Abstract
The objective of large landscape conser vation is to mitigate complex ecological problems through interventions at multiple and overlapping scales. Implementation requires coordination among a diverse network of individuals and organizations to integrate local-scale conservation activities with broad-scale goals. This requires an understanding of the governance options and how governance regimes achieve objectives or provide performance evaluation across both space and time. However, empirical assessments measuring network-governance performance in large landscape conservation are limited. We describe a well-established large landscape conser vation network in North America, the Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent, to explore the application of a social-ecological performance evaluation framework. Systematic approaches to setting goals, tracking progress, and collecting data for feedback can help guide adaptation. Applying the established framework to our case study provides a means of evaluating the effectiveness of network governance in large landscape conservation.
Citation
Bixler, R. Patrick; Johnson, Shawn; Emerson, Kirk; Nabatchi, Tina; Reuling, Melly; Curtin, Charles; Romolini, Michele; Grove, J. Morgan. 2016. Networks and landscapes: a framework for setting goals and evaluating performance at the large landscape scale. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 14(3): 145-153.