The Integration and Synthesis Group

Progress and Possibilities

Roundtable on Sustainable Forests

November 17, 2004

The Integration and Synthesis Group

• Formed by the Roundtable Network in October, 2003

• Participants from four roundtables and other indicator projects

Integration and Synthesis Group Objectives

• Develop a conceptual framework, based on systems models, within which to place indicators of sustainability.

• Provide a strong theoretical foundation for

further integration and synthesis.

• Provide a basis for integrated sustainability

assessments of mixed resource systems.

Two Hierarchical Bases for Assessment

Value-Based Concepts

Knowledge-Based

Concepts

Diverse Values and Sustainability Concepts

• Sustainability is both knowledge based and value based

• Diversity of values and concepts requires a framework that is general, flexible and able to facilitate integration and synthesis using a range of concepts

Building Bridges to Promote Integration

• Not eco-centric, nor anthropocentric, but bi-centric

• Not specialized by resource system, but general and inclusive

• Use of systems concepts promotes logical consistency and comprehensiveness

The Role of FeedbackIn Policy, Planning and Management

Evaluate Alternative

Actions Decide

Implement

ConsequencesInteractions

Within & Across Systems

Actions

Feedback

Research

Values

Knowledge

SetGoals

The Conceptual HierarchyMore Integration and Distillation

Less Integration and Distillation

Tier 1

Tier 4 : Indicators?

Tier 2

Tier 3

Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem

Earth’s Ecosystem

Tier 0 – ISG Conceptual Framework

CurrentEnvironmental

Conditions

NaturalResource

Capital

Social Capacity & Economic

Capital

CurrentHuman

ConditionsState t0

Processes

CurrentEnvironmental

Conditions

NaturalResource

Capital

Social Capacity & Economic

Capital

CurrentHuman

Conditions

Environm

ental &N

atural Resource

Processes

Social &

Econom

icP

rocesses

Tim

e

State t1

Evalu

ation

of S

ustain

ability

Tier 1 - ISG Conceptual Framework

Interactions

Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem

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

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

Soil, Microbes, Rocks

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

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:

Important Features of the ISG Framework

• Accounting for Flows from the Environment– Cover everything from the environment that

enters the human subsystem

– Use concepts and terminology that facilitate integration and synthesis in indicator development and use

– Connect flows from the environment to environmental conditions and processes

Important Features of the ISG Framework

• Accounting for Human Processes that Affect the Environment– Alterations in land cover, land form and water

flows; transportation of biota

– Discharges of wastes and residuals

– Resulting from both extraction/production and use of goods and services

Important Features of the ISG Framework

• Underlying Environmental Processes

– Living things interacting in adaptive networks that sustain life

– Processes in combinations that produce interactions affecting humans

Important Features of the ISG Framework

• Underlying Human Processes

- Humans interacting with each other to meet their needs

- Processes in combinations that produce interactions affecting the environment

Environmental Flows to Humans

• Tangible Environmental Outputs– Resources and commodities

• Intangible Environmental Attributes– Cultural and aesthetic

• Tangible Environmental Events & Processes– Weather events, air and water quality

Tangible Environmental Outputs

• Crops• Forage• Livestock• Fish• Game• Wood and fiber• Biomass for fuel

• Water• Minerals• Energy• Gases• Biochemicals• Medicinals

Intangible Environmental AttributesValued for

• Beauty

• Recreation

• Spiritual and religious experiences

• Cultural values

• Education and inspirational experiences

Tangible Environmental Events and Processes

• Precipitation • Wind • Air temperature• Solar radiation• Lightning• Floods• Storm surge• Droughts• Wildfires • Landslides

• Subsidence• Earthquakes & tsunami• Volcanic eruptions• Spread of bacteria and

viruses• Distribution of airborne

matter• Distribution of waterborne

matter• Mutagenic processes

Underlying Environmental Processes

• Reproduction and Growth

• Death and Decomposition

• Succession and Migration

• Competition and Adaptation

• Climatological• Meteorological• Water Cycling• Nutrient Cycling• Carbon Cycling• Disturbance• Soil genesis and

erosion

Underlying Social and Economic Processes

• Demographic• Cultural• Educational• Governance• Legal• Social• Family• Market

Future ISG Topics

• Systems models for Tier 3 with appropriate details

• Connection to Criteria and Indicators

• Identify opportunities to test in indicator synthesis

• Identify opportunities to test in integrated assessment