political science, and social science. This paper presents insights gleaned from this workshop on key needs for and challenges to effective implementation of these approaches. We identified six categories of needs and challenges, spanning from the initial phases of Ecosystem Approach development (e.g. setting clear goals; fostering stakeholder buy-in) to the final ones (e.g. adapting to change; maintaining program support). Setting clear goals aligned with a shared vision was identified as most critical to successful implementation and offered the fewest barriers. By contrast, 1) accounting for poorly understood governance structures and navigating administrative constraints, 2) sustaining support, and 3) gaining stakeholder buy-in were viewed as the biggest three challenges. Overcoming these challenges was viewed as critical to success, thus helping us understand why effective implementation of ecosystem approaches has remained difficult globally. Sound science (and overcoming associated hurdles; e.g. breaking down disciplinary silos) and effective communication were also mentioned by some. Using these findings, we assess the state of ecosystem approaches in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, concluding with recommendations on how to promote their successful implementation inside and outside of the Basin.

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Published

2024-04-01

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 2 (2024): Ecosystem Approach in the 21st Century: Guiding science and management

Section

Research article

License

Manuscripts must be original. They must not be published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. It is required that the lead author of accepted papers complete and sign the MSU Press AEHM Author Publishing Agreement and provide it to the publisher upon acceptance.