Buenos Aires, Argentina - IUCN

The term "carrying capacity" may be used in the
context of the maximum yield of a particular resource
which may be sustained in the long term (without
detriment to the system). This carrying capacity can be
seen to fluctuate over time, and the Revised Management
Procedure (being considered by the International
Whaling Commission) is an example of an
adaptive management procedure of the kind needed
for living resources. The collapse of certain fisheries
demonstrates the consequences of overexploitation—
and harvesting efforts may have to be drastically
reduced to allow stock recovery. The study of large
marine ecosystems has proved valuable in elucidating
which parameters are driving the natural variability
in carrying capacity, but this science has not yet
reached the predictive stage.
In terms of contributing to human carrying capacity,
conventional marine resources are unlikely to offer
higher yields even if sustainable management is
achieved. Unconventional resources may become
economically interactive to rich and populous countries
if sufficiently highly valued.
Conclusions
Many current uses of the term "carrying capacity" are
far removed the original ecological concept—and
arguably a new terminology is required to distinguish
these uses. What all the uses have in common is a
recognition of limits—real limits, or chosen limits
toward some objective. The term "carrying capacity"
needs to be qualified: carrying capacity of what, for
what, and under what circumstances. The Workshop
suggested that a short publication reviewing the carrying
capacity concept and its different applications
would be useful.
The concept of carrying capacity has an important
role in IUCN's strategy and social science programmes
where we are concerned with limits, as well
as in the more traditional areas of conservation and
resource management, where limiting factors or maximum
sustainable yield are the concerns.
Application of the carrying capacity concept to
management of living resources must recognize the
dynamic nature of natural systems: systems in which
carrying capacity is seen to vary over time through
forces beyond human control, and often beyond
human understanding. Management of these systems
needs to be adaptive, and management interventions
should observe the precautionary principle.
WORKSHOP 7
Changing Personal Attitudes
and Practices
Chair: Frits Hesselink
Convenor: Wendy Goldstein
Rapporteur: Joy Palmer
The objectives of the Workshop were to discuss how
to use education and communication as a means of
changing attitudes and practice, and to recommend
what IUCN could do to facilitate this. Key questions
addressed were:
¤ How can education and communication be used to
change the attitudes and behaviour of people?
¤ How can governments and NGOs be brought
together in promoting, planning and organizing
education?
¤ How can IUCN be used as a forum for the exchange
of experiences on planning the effective use of
education and communication?
Over 120 people attended the workshop. A total of 18
presentations were given.
Planning and Implementation of
Programmes
Speakers made presentations on NGO programmes
from various parts of the world, in particular from
USA, Indonesia, India, Zimbabwe and Canada, Brazil,
Argentina and the countries of the Sahel. All the programmes
desscribed the lessons learnt in working
with communities to change public behaviour.
Key points and issues that emerged were:
On the role of education and communication
Education and communication can change attitudes
and practices, and can encourage voluntary
action.
It is a challenge to integrate communications and
education throughout the whole cycle of management
planning and implementation, so that people
are engaged in shaping the decisions throughout.
The various phases require different communications
approaches.
Reports from the Workshops 71
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