Developing a framework for dialogue
FSC is working with various researchers led by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH to set out a framework of definitions, values, and maps that serve as a starting point to gain agreement through dialogue.Ā
Using Behavioural + Game Theory
A groupĀ of stakeholders from different sectorsĀ will be brought together, in person or virtually,Ā to address a specific forest landscape. They will discuss, listen toĀ one another,Ā andĀ agree whereĀ conservation/protection, ecosystem services, extraction and restoration could best be developed and what roles FSC and FSC certification could play in these landscapes.Ā
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Testing the methodology
Tropical forests are shaped by human intervention at multiple scales.Ā InĀ Gabon, the concept ofĀ IFLĀ has steeredĀ international initiatives aimedĀ to foster better management practices, however,Ā competingĀ economic, environmental,Ā and social interestsĀ inhibited their ability toĀ agree uponĀ sustainabilityĀ strategiesĀ forĀ these landscapes.Ā
UsingĀ aĀ common framework andĀ game-theory,Ā aĀ role-playingĀ game combinedĀ with facilitation techniquesĀ toĀ support stalled negotiations ofĀ theĀ working group of practitioners (RegionalĀ Working Group on High Conservation Values of the ForestĀ Stewardship Council (FSC) Congo Basin Program), participantsĀ createdĀ a commonĀ understanding of a system they thought they knew.Ā ThisĀ facilitatedĀ their decision-makingĀ process thanks to the exploration ofĀ possibleĀ scenariosĀ and outcomes,Ā successfullyĀ bridgingĀ the gap between science, policy, and practiceĀ helpingĀ people reach agreement and make better decisions.Ā
LouiseĀ Kavira,Ā member of theĀ PIPC, Democratic Republic of Congo, says:Ā
BeforeĀ coming, I thought there would not be anāÆevolution in the way I would comprehend things. WhenāÆI arrived, I saw the game on the table and asked myselfāÆwhat this is. And after two hours, I began to understand. āÆ
According to VincentĀ Istace,Ā CIB-OLAM:Ā
Ā was afraid that the game would simplify tooāÆmuch the hypothesis and that it would distort reality,āÆbut I am positively surprised. It [The game] helpedāÆus think, reduced the level of conflict and changedāÆthe mood of theĀ debate.
Mathieu AugerĀ Schwarzenberg, previousĀ FSCĀ Congo Basin Director,Ā says
The game allowedĀ themĀ to enter the dialogue irrespective ofāÆtheir knowledge and expertise. [ā¦] The model enabled allāÆchambers to engage [ā¦] and allowed to come to aāÆconsensus from within the group.Ā
EdwigeĀ EyangĀ EffaĀ IRET-CENAREST, Gabon says:Ā
The back and forth between the game and realityāÆallowed to illustrate and clarify the concept. TheāÆconsensus was easier to find and the game allowed for aāÆmore constructive debate. Hence, it was only afterwardsāÆthat it became clear why the game is useful.
Stay up-to-date
Forest for the future podcast series. Episode 16: New ways to find common ground. Landscape approaches in FSC with Gemma Boetekees, FSC Stakeholder Solutions Director and Claude Garcia, Senior Scientist at ETHZ and CIRAD
10.02.2021.Ā In this episode we are going to look beyond FSC and certification for forest areas. We are going to look at the concept of landscape approaches and how we as FSC can help facilitate a holistic approach to management of landscapes across interests and stakeholders.