A Comparison of Themes Between Watershed Management and Ecosystem Management

Abstract

Since Tansley coined the term "ecosystem" in 1935, an ecosystem approach for managing ecological systems has been evolving in resource management. The ecosystem has become the unit for natural resource planning and management activities. Central to the concept of the ecosystem as a management unit has been the consideration of the relationship among all organisms (including humans) and their environment. This study compared two management approaches that use the ecosystem approach: watershed management and ecosystem management. Ten themes identified as dominant concepts within ecosystem management were examined and used as a framework for the comparison. Watershed management projects reviewed from the literature (n = 29) and watershed management projects reviewed by a mail survey (n = 17) were compared. The ecosystem management themes revealed in watershed management projects were analyzed. This analysis of themes of ecosystem management showed little difference between the two management approaches. One reason why no difference exists between the two management approaches may be that each approach evolved from a similar set of historic events. Further, because resource managers have used these two management approaches to address a related set of problems, their answers to management questions have employed shared themes as part of management initiatives. The comparison revealed themes shared between the management approaches; specifically, three pairs of themes summarized the important concepts: 1) data collection/ monitoring; 2) ecological boundaries/ organizational change; and 3) humans embedded in nature/ values. Management implications of these key themes for natural resource management in Wisconsin were examined showing various tools available to resource managers for data collection and monitoring. The problem of data consolidation relating to endangered / threatened / special concern plant species was investigated. Other problems associated with applying the key themes to watershed management projects were analyzed. These problems included the difficulties of using ecological boundaries for management, the distinction between a fine-filter and coarse-filter approach, the need for institutional change, and the obstacles to incorporating human dimensions of resource management into the decision-making process. Remedies to these problems were identified including increased communication between data collectors, emphasis on partnerships and collaboration between stakeholders, and early planning for mechanisms of conflict resolution / consensus. To avoid being overly broad in scope, goals and objectives of ecosystem management projects using an ecological approach must be developed by focusing on specific questions. The intent of the ecological approach is to redirect resource management efforts away from only producing utilitarian outputs and towards maintaining ecosystem health and ecological processes. The intent to integrate and sustain ecosystems is sound, but to that extent implementing the idea has been problematic for resource managers. Grumbine's ten themes of ecosystem management shared by the watershed management projects reviewed in this study offer a methodology for implementing an ecological approach to resource management. In addition, using the ecological unit of the watershed as the basis for making management decisions has been proven to work effectively for achieving an ecological approach to management.