Incorporation of Adaptive Management into Conservation Planning and Resource Management

This document was prepared by the Science Institute to provide information to CDFW’s Divisions and Regions as they incorporate adaptive management in their conservation and resource management decisions and planning documents. It highlights statutory definitions, statements of policy and requirements that are relevant to CDFW’s activities, and summarizes descriptions and evaluations of adaptive management in the technical literature.

This information is relevant to all CDFW activities involving the conservation and management of natural resources under the jurisdiction of CDFW. However, given the breadth of CDFW’s Mission and the wide variety of regulatory, management and scientific roles CDFW plays, it should be emphasized that this information does not present a one-size-fits all approach to adaptive management. Rather, where adaptive management principles are appropriate and applicable in a given situation, the discussion and resources in this document should highlight issues for consideration under the specific circumstances at hand.

CDFW affirms that project-specific circumstances always necessitate the development of project-specific adaptive management strategies. The information in this document is provided as a tool to be used, where appropriate, to support CDFW’s Divisions and Regions as they implement the CDFW Mission. The general principles presented here are not intended to be relied upon absent, or in lieu of, site- or project-specific analysis that shapes the application of these principles.