Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
J Environ Manage. 2020 Oct 1;271:110922. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110922. Epub 2020 Jul 2.
Environmental degradation is a global phenomenon with a high likelihood of influencing human quality of life. Effective management responses are needed to achieve societal goals of sustainability. We develop here a new monitoring protocol (Management Check: MATCH) that comprehensively evaluates management outcomes at the operational level. Using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, we identified pressures influencing ecosystem integrity inside conservation corridors and commercial compartments of a timber production landscape mosaic. They were 1) domestic livestock grazing (the only exogenous pressure), 2) fire management, 3) invasive alien plants (IAPs), and potential soil erosion from two sources: 4) roads, and 5) harvested timber compartments. We assessed the effects of these on wetland and stream buffers. Environmental incidents accounted for more serious management issues (e.g. oil spills). Management responses were systematically unpacked into point-form questions, which formed the building blocks of our monitoring protocol. We assessed management in twelve plantations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Answers were compared with Best Operational Practice (BOP), and reworked into a Weighted Index of Compliance (WIC) per section. We found that there was poor management of livestock grazing, but good management of IAPs, roads, and timber compartments. Management of wetland and stream buffers was very good. Fire management presented problems linked to lack of direct effects, measurable at the spatial and temporal scales of operations. We discuss operational outcomes within their respective legislative frameworks, and suggest ways of improving management operations, where needed. MATCH is the first monitoring protocol to comprehensively assess environmental management of commercial forestry at the operational level, and to clearly translate operational activities into measurable progress towards strategic goals. In doing so, MATCH breaks down silos and builds bridges for efficient environmental management in dynamic socio-ecological systems. Moreover, the principles developed here can be applied to build tools that help manage major risks in other economic sectors too. Overall, MATCH strengthened strategic and informed action, which is necessary at multiple levels of an organization, to combat major societal risks, such as environmental degradation.
环境退化是一种全球性现象，很可能会影响人类的生活质量。需要采取有效的管理措施来实现社会的可持续性目标。在这里，我们开发了一种新的监测方案（管理检查：MATCH），该方案全面评估了运营层面的管理成果。我们利用驱动-压力-状态-影响-响应（DPSIR）框架，确定了影响保护走廊和木材生产景观镶嵌体商业区生态系统完整性的压力。这些压力包括：1）国内牲畜放牧（唯一的外生压力）、2）火灾管理、3）入侵外来植物（IAP）以及两个来源的潜在土壤侵蚀：4）道路和 5）采伐木材区。我们评估了这些因素对湿地和溪流缓冲区的影响。环境事件构成了更严重的管理问题（例如，石油泄漏）。管理措施被系统地分解为要点问题，这些问题构成了我们监测方案的组成部分。我们在南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省的 12 个种植园中评估了管理措施。将答案与最佳运营实践（BOP）进行了比较，并针对每个部分重新制定了加权合规指数（WIC）。我们发现，牲畜放牧管理不善，但 IAP、道路和木材区管理良好。湿地和溪流缓冲区的管理非常好。火灾管理存在与操作时空尺度上的直接影响相关的问题。我们在各自的立法框架内讨论了运营成果，并提出了在必要时改进管理措施的方法。MATCH 是第一个全面评估商业林业运营层面环境管理的监测方案，并且清楚地将运营活动转化为战略目标的可衡量进展。MATCH 打破了孤岛，为动态社会生态系统中的高效环境管理架起了桥梁。此外，这里开发的原则可应用于构建工具，以帮助管理其他经济部门的主要风险。总体而言，MATCH 加强了战略和知情行动，这是组织多个层面应对重大社会风险（如环境退化）所必需的。
