Smith T.F. 2006. Institutionalising adaptive learning for coastal management.. Coastal management in Australia: Key institutional and governance issues for coastal natural resource management and planning..

Institutionalising adaptive learning for coastal management.

TitleInstitutionalising adaptive learning for coastal management.
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsSmith T.F
Book TitleCoastal management in Australia: Key institutional and governance issues for coastal natural resource management and planning.
PublisherCorporate Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management
Keywordsadaptive learning, adaptive management, coastal organisations, institutionalised learning, integrated coastal zone management, social learning
AbstractIn: N. Lazarow, R. Souter, R. Fearon and S. Dovers (eds.).

Aim/objectives: 

Proposes a contextual learning framework for institutionalising adaptive learning processes within coastal organisations

Geographic Focus: 

Methods: 

Key Findings: 

While the need for adaptive management of coastal zones is generally recognised, mechanisms for its successful achievement are less understood. Coastal zone research and management also tends to emphasise an issue-specific focus, rather than considering broader conditions and processes for enhancing capacity, sustainability and change. Processes of social learning are a critical mechanism within adaptive management. These processes must consider both successes and failures for effective learning to occur. This article proposes a contextual learning framework that uses a diagnostic approach for assessing learning outcomes, learning processes and the type of learning needed to achieve the desired outcomes at various scales (e.g. individual, organisational, system-wide).

Lessons: 

A framework which provides a structured, diagnostic approach to considering not only desired learning outcomes, but the actual processes, people and materials needed to achieve these outcomes at different scales, is of clear value to coastal zone management practitioners and researchers. Institutionalising this type of targeted learning framework within coastal organisations is both needed and a significant challenge for integrated coastal zone management.