Module 15

15. Adaptive management

  1. The process of adaptive management regarding uncertainties, changes in natural processes and changes in conditions related to biodiversity. Adaptive management responds to feedback information regarding the development of tourism in sensitive areas (or biodiversity).
  2. After dealing with basic dilemmas, it is necessary to continue with adaptive management. On the one hand, it is based on ecosystem dynamics, i.e. flora and fauna, and on the other hand, on the lack of complete knowledge of all the changes and influences on natural assets. This is why it is necessary that the management of tourism and biodiversity is adaptive, and that it is based on acquired knowledge and experiences during tourism development.
  3. Managing ecosystems must include the learning process which will enable prompt responses to all the challenges in the process of tourism development based on biodiversity assets.
  4. Measures can be implemented even in situations when the influences have not been scientifically proven. Their effectiveness in cases of good judgement can have a strong impact.
  5. An efficient process of adaptive management requires clearly defined objectives and basic information, in the way that they reflect ecological, socio-economical and cultural aspects of tourism in the given site. Results of this type of monitoring are related to objectives in order to determine if the management actions should be adapted.
  6. The implementation of adaptive management requires specific, serious and long-term cooperation of managers in the fields of tourism and protected areas. It is a process where there is also space for tourism employees, caterers, tourism planning specialists, local biologists, geographers, nature conservationists, university professors working in the fields of nature conservation and biodiversity conservation.
  7. In addition to responsible specialists for the issues of tourism and nature conservation, this is a process where an important role is given to local government, local communities, non-governmental organisations (especially ecological movements).
  8. Changes and uncertainties are not only characteristic to natural processes and ecosystems, but to tourism as well. This is why it is important that adaptive management is adjusted to such trends, and that it contributes to the sustainable development of tourism.
  9. In case of unacceptable influence of tourism on biodiversity, the simplest way is to react through reducing tourist turnover and redirecting tourist flow to those parts of the protected area which are less sensitive and less prone to change. It is a special form of maintaining balance between tourism management and nature conservation executives.
  10. With the aim of adaptive management, it is possible to form a workgroup consisted of tourism employees and protected area management representatives, whose basic tasks would be: maintaining balance between tourism development and biodiversity, finding solutions for emerging problems, supporting adequate system of making decisions which can be effective in any situation, reviewing and changing legal regulations which are in conflict with the objectives of tourism and biodiversity conservation.