Natural resource management and participation in Doñana (SW Spain) : Elements of adaptive co-management and potential for change

Adaptive co-management is an approach to the management of social-ecological systems that deals with their complexity and unpredictability. Stakeholder participation is one of the central aspects of this approach. Using semi-structured interviews, direct observations and a review of documentation, I examine the involvement of stakeholders in the development of a land-use plan in Doñana, in south-west Spain, and the potential of the existing management practices to transition towards an adaptive co-management approach. Results show that elements of adaptive co-management are present to some extent, but that these have not succeeded in overcoming the on-going conflict over the use of natural resources and in achieving a sustainable use of the resources. Findings suggest that this is related to a lack of a common vision among the different stakeholders. Building a common vision could enable the construction of solutions that satisfy the needs of all parties, rather than settling for the compromise currently put forward by the land-use plan. I propose that the existence of a bridging organisation could facilitate the construction of a common vision by enabling and coordinating a constructive dialogue among stakeholders. This case study shows how different levels of governance interact, with management practices and stakeholders’ actions at the local and regional levels being affected by processes at European and international levels. This study also illustrates the challenges of achieving adaptive co-management, particularly in a context of conflict, where win-win situations are not immediately apparent