Making Good Use of Adaptive Management

Center for Progressive Reform White Paper No. 1104

UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2011-24

20 Pages Posted: 13 Apr 2011 Last revised: 21 Aug 2012

See all articles by Holly Doremus

Holly Doremus

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

William L. Andreen

University of Alabama - School of Law

Alejandro E. Camacho

University of California, Irvine, School of Law, Center for Land, Environment, and Natural Resources (CLEANR); Center for Progressive Reform

Daniel A. Farber

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

Robert L. Glicksman

George Washington University - Law School

Dale D. Goble

University of Idaho College of Law

Bradley C. Karkkainen

University of Minnesota Law School

Dan Rohlf

Lewis & Clark College Paul L Boley Library

A. Dan Tarlock

Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology

Sandra B. Zellmer

University of Montana - Alexander Blewett III School of Law

Shana Jones

University of Georgia

Ling-Yee Huang

Independent

Date Written: April 1, 2011

Abstract

Over the last two decades, natural resource scientists, managers, and policymakers have increasingly endorsed “adaptive management” of land and natural resources. Indeed, this approach, based on adaptive implementation of resource management and pollution control laws, is now mandated in a variety of contexts at the federal and state level. Yet confusion remains over the meaning of adaptive management, and disagreement persists over its usefulness or feasibility in specific contexts.

This white paper is intended to help legislators, agency personnel, and the public better understand and use adaptive management. Adaptive management is not a panacea for the problems that plague natural resource management woes. It is appropriate in some contexts, but not in others. Drawing on key literature as well as case studies, we offer an explanation of adaptive management, including a discussion of its benefits and challenges; a roadmap for deciding whether or not to use it in a particular context; and best practices for obtaining its benefits while avoiding its potential pitfalls. Following these recommendations should simultaneously improve the ability of resource managers to achieve management goals determined by society and the ability of citizens to hold managers accountable to those goals.

Keywords: adaptive management

Suggested Citation

Doremus, Holly and Andreen, William L. and Camacho, Alejandro E. and Farber, Daniel A. and Glicksman, Robert L. and Goble, Dale D. and Karkkainen, Bradley C. and Rohlf, Dan and Tarlock, A. Dan and Zellmer, Sandra B. and Jones, Shana and Huang, Ling-Yee, Making Good Use of Adaptive Management (April 1, 2011). Center for Progressive Reform White Paper No. 1104, UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2011-24, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1808106 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1808106

Holly Doremus (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

790 Simon Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States
510-643-5699 (Phone)

William L. Andreen

University of Alabama - School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 870382
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
United States

Alejandro E. Camacho

University of California, Irvine, School of Law, Center for Land, Environment, and Natural Resources (CLEANR)

401 E. Peltason Drive, Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
United States

Center for Progressive Reform ( email )

500 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
United States

Daniel A. Farber

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

Boalt Hall
Room 894
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States
510-642-0340 (Phone)
510-642-3728 (Fax)

Robert L. Glicksman

George Washington University - Law School ( email )

2000 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20052
United States
202-994-4641 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.gwu.edu/Faculty/profile.aspx?id=16085

Dale D. Goble

University of Idaho College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 442321
Moscow, ID 83844-2321
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.uidaho.edu/faculty/goble.asp

Bradley C. Karkkainen

University of Minnesota Law School ( email )

229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

Dan Rohlf

Lewis & Clark College Paul L Boley Library ( email )

10015 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR 97219
United States

A. Dan Tarlock

Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology ( email )

565 West Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60661
United States
(312) 906-5217 (Phone)
(312) 906-5280 (Fax)

Sandra B. Zellmer

University of Montana - Alexander Blewett III School of Law ( email )

Missoula, MT 59812-0002
United States
406-243-6653 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.umt.edu/law/faculty/directory/default.php?ID=5355

Shana Jones

University of Georgia ( email )

Athens, GA 30602-6254
United States

Ling-Yee Huang

Independent

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