Adaptive management frameworks for natural resource management at the landscape scale: implications and applications for sediment resources

The management of natural resources over large spatial scales is inherently complex due to numerous biophysical and socioeconomic factors and the uncertainty associated with environmental systems and human behavior. Numerous approaches have been put forward to facilitate the decision-making process, including adaptive management (AM) which was developed in the 1960s and 1970s as an alternative to more rigid management frameworks. In recent years, it has been utilized for the management of water and river basin resources, particularly in North America. Its use for sediment resources is less well developed. This paper presents a review of the AM approach, including its characteristics, steps, and barriers to implementation. It also gives some recent examples where the AM approach has been used for sediment quantity and quality issues. Finally, it considers the potential of the AM approach for sediment resource management given Water Framework Directive and other legislative requirements. It is felt that while the AM approach offers many advantages, there are some institutional barriers to its wider uptake amongst those involved with the management of sediment resources. Some recommendations for implementation and for future research are presented.