Research Statement of the Ecological Knowledge Working Seminar

We are: A diverse international group, including university-based researchers, natural resource scientists, natural resource managers, and representatives of harvesters' organizations. We are engaged in and working towards the development of approaches for investigating the role of knowledge in the development of sustainable natural resource use. To that end, we met as a working group from May 24 to 31, 1999 at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, for the purpose of exploring these issues. The fisheries were used as an empirical example that binds each of these groups together.   We Recognize: the diversity of groups and interests pertaining to the use of knowledge. the different perspectives of scientists and resource managers, harvesters' organizations, local communities, and First Nations' groups pertaining to the use of various forms of knowledge, and the need for exploring means for the possible reconciliation of various forms of knowledge.   The work in the seminar focussed upon the following: an understanding of the diversity of knowledge systems. the need for an inclusive interdisciplinary research process that can be used in the development of a procedure or procedures useful for documenting the knowledge of user groups (includes Commercial Harvesters, First Nations, fisheries scientists and managers, and social researchers). the need for an inclusive research process that can contribute to the establishment of procedures that will allow for more appropriate representation of user groups/community organizations in resource management decisions. the role of ecological knowledge in developing and sustaining natural resource communities.   To work in collaboration with user groups to: identify knowledge-based issues that are of concern to user groups in the sustainable use of natural resources. contribute to the documentation and assessment of user knowledge as a source of input in resource management. investigate the process whereby scientific knowledge is conducted and transmitted in resource management processes. engage resource-based communities in the research process so as to facilitate capacity building in the use and generation of knowledge in resource management processes. contribute innovations to the process whereby user knowledge can become integral to sustainable natural resource use. contribute to the development of techniques for investigating knowledge. We hope to contribute to the examination of alternative management approaches.   Important research issues: How do various knowledge systems compare and contrast in the description and analysis of ecosystems? What are the fundamental epistemological differences among those involved in the use of natural resources? Can stakeholder objectives yield particular insights into components of ecosystems? How are various knowledge systems represented in current and alternative management systems? How can management systems be designed in order to facilitate interactive learning and decision-making? What research strategies and information gathering tools can be employed and developed for collecting reliable and defensible descriptions of ecological knowledge?