Certification In The Governance

of Coastal Ecosystems
Stephen B. Olsen
Coastal Resources Center
University of Rhode Island
sbo@crc.uri.edu
The Governance Dimension
Effective and long-lasting ocean and
coastal stewardship can only occur when
a predictable, efficient, and accountable
governance system is in place
The National Research Council, 2008
 Building the Capacity for Coastal
Ecosystem Governance
• The low capacity to practice coastal
ecosystem governance is the principle
barrier to sustained progress
• Investments in capacity building for
practitioners in coastal ecosystem
stewardship are fragmented
– Focus on technical aspects
– Seldom address the governance dimensions
Diverse Perspectives of Specialists
Epistemic community of specialists with
shared perspectives
 Knowledge and Practices to Span the Gap

Coastal Ecosystem Coastal Ecosystem

Science Governance

 Natural & social  Societal values

sciences
 Political priorities
 Reliable local
knowledge  Rules & procedures

 Description &  Legal mandates

explanation
 Bargaining &
 Experimentation accommodation

 Evaluation of options
 Capacity Building Options
• University degree programs
– Usually directed at disciplinary specialization
– Emerging T Competencies strategy
• Short term training
– Fragmented and short-term
– Lacking in standards
• On-the–job experience
 The Certification Option Requires
• The codification of good practices
• Setting standards for specific
competencies
• Mechanisms by which such standards can
be objectively assessed and verified
 A Certified Professional
• Is educated, experienced and competent
• Complies with defined ethical standards
• Will act in the best interest of society and
the public
• Certification may define levels of capacity
(junior, senior) or specialization
– The focus is upon what an individual can do
 Capacity To Practice Coastal
Ecosystem Governance
Combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes on:
– How ecosystems function and change
– How governance processes can influence trajectories
of ecosystem change
– How strategies can be tailored to history and culture of
the place
– How to assemble and manage interdisciplinary teams
National Research Council, 2008
 The CRC-EcoCostas Certification
in Coastal Ecosystem Governance
• Application standards for Junior and Senior
practitioners
• Linked sequence of trainings
• A practicum: development of a governance
baseline for a site
– An analysis of how the existing governance system
has responded to past/present change
– A proposed design that responds to the
characteristics and issues of a specific coastal site
• Rubrics for the assessment of the 6
competencies
• Commitment to a Code of Ethics
Context

FUTURE
Strategic Design
of a Coastal Ecosystem Desing & Implementation
Governance Program of Monitoring and
Evaluation

Facilitation, Mediation,
PRESENT Analisis of Governance
Leadership Stakeholder Engagement
Process & Structures
and Public Education

Analysis of Long-term Changes

in the Condition and Use of
Coastal Ecosystems
PAST
 MPA-Pro: Professionals in Marine
Protected Area Management
• A CRC-WIOMSA collaboration
• Three levels of certification
• 12 competencies include:
– MPA concepts
– MPA legislation, compliance with regulations
– Management and operation
– Stakeholder engagement
– Leadership and ethics
Thank You!

www.crc.uri.edu