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ATEAM final report Section 5 and 6 (2001-2004) 38 analysis), and developing adaptive capacity indices that are specific for particular sectors or climatic events. All usual and well-documented problems with using indices apply to this way of assessing adaptive capacity as well. It would be interesting to explore the possibility of ‘validation’ of this adaptive capacity approach using historical data of past hazards in regional comparison. Our impression from the last stakeholder workshop, where we discussed this index is that stakeholders show little interest and trust in this indicator. As individuals they are concerned with their individual adaptive capacity, which is not captured by the index. They were however willing to see this as a first attempt to capture the regional context in which they make decisions. Not surprisingly though, the indicators used as components of the index were questioned. In the age of mobile telecommunication, ‘Number of telephone lines’, as used in this approach, will not adequately indicate a region’s communication infrastructure. The choice of indicators and the spatial resolution of the adaptive capacity model are constrained by the availability of data. Even though it is quite clear that adaptive capacity will be sector specific and depend on the nature of the exposure, we had insufficient information, time and budget to assess adaptive capacity per sector or per global change event. When asked the crucial question, whether using a generic indicator of adaptive capacity in vulnerability assessments can be better than no indicator at all, many colleagues clearly agreed to use such generic indicators. Nevertheless, we are very aware of the limitations of such an approach. We therefore wish to state clearly that our adaptive capacity index is designed for use within a European vulnerability assessment which is carried out for the fifteen EU countries plus Norway and Switzerland. The index does not include individual abilities to adapt, but it can give a context in which individuals adapt. The macroscale adaptive capacity index indicates part of the adaptive capacity of a region (i.e. provinces and counties) to cope with changes. For example, while the index cannot indicate whether individuals will exhibit precautious behaviour when faced with flood risk, it can indicate a regions capacity to change the river bed in order to decrease the likelihood of flooding. The approach has been presented at various conferences and a publication to be submitted to Global Environmental Change is currently being prepared (see Annex 2). 6.2.4 Stakeholder dialogue (WP1 and 5) A dialogue between stakeholders and scientists was initiated at the beginning of the project and has been continued, intensified, and evaluated. The general objective of this dialogue was to facilitate a more appropriate assessment of vulnerability, i.e. to produce results that would adequately inform the decision-making of stakeholders. In particular the aims of the stakeholder dialogue were to (1) identify indicators of changes in ecosystem services; (2) settle useful scales and units at which these indicators should be measured or modelled; (3) discuss thresholds for these indicators that represent limits outside which the adaptive capacity of the sectors is exceeded; and (4) present and discuss results as well as the format they are presented in (clarity of maps, graphs, etc). Stakeholder dialogue activities have focussed on confirming stakeholders’ interest on ATEAM’s scientific goals, enhancing the stakeholder network, following a coherent dialogue strategy, and, most important, obtaining critical insights, requests and comments from stakeholders on our approach and results. Practical steps in this were the preparation, running, evaluation and reporting of a number of workshops, and the development of an evaluation and dissemination strategy. In the course of the communication between ATEAM and the stakeholders we have structured the assessment into six sectors labelled as follows: (1) agriculture; (2) forestry; (3) carbon storage & energy; (4) water; (5) biodiversity & nature conservation; and (6) mountains (especially tourism & recreation). It was recognised that the sectors, as well as the ecosystem services they use, are highly interdependent. They are also only an incomplete selection of possible sectors to be studied in a vulnerability assessment, although they are highly suitable to demonstrate the approach and to yield first-order results.
ATEAM final report Section 5 and 6 (2001-2004) 39 6.2.4.1 The stakeholders The identification of possible stakeholders took place by widespread inquiries via internet search, e-mail and telephone and a survey among ATEAM partners and colleagues. A vast database of potentially interested parties was created. To date 203 stakeholders have been identified, 152 were approached and invited to our activities and 58 24 were involved in at least one activity. The full ATEAM stakeholder database is located in Annex 4. Initially to facilitate the selection process a matrix was designed with relevant sectors vs. geographical focuses/scales and organisation type. The aim was to systematically produce a sample/database of stakeholders to contact and hopefully involve during the course of the project. In preparation of the stakeholder involvement the ATEAM approach was structured into sectors and preliminary vulnerability indicators were identified as basis for the discussion between stakeholders and scientists. ATEAM targeted in particular sector and corporation representatives and consultants, policy advisers, environmental resource/park managers, farmers/foresters, NGOs, journalists and academics. Table 11 below illustrates the type of stakeholder organisations ATEAM involved. 24 This number does not takes into consideration: 1) stakeholders involved during other dissemination and outreach activities carried out within the ATEAM project and reported upon annually, and 2) the stakeholder networks developed within other projects or institutes mentioned in the report and within the activities of which ATEAMers participated.
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