More is not always better Coping with ambiguity in natural resources management

Coping with ambiguities in natural resources management has become unavoidable Ambiguity is a distinct type of uncertainty that results from the simultaneous presence of multiple valid and sometimes conflicting ways of framing a problem As such It reflects discrepancies in meanings and interpretations Under the presence of ambiguity it is not clear what problem is to be solved who should be Involved in the decision processes or what is an appropriate course of action Despite the extensive literature about methodologies and tools to deal with uncertainty not much has been said about how to handle ambiguities In this paper we discuss the notions of framing and ambiguity and we identify five broad strategies to handle It rational problem solving persuasion dialogical learning negotiation and opposition We compare these approaches in terms of their assumptions mechanisms and outcomes and illustrate each approach with a number of concrete methods (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved