Abstract

Developing a comprehensive portfolio of theoretically sound indicators is fundamental to effective place-based management of coastal ecosystems at a wide range of scales. We reviewed indicator development case studies from seven different social-ecological systems over the first 10 years of the NOAA integrated ecosystem assessment (IEA) program, with the goals of identifying effective strategies and highlighting general principles that would inform future efforts. The IEA framework provided a versatile approach to developing indicators across a diverse range of differently scaled systems and partnerships, guided by organizing principles of screening transparency, iterative review, and an adaptive balance between quantitative evaluation methods and qualitative stakeholder guidance. Information exchange across the broad community of EBM practitioners facilitated progress between systems, chronologically tracking a path that reflected improvements in indicator development methods (especially for social indicators) and a growing focus on multisector EBM in smaller coastal communities. Most projects adopted innovative visual imagery to engage partners and stakeholders, which built trust and communication while enhancing the spectrum of indicators. Using guidance from the lessons above, future indicator development efforts will be better prepared to confront the recurring, transdisciplinary challenges of managing integrated social-ecological systems.

摘要

建立全面的理论上可靠的指标组合，对于在各种规模上有效地进行沿海生态系统基于地点的管理至关重要。我们回顾了NOAA综合生态系统评估（IEA）计划的前10年中来自七个不同社会生态系统的指标开发案例研究，目标是确定有效的策略并突出将为将来的工作提供信息的一般原则。IEA框架提供了一种通用的方法，可以在筛选透明度，迭代审查的组织原则以及定量评估方法与定性利益相关者指导之间的自适应平衡的指导下，跨各种规模不同的系统和合作伙伴关系开发指标。广泛的EBM从业者社区之间的信息交换促进了系统之间的进步，按时间顺序跟踪了一条路径，该路径反映了指标制定方法（尤其是社会指标）的改进，并且在较小的沿海社区中越来越关注多部门EBM。大多数项目采用创新的视觉图像来吸引合作伙伴和利益相关者，从而在建立指标和信任的同时建立了信任和交流。利用以上经验教训的指导，未来的指标开发工作将为应对综合社会生态系统管理不断出现的跨学科挑战做好更好的准备。按时间顺序跟踪一条路径，该路径反映了指标制定方法（尤其是社会指标）的改进以及在较小的沿海社区中对多部门EBM的日益关注。大多数项目采用创新的视觉图像来吸引合作伙伴和利益相关者，从而在建立指标和信任的同时建立了信任和交流。利用以上经验教训的指导，未来的指标开发工作将为应对综合社会生态系统管理不断出现的跨学科挑战做好更好的准备。按时间顺序跟踪一条路径，该路径反映了指标制定方法（尤其是社会指标）的改进以及在较小的沿海社区中对多部门EBM的日益关注。大多数项目采用创新的视觉图像吸引合作伙伴和利益相关者参与，从而建立了信任和交流，同时扩大了指标范围。利用以上经验教训的指导，未来的指标开发工作将为应对综合社会生态系统管理不断出现的跨学科挑战做好更好的准备。