Modelling the management of nature reserves

Abstract

Protection of Earth’s natural systems takes many forms, with the establishment of nature reserves dedicated and managed to achieve long-term protection a key global intent. While efforts continue to increase the area encapsulated within the global protected area network, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Reports of 2011 and 2013 conclude that management of nature reserves continues to be inadequate or ineffective. A survey of nature reserve managers in Australia confirms management is an ongoing issue and provides information on what managers are using to assist with their management activities. If good management equates to meeting the objectives defined for a nature reserve, then understanding what is management is a precondition to improving management. A systems approach underpins the identification of essential aspects of nature reserve management to be used as the basis for creating a model of a generic nature reserve management system. A model that can be used by on-theground nature reserve managers to reflect on what influences, or has impact on, their management role and how they could improve their management to assist in meeting the objectives of their reserve. The nature reserve management system model is an architecture description expressed in the standardised systems modelling language (SysML) and developed using an architecture framework incorporating aspects of governance, specifically the United States Department of Defense Architecture Framework - DoDAF. A proof-of-concept of the generic nature reserve management system model is demonstrated via two case studies. The results of these demonstrations support the value of a nature reserve management system as an aid to management, the application of DoDAF to a non-military context, and the use of three new practical tools to aid in identifying DoDAF model elements. The proof-of-concept also indicates the same approach may be applicable in developing a generic management system capable of tailoring to other specific domains.