Experiments in consilience
Subtitle: integrating social and scientific responses to save endangered species
By: edited by Frances R. Westley and Philip S. Miller.
Contributors: Westley, Frances; Miller, Philip S.
Publisher: Island Press
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Washington
Language: eng
Number of pages: 393
Subjects: Endangered species; Wildlife conservation; Human ecology
Description: "The book describes the work of the Biodiversity Research Network, a team of experts from the United States and Canada brought together to build interdisciplinary connections and stimulate an exchange of expertise. Team members sought to understand the ecology and population dynamics of key species in particular ecosystems, to understand the impact of human populations on those species and ecosystems, and to develop tools and processes for involving a greater variety of stakeholders in conservation efforts.

In order to keep the experiment grounded, the network focused on a single type of conservation planning workshop run by a single organization -- the Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop (PHVA) of the IUCN-sponsored Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG).

The book combines sections on the theoretical underpinnings of relevant concepts in population biology, simulation modeling, and social science with detailed descriptions of six PHVA workshops conducted on different species across four continents. A concluding chapter examines the lessons learned, which have application to both theory and practice, including reflections on interdisciplinarity, integrated risk assessment, and future directions for research and action. Through the combination of theory and application, combined with frank discussions of what the research network learned -- including both successes and failures -- the book offers fresh ideas on how to improve on-the-ground conservation decisionmaking.

Experiments in Consilience offers a one-of-a-kind overview and introduction to the challenges of cross-disciplinary analysis as well as cross-functional, cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral action. It centers on the problem of conserving endangered species while telling the story of a new form of organizing for effective risk assessment, recommendation, and action."--Pub. desc.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references ([363]-379) and index.
Table of contents: title: The story of an experiment : integrating social and scientific responses to facilitate conservation action / Frances R. Westley; title: The art of walking through walls : strategy and structure in the conservation breeding specialist group / Frances R. Westley and Harrie Vredenburg; title: Integrating the human dimension into endangered species risk assessment / Philip S. Miller and Robert C. Lacy; title: Getting the right science and getting the science right : process design and facilitation in PHVA workshops / Frances R. Westley and Onnie Byers; title: Logic models for building knowledge and networks : early evaluations of the PHVA approach / Harrie Vredenburg and Frances R. Westley; title: Guns, germs, and refugees : the mountain gorilla PHVA in Uganda / Onnie Byers, Philip S. Miller, and Frances R. Westley; title: Linking monkeys, biologists, and palmito : the Muriqui PHVA in Brazil / Jenna S. Borovansky and Emmanuel Raufflet; title: Building the back loop : community decision making and the Peary and Arctic Islands Caribou PHVA in northern Canada / George Francis; title: Incorporating local knowledge : landowners and tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea / Philip J. Nyhus ... [et al.]; title: Uneasy guests : the grizzly bear PHVA in the central Canadian Rockies / Emmanuel Raufflet, Harrie Vrendenburg, and Philip S. Miller; title: A special concern : the wolves of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario / George Francis; title: Governance for conservation / George Francis; title: Human population dynamics and integrative action / Gayl D. Ness; title: Incorporating community population appraisals in PHVA workshops : the early experience / John S. Williams; title: Caveat on consilience : barriers and bridges for traditional knowledge and conservation science / David A. Lertzman; title: Strangers at the party : an industry strategy perspective on PHVAs / Harrie Vredenburg; title: On building bridges between specializations / Gayl D. Ness; title: Metamodels as a tool for risk assessment / Philip S. Miller and Robert C. Lacy; title: Far from land : further explorations in consilience / Frances R. Westley, Philip S. Miller, and Robert C. Lacy.