Developing, Evaluating and Disseminating Case Studies of Marine Ecosystem-Based Management

Primary Researchers: Steven Yaffee, Julia Wondolleck, Sarah McKearnan

Graduate Student Research Assistants: Amanda Barker, Ria Berns, Clayton Elliott, Michael Fainter, Jason Good, Matt Griffis, Colin Hume, Jennifer Lee Johnson, Amy Samples, and Sarah Tomsky

Funded by The David & Lucille Packard Foundation

Project Overview

The project is developing and disseminainge case study-based knowledge that can improve the practice of marine ecosystem-based management in the U.S. and around the world. We are researching and writing up a set of rich case studies that highlight the experience with a number of the challenges associated with organizing, planning and implementing an ecosystembased approach. Using an evaluative framework focused on key information needs and developed in consultation with other Packard MEBM grantees, we are identifing a set of lessons and best practices through cross-case analysis that can build the capacity and motivation of key managers, scientists and stakeholders. We will profile this information on a website that is designed with resource managers as a core target audience, market the existence of the site in innovative ways, and work to track usage and information pathways so that dissemination strategies can be adaptively improved. Finally, we are exploring opportunities for using dynamic technologies such as interactive media and “clickable” cases, and identifying strategies for deploying the case-based knowledge in face-to-face and web-based trainings.

Project Objectives

Objectives

(1) To develop a deep understanding of the real-world practice of marine EBM through exploration of targeted case studies and cross-case analysis.

(2) To disseminate key lessons and ideas that can build the capacity and motivation of managers, scientists and stakeholders, and to do so in a way that tracks usage and information pathways so that dissemination strategies can be adaptively improved.

 

(3) To create approaches that can be used for ongoing evaluation of marine EBM cases, viewing
them as experiments that can help develop better strategies for achieving ecosystem and social
process outcomes.

(4) To explore innovative strategies for knowledge transfer and training.

Project Outcomes and Deliverables

The project will produce a series of tangible products along with insights and guidance for future
work. These products include:

• A set of case studies, lessons learned and best practices, and an evaluation framework.

• A functioning web-site designed in a way that enables us to capture usage information in order to understand how people learn about MBEM.

• One or more manuscripts submitted for publication that cover key learning from the metaanalysis associated with our cross-case evaluation.

• Training of a cadre of future EBM managers and scientists. Since numerous graduate students will be involved in case study research, we expect that their experience will influence their interest in marine conservation and knowledge of MEBM approaches.

• Insights about how to take further steps toward improving the practice of MEBM by disseminating key insights through websites and other mechanisms.

While the goal of the project is to influence the practice of MEBM, our measures of success are intermediate in nature. That is, we assume a program logic that leads from outputs and intermediate outcomes to the ultimate outcomes of changed management practice. Hence, our key questions for project evaluation are related to outputs (are case studies, lessons learned and the website of high quality?) and intermediate outcomes (are members of key target audiences using the case studies and lessons learned, and finding them helpful?)

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