The importance of working at the science-society interface for adaptation to climate change in local territories of Latin America: case studies in Bolivia, Chile & Argentina

Presenter: Monica Coll Besa (Stockholm Environment Institute –SEI Oxford)

Contributing authors: Vignola, R. (CATIE), Devisscher, T. (SEI Oxford), Leclerc, G. (CIRAD)

The EcoADAPT project

• Water resources & natural resources management to ensure current & future water availability (quantity & quality) for local development

• Building adaptation strategies that are technically and socially robust

EcoADAPT partners

Local development contexts under a changing climate

• Chemical and biological water pollution (Argentina)

• Unsustainable use of NR mgmt & deforestation (Argentina)

• Water scarcity & limited availability during dry periods (Bolivia, Argentina)

• Poor distribution channels (Bolivia)

• Poor planning, inadequate use of the soil in the watershed (Bolivia)

• Poor water quality (Bolivia)

• Conflicts with different water users; hidroelectric generation (Chile)

• Water privatisation & lack of legal recognition (Chile)

EcoADAPT approach:• Co-construction of knowledge & research• The rol of ecosystems to provide water services for the local development

under a changing climate• CSOs & scientists partnerships• Build a shared understanding of the problems• Strengthen collaboration among different actors• Strengthen collective adaptive capacity

Building bottom-up processes through action-research for water resources governance

Adaptation understood as a socio-institutional process that requires technical and socially robust strategies (IPCC, 2012)

Understand the socio-institutional context through participatory social network mapping to build adaptation strategies that are socially and technically robust by working at the science-society interface

• Identification of key actors and agents of change• Understanding the relationships and possible interventions to improve collaboration

among actors• Identification of barriers and strengths to build adaptation strategies helps to

understand the socio-institutional landscape in a structured way (formal/informal)• Importance of social and technical validation through the actors

Preliminary impacts from the socio-institutional component

Participatory social network mapping (based on Schiffer, 2010)

Semi-structured and group interviews

Feedback workshopsParticipant observation

Analysis of barriers & strengths (based on Moser & Ekstrom, 2010)

Analysis of policies & systematization of learning processes

INPUTS OUTPUTS

• Identification of participants

• Preliminary analysis

• Identification of key actors

• Guiding questions

• Identification of participants

• Facilitation guide

• Policies, regulations

• Key informants identified

• Information validated

• Agents of change identified

• Local perceptions

• Different perspectives

• Key actors identified

• Different network flows

• Analysis of political context & implications in the territory

Methodology (I)

Methodology (II):Participatory Social Network Mapping

In FOCUS GROUPS (public, private, communities):

• Key actors• Bridging actors• Agents of change• Network topology• Actor attributes (perceptions of influence & power in

the network, scale, & actors’ objectives)

Types of flows:

• Information & knowledge flows• Capacity building flows• Planning & management flows• Extreme events flows

BARRIERS & SYNERGIES in the SOCIO-INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

Common socio-institutional barriers in the 3 LA countries:

• Lack of clarity in roles & vision of public institutions• Lack of inter-institutional coordination• Top-down approach to governance• Limited technical studies available

Main differences in the 3 LA countries:

• Legal vacuum affecting water access; growing public debate on water resources (Chile)

• Strong influence of deforestation in the water cycle, cultural value of water (Bolivia)

• Weak co-management of water resources in key areas; monitoring system in place (Argentina)

FINDINGS:Overview of socio-institutional landscape

FINDINGS (I): Perceived common socio-institutional barriers

Perceived level of constraint: green: low; blue: medium; red: high

Non-compliance of norms and laws

Sys

tem

icS

itua

tiona

l

Diagnostic Planning Management

Poor knowledge of climate change impacts on water resources

Limited access and low dissemination of available data

Educational & attitudinal barriers, cultural beliefs and values

Fatigue in participatory processes

Lack of and inefficient monitoring systems

Top-down approach

Inter-institutional coordination

Poor systematization of social memory in relation to water resources

Poor spatial notion of the watershed and fragmented vision of the problem

Poor organizational capacity at the community level

FINDINGS (II):Perceived common socio-institutional strengths

Syst

emic

Situ

ation

al

Diagnostic Planning Management

Existing perception of climate change and related impacts in the territory

Positive expectation for local forest conservation

Interest and trained personnel in key sectors

Existence of supporting legislation and control of the water usage

Well trained human resources

Incidence, commitment and actions

Recognition of ecological signals in relation to risk (environmental awareness)

Existing national conservation programs

Model Forests connected to international networks

Continuity as institutions (Model Forest –Argentina)

Private sector support

Perceived level of fragility: green: low; blue: medium; red: high

• Strengthening capacity of CSOs• Conflict prevention in relation to NR mgmt• Trust-building, empowerment, ownership & sustainability• Barriers to adaptation revealed/negotiated through SNA• Opportunity to expand networks across scales & actor types• Time is key for an action-research project• Common challenges: instability of personnel, funding, multiple

projects to manage, etc.• Water resources as the ‘new agenda’; new dialogue between

water users (Chile) • Strengthening capacity of a watershed committee (Bolivia)• Opportunity for better positioning with other actors (Argentina)

Emerging transformations/innovations so far

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS??Contacts: Monica Coll Besa: monica.coll.besa@sei-international.org

Raffaele Vignola: rvignola@catie.ac.cr,Tahia Devisscher: tahia.devisscher@sei-international.org,

Grégoire Leclerc: gregoire.leclerc@cirad.fr