comments on possible revisions to criterion 6 indicators maintenance and enhancement of long-term...

Comments on possible revisions to Criterion 6 Indicators

Maintenance and enhancement of long-term socio-economic benefits to meet needs of societies

Part 1 – Mission and a Holistic Framework

Ken SkogPeter Ince

USDA Forest ServiceForest Products Laboratory

Madison, WI

Topics

Summary of comments on Criterion 6 Assumptions about C&I Possible missions for C&I How indicators relate to one another –

– Latest science: the “systems” view

– A working “holistic framework” Ideas for additions/ changes

Summary of comments

Criterion 6 comments reflected a range of views about the mission of C&I in general

What is the mission of C&I?

Without a clear vision of the C&I mission, it will be difficult to recommend changes

Assumptions

We need more clarity on the mission of C&I before we can advise changes to C&I– Some alternative missions shown next

Some C&I missions may require better definition of a “C&I system” (others may not)

The Roundtable Integrated Systems Group (IGS) has not completed a systems definition

Our view is that we need at least a working holistic framework, if not a more complex model of the forest system

1. Accelerate National Learning With a learning focus, C&I contribute to popular scientific

understanding, and enhance the awareness and insight provided to leadership and to the public. This is a communication mission—creating awareness and understanding prior to thinking.

It requires no agreement on goals, nor any agreement on the basic elements of the strategy to attain goals.

Possible mission for C&I (#1)

Source: Martha F. Riche, 2003, Developing Key National Performance Indicators,” GAO and National Academies Forum, Feb 2003

2. Assess National Position and Progress Measure the position of our country and monitor progress for our

citizens. This is a broad, constituent-focused mission. C&I become largely descriptive indicator sets* that provide a basis

for comparing progress in one country with other countries, and our current with our past status.

This requires a generally accepted or common vision and holistic framework that helps uncover especially challenging problems and beneficial opportunities.

*For example – GDP, National Income and Product Accounts, National productivity measures, etc.


3. Provide a Context for Policy or Program Evaluation C&I would be an essential body of knowledge to use in assessing

performance of particular policies, programs, or institutions. For example, a well-articulated and highly developed set of

indicators could provide a context for improved implementation of governmental performance initiatives (e.g. the Government Performance and Results Act, which requires Federal agencies to measure their performance in meeting agreed-upon goals).

This requires a well-grounded conceptual basis that integrates a wide variety of activities into an accountability framework. C&I would become a scorecard for government performance.


4. Systematically Guide Strategic Decisions This mission has a policy integration focus, in that it combines

policy indicators from a variety of sectors in a systems model that can guide policy choices by higher level decision makers.

This is a systems model that ensures integration by surfacing the interrelationships between different indicators.

This approach aims to answer relational questions (Why and How, not What or Whether), and responds to the growing perception amongst both experts and the public that interrelationships between economic, social, and environmental aspects of life are important and policies will have unanticipated effects if these interrelationships are not understood.

Possible missions for C&I (#4)

Suggestions concerning missions It is feasible to focus on fulfilling missions 1. and 2.

1. Accelerate National Learning - a communication focus—fostering public awareness, understanding, and thinking

2. Assess Position and Progress - provide a basis for comparing progress (tracking over time is key)

It is less feasible to undertake missions 3 and 43. Provide a Context for Evaluation – C&I were not intended to

be the basis for judging performance of specific programs 4. Guide Strategic Decisions via a systems model that

ensures integration – At present, high level decision makers do not typically use systems models to identify/understand interrelationships among different indicators for policy development

Mission 2 assumes people bring a broad “holistic framework” that helps them create indicators– What can we draw from the draft IGS Conceptual

framework?

Initial EnvironmentalConditions

Initial Natural Resource Capital

Initial Social Capacity And Economic Capital

Initial HumanConditions

New HumanConditions

New Social Capacity And Economic Capital

New Natural Resource Capital

New EnvironmentalConditions

Interaction withTangible Env.

Events

Interaction withIntangible Env.

Attributes

Land cover, land form and water flow alterations; Waste discharges; Biota transport


Processes ProducingTangible Environmental

Outputs

Processes Producing Intangible Environmental

Attributes

Processes Producing TangibleEnvironmental Events

UnderlyingEnvironmental

Processes:

AtmosphericHydrologicBiologic/EcologicGeologic

Investment, Use of GoodsAnd Services

Air, Water. Climate,Plants, Animals

Soil, Microbes, Rocks

Air, Water. ClimatePlants, Animals


Production of Economic Goods

and ServicesExtraction

Flow of TangibleEnvironmental

Outputs

Flow of Intangible Environ.

Attributes

Flow of Tangible Environmental

Events

Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem

Tier 2 – ISG Conceptual Framework

Biomass, Water,Minerals


Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints

Values & NormsIncome, Health, Security

Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints Values & Norms

Income, Health, Security

Demographic,Cultural,Governance’Legal,Market,Interaction,Family,Education

UnderlyingSocial AndEconomic

Processes:

Initial EnvironmentalConditions

Initial Natural Resource Capital

Initial Social Capacity And Economic Capital

Initial HumanConditions

New HumanConditions

New Social Capacity And Economic Capital

New Natural Resource Capital

New EnvironmentalConditions

Interaction withTangible Env.

Events

Interaction withIntangible Env.

Attributes



Processes ProducingTangible Environmental

Outputs

Processes Producing Intangible Environmental

Attributes

Processes Producing TangibleEnvironmental Events

UnderlyingEnvironmental

Processes:

AtmosphericHydrologicBiologic/EcologicGeologic

Investment, Use of GoodsAnd Services

Air, Water. Climate,Plants, Animals


Air, Water. ClimatePlants, Animals


Production of Economic Goods

and ServicesExtraction

Flow of TangibleEnvironmental

Outputs

Flow of Intangible Environ.

Attributes

Flow of Tangible Environmental

Events

Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem

Tier 2 – ISG Conceptual Framework



Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints

Values & NormsIncome, Health, Security

Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints Values & Norms

Income, Health, Security

Demographic,Cultural,Governance’Legal,Market,Interaction,Family,Education

UnderlyingSocial AndEconomic

Processes:

Effect on Land use/ Land cover

Benefits/ values

Investments

Capital/ capacity

Suggested focus areas

A simplified “holistic framework” showing the role of existing

indicators

INVESTMENT (flows)

/Investment performance

Forest mgt and industries (38)

Research, development and

education (39)

Extension of new technology (40)

Return on investment (41)

CAPACITY (stocks)Natural capital

Biodiversity (C1)Productivity (C2)

Ecosystem health (C3)Soil and water (C4)Carbon cycles (C5)Protected areas (42)Subsistence use (47)

Built capitalTechnology (40)

Human capitalR, D &E (39)

Social capitalLegal, institution,

economic framework (C7)

BENEFITS/ VALUES (Flows and stocks)Wood and Nonwood

products(29-34)

Recreation(35-37)

Cultural and spiritual values(42-43)

Employment and community(44-47)

Well being

A General Holistic Framework – Relationship of Criterion 6 Indicators to other Criteria

Measure at t0 t1 Measure at National, regional scales

Workshop Objectives:

Provide specific recommendations for improving national level Indicators.

To inform the U.S. position on the refinement of the Montreal Process Criteria Indicators.

– i.e. suggest changes for all countries to adopt

Suggested missing information or indicators

Benefits/ values

– Distribution of benefits (equity)

– Water and other ecological services Holistic Feedback effect of benefits/ values

on land use and capacities

– Effect of benefits/values on land use and land value

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