Engage and Integrate different perspectives
The second strategy used in managing socio-ecological
systems (SES) is to engage and integrate the various perspectives of
stakeholders involved in the SES. Biggs, et al. (2015) mention that SES can be
“better understood, uncertainty gauged and problem solving enhanced” by including
a variety of views on a problem. Furthermore, engaging stakeholders builds
trust which helps to “increase the probability of reaching and implementing
management decisions in the face of uncertainty” (Biggs, et al., 2015) . However, I think it
also needs to be considered that the influx of views is also a chance for
conflict. Which is why the second part, the “integration of different
perspectives maybe more important.
One method proposed by Biggs, et al. (2015) is the use of
scenario planning in getting stakeholders to agree. The example used by Biggs
is the Mont Fleur scenarios in South Africa where black and white community
leaders of South Africa were brought together to consider possible scenarios
which they could agree upon.
I thought one good example of this in Singapore’s SES is the
Cross Island Line that may cross over multiple green areas such as the Bukit
Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Area (The Straits
Times, 2016) .
The plans involve two alignments; one that goes through the underground of the
nature reserve and a second which skirts around the nature reserve but adds
more overall traveling time and may require land reacquisition (Channel
NewsAsia, 2016) .
This is an issue because such huge underground works could
disrupt the natural ecosystems in those location. Especially for the Central
Catchment Area which is amongst the biggest water bodies in Singapore. Such a
disruption could potentially affect the water supply of Singapore negatively.
Also, the line passes through built up areas which has led
to some clamour by residents worried about how the line would affect their
lives (Lim, 2016) . But at the same
time, the line is supposed to drastically reduce the traveling time of
passengers using the rail system in Singapore. (Channel NewsAsia, 2016) .
Whilst this issue isn’t strictly limited to lakes and
rivers, I thought it is a really prominent problem due to it cutting across
both social and environmental grounds. We can see various stakeholders involved
in this problem with the environmentalists pushing for the longer route but the
residents whom may be affected pushing back against such plans. And on another
side we can see the commuters who may prefer a shorter traveling time. Thus
it’s not just a purely environmental vs developmental problem but also a
decision between the needs of two groups in Singapore; the commuters vs the
residents.
What the authorities have done so far seems to revolve
around gathering more inputs from various stakeholders concerned with Cross
Island Line. Not only have they taken into account route suggestions by the
Nature Society (Chua, 2013) ,
a global environmental consultancy was hired to assess the environmental impact
of the line (Chew, 2016) . Thus not only are
the voices on the ground heard but also the opinions of experts.
However, there has been little discussion on the social
aspect of the line. Which goes to show more could be done to integrate the
opinions of the residents affected by the proposed alignments. But more
difficult are the commuters because they are a large and diverse group. Thus
integrating their opinions might be more costly than the other stakeholders.
In conclusion, integrating stakeholder perspectives is
useful for developing strategies in managing complex SES.
Bibliography
Biggs, R. O., Rhode, C., Archibald, S., Kuene, L.
M., Mutanaga, S. S., Nkuha, N., . . . Phadima, L. J. (2015). Strategies for
managing complex social-ecological systems in the face of uncertainty:
examples from South Africa and beyond. Ecology and Society.
Channel NewsAsia. (07 Mar, 2016). Cross Island
Line could save commuters 40 minutes: LTA chief. Retrieved from Channel
News Asia:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/cross-island-line-could/2577450.html
Chew, H. M. (22 Feb, 2016). Controversy over
Cross Island Line: 12 questions about the MRT line answered. Retrieved
from The Straits Times:
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/controversy-over-cross-island-line-12-questions-about-the-mrt-line-answered
Chua, G. (19 Jul, 2013). Nature Society suggests
different route for Cross Island MRT line. Retrieved from The Straits
Times:
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nature-society-suggests-different-route-for-cross-island-mrt-line
Lim, A. (21 Feb, 2016). Cross Island Line sparks
residents' fears. Retrieved from The Straits Times: From The Straits
Times Archives: All you need to know about the Cross Island Line
The Straits Times. (22 Feb, 2016). From The
Straits Times Archives: All you need to know about the Cross Island Line.
Retrieved from The Straits Times:
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/from-the-straits-times-archives-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-cross-island-line
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