'Perceptions of a Wicked Problem: Situation Assessment of Water Quality Issues in The Jordan River Watershed'
Plenary Speaker |
Abstract: |
Agents interact dynamically exchanging local heuristics while creating a knowledge pool that is distributed throughout the system [Innes and Booher, 2010]. Understanding how and where this knowledge generates is essential for comprehending links in a complex system. Assessing role of local knowledge in management of a socio-ecological system [SES] is critical in resiliency planning.
The goals of this study are to gauge the stakeholder perception of ‘wicked problem’ and to document existing knowledge and capacity to holistically tackle the issue which is situated in a cross-scalar complex system of Jordan River Watershed.
30 face-to-face interviews were conducted with key stakeholders to characterize the current state of local adaptive capacity within and between stakeholder groups, explore distinct stakeholder interest, highlight the unique challenges and possibilities. Research objectives are: To map the stakeholder landscape in terms of knowledge, options and connections, and to identify shared perceptions of future trajectories and system levers.
Our findings help understand community resilience and adaptive capacity based on three components: knowledge, connections, and options. Knowledge is simply access to sufficient credible, accurate, and relevant information about the watershed as a system to understand how it works and how particular actions may affect it. Connections has to do with networks of individuals and organizations that individually/collectively have the power to take action to affect the system. Options: what array of actions are available to influence the trajectory of the system? The main significance of this study is linked to the practice of sustainable and collaborative regional planning. |
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