Towards Mobilizing Knowledge for Effective Decision-Making in Parks and Protected Areas

In November 2017, over 15,000 scientists issued a second letter to humanity that outlines how we are “jeopardizing our future” by failing to protect key ecological systems [...]

theoretical frameworks, structural innovations, and more that support effective knowledge mobilization. Park agencies and other conservation organizations now realize that understanding how social forces affect, and are affected by, park management are as important as knowledge of natural systems. Realizing that park-related knowledge mobilization is needed for effective park management, and that human factors have been neglected, the goal of this special issue is to enhance the generation and use of knowledge, especially knowledge derived from social science and the humanities [30], local, and Indigenous sources, for parks and protected areas policy, planning, and management.
To begin with, Grove et al. [31] examine Frojám, Spain and Ladydown Moor, England, two pastoral landmarks in western Europe, to demonstrate the degradation of heritage sites over time. The authors describe biological cultural heritage and its importance to preserving landmarks which show the connections between historical societies and nature. The study looks at the value of long-term conservation of pastoral enclosures and the relationships between these structures and the surrounding environment.
Múnera-Roldán et al. [32] address the need for a multidimensional understanding of the relationship between temporal and spatial aspects of protected areas and how knowledge governance can aid in management of these spaces as climates change. With examples from Colombia and South Africa, the authors evaluate the influence of time on protected areas and note that as climate changes, so too must the management of the area. They also address how different kinds of knowledge and their governance can be utilized to increase decision-making efficiency. Lastly, the authors compare their suggested framework to existing strategies for adaptive management used in other parts of the world.
Needham et al. [33] explore how knowledge from trappers, hunters, loggers, and farmers can be utilized to identify wildlife locations and movements near the Chignecto Isthmus in in eastern Canada. This information can be used in establishing effective corridors for populations of various types of wildlife as their habitats undergo changes from climate and other disturbances. The study aims to not only increase confidence in establishing effective corridors, but also enforce the connection between environmental issues and social issues. The authors aim to integrate local knowledge in order to strengthen collaboration and encourage a more unified conservation effort from Indigenous people, researchers, recreationalists, and industries.
Bloom and Deur [34] examine the Yosemite Ethnographic Database in the USA, and its role in helping identify culturally significant landmarks, traditions, and flora and fauna. The database serves as a tool that park planners can utilize to understand the knowledge and perspectives of Indigenous peoples regarding the cultural value of the park. Security of the database is a concern as some information is sensitive and not meant to be shared with the public, even with other Indigenous groups, and as such, the authors recommend proper encryption and limited access of the database to those with granted clearance.
An analysis of knowledge mobilization for the purpose of effective decision-making in the oil sands in Alberta, Canada is supplied by Hood [35]. The paper examines the industry's ecological and social impacts observed along the Athabasca River. The author notes that integration of knowledge from various sources is essential but more so that the information must be accessible in order to be successful. Restriction of data, documents, and models makes knowledge mobilization difficult. Knowledge mobilization is critical to address complex and rapid land-use changes that impact the environment and communities.
Murray et al. [36] examine knowledge mobilization and collaborative practices within the British Columbia parks agency (Canada), with a focus on the effectiveness of research on decision-making processes. The most important information sources were internal to the agency, but respondents who collaborated with outside groups rated external information sources more positively. Practitioners consider research important and would like to see more collaboration with scientists.
Atkinson [37] examined the challenges and opportunities of using Indigenous knowledge in the National Park Service's efforts to manage threatened caribou herds in Alaska's western Arctic. The study outlines a method of mobilizing Indigenous knowledge. Potential benefits include improved educational materials, better understanding of the resource, and a greater chance of adherence to regulations informed by Indigenous knowledge.
Blye et al. [38] studied how the Beaver Hills Biosphere in Alberta, Canada mobilizes knowledge, the effectiveness of that mobilization, challenges faced, and the attitudes towards diverse sources of knowledge. The authors found that not all knowledge was equally accessible, understood, or valued. Effective knowledge mobilization is complex, often takes a long time to develop, and needs to be diverse in format, types of knowledge producers, and cultural perspectives. The study expresses the importance of maintaining an "open system" when it comes to partnerships, and community integration should be included in discussions about management and conservation.
Milligan et al. [39] examines efforts to improve the ecological and recreational quality of the Franks Tract State Recreation Area in California, USA based on iterative participatory mapping and web-based public surveys. The authors analyzed the complex process of negotiating multiple realities and perspectives through reciprocal iterative change, concluding that shifts in stakeholder preferences can occur through iterative revision of design concepts that address a broad range of stakeholder values and concerns.
Carruthers Den Hoed et al. [40] explore how knowledge and information are used in decision-making processes about managing human-wildlife interactions, based on a case study of grizzly bear management practices in the Kananaskis Valley of Alberta, Canada. The authors evaluate how knowledge was mobilized in the decision-making process and how that process changed over time. Findings suggest that the role of managers toward knowledge mobilization shifted-some managers acted as barriers to knowledge mobilization while others were enablers of research. Despite the barriers and complexity of bear management in the area, the innovative and collaborative approach to decisionmaking in the parks demonstrates the importance of information diversity.
Last, Hallstrom and Hvenegaard [41] outline how Alberta Parks facilitated a Social Science Working Group to develop a Social Science Framework to support evidenceinformed decision-making within the provincial system of protected areas. The framework links data-specific needs with existing and emerging policy and research priorities, with a focus on inter-organizational collaboration. The authors also provide a history, theoretical background, and potential benefits and liabilities of this approach.
The articles in this special issue demonstrate how park and protected areas are using an evidence-based approach to manage these ecologically integral places. The diversity of approaches and challenges discussed in this special issue offer insight into the practical application and barriers to knowledge mobilization in managing parks and protected areas around the world. This special issue attempts to recognize more holistic approaches of evidence-based management that mobilizes knowledge from a wide variety of sources: natural and social sciences and local and Indigenous knowledges. In an era of increasing urgency to address "alarming" environmental issues and wicked problems (Ripple et al., 2017), the recognition of multiple ways of knowing and doing will be integral in effective decision-making and equitable planning and management strategies.