Unlocking complexity: the importance of idealisation in simulation modelling

Idealisation is the process of finding simple representations of the real-world whilst conceptualising a model. There are three ways to limit complication in a model of a complex real-world: by focussing the scope of the modelling process onto a clearly defined issue; by idealising elements of the real-world during model ceptualisation; and by simplifying the implemented simulation program. Careful idealisation has the greatest potential for increasing model tractability whilst generating insights during the model design process. The Forest Land Oriented Resource Envisioning System (FLORES) project deals with social forest landscapes which are highly complex. Benefits of idealisation are demonstrated using six examples from this modelling work. These examples encompass issues dealing with land tenure, forest management, economic values, social diversity, communication and collaboration. Each example illustrates a different method to achieve an idealisation which yields insights relevant for policy players. A number of lessons about idealisation are also identified: (1) sometimes it is only possible to recognise what is key by omitting it; (2) an effective idealisation is not just achieved by leaving things out, or adding them back in; (3) it is important to challenge the use of different units where consistency is possible; (4) it is easier to keep a simple model simple; and (5) even the most useful idealisations may have a limited shelf-life

Traditional wisdom meets artificial intelligence

This short article describes an unlikely, but fruitful, collaboration between an anthropologist and an Artificial Intelligence researcher, the purpose of which was to build a model of how indigenous Dayak people in Kalimantan decide on their activities in the forest. The approach and the results are described. The simple model developed used relations and logic to capture some of the Dayak decision-making processes. The model used Prolog programming language. In building the model, an exploration was made of how opportunities for giving and receiving favours might form an alternative to conventional methods of modelling choices between actions, such as economic optimization

Participation and model-building: lessons learned from the Bukittinggi workshop

FLORES (the Forest Land Oriented Resource Envisioning System) was initially constructred by 50 people during a multidisciplinary workshop in Bukittinggi, Sumatra, in 1999. It proved that a model of a complex system could be constructed in a participatory way by a diverse team; that it could be done with a graphically-based package such as simile; and that the resulting model could remain reasonably accessible to all participants, and could run on an ordinary notebook computer. Many useful insights can be gained through building such a model, and subsequent experience has demonstrated that modelling in this way can foster continuing interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants founded the FLORE Society, a loose collective open to all researchers interested in pursuing the development and use of such models. The Society conducts an e-mail discussion group on [email protected] (subscription request to [email protected]

Kriteria dan indikator kelestarian hutan yang dikelola oleh masyarakat (community managed forest)

Community managed forest systems embody a considerable portion of the wisdom, knowledge, and practical skills and management necessary for the sustainability of forest resources globally. These systems, however, are under threat in many ways, including from the rapid rate of change of their political, socio-economic, and biophysical contexts. Adapting forest management sufficiently quickly and effectively to meet these changes is both urgent and very challenging. This guide introduces criteria and indicators of sustainability for community managed forest landscapes (CMF C&I) as a potential learning and communication tool that can help meet that challenge. It draws on CIFOR collaborative research on CMF C&I in Brazil, Indonesia, and Cameroon to propose a flexible step-by-step approach to developing and implementing self - or collaborative forest monitoring systems, and gives examples of C&I developed by communities in these countries. The approach is targeted to communities and their partners in forest management, such as NGOs, government, or development projects, who are seeking strategies to improve local well-being and forest sustainability through more effective learning, collaboration, and decision-making in local forest management