Tools for adaptive governance for complex social-ecological systems: A review of role-playing-games as serious games at the community-policy interface

The management of natural resources—from forests to fisheries to freshwater—is becoming increasingly complex and requires new tools and processes for engaging with individuals, communities, and decision-makers. Policy makers and practitioners have begun using serious games (SGs) (those used for purposes other than entertainment) to overcome some of the complex challenges of governing resources in social-ecological systems. This paper uses a systematic literature review methodology to assess role-playing SGs for natural resource management. Fifty-two articles from the role-playing game (RPG) subset of SGs are identified, synthesised and analysed using a multi-criteria evaluation framework. First, we explore three theoretical and conceptual elements of games: principles of RPGs, functions of games, and (practical) game characteristics. We evaluate game elements, including game design, adherence to reality and the degree to which games integrate elements of participatory—and action research. These dimensions of RPGs are then analysed and discussed. Particular attention is paid to the value and application of RPGs to address complex problems with interacting environmental, social, cultural and economic challenges, and the extent to which they can inform adaptive governance solutions. Results show that RPGs can be a valuable tool at different levels; however, we also identify important gaps in the current state of knowledge, in particular, related to bridging community—and higher-level decision-making scales through RPGs

Adaptation knowledge for New Zealand’s primary industries: Known, not known and needed

Climate sensitive primary industries including pastoral farming, high-value horticulture and viticulture are central to Aotearoa-New Zealand’s economy. While advances have been made in understanding the impacts and implications of climate change critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly for adaptation. This study develops and applies a novel methodology to identify and characterise adaptation knowledge for primary industries. The basis for the review is ten years’ of research and action under the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change (SLMACC) program, supplemented with a systematic review of the published literature. Reports (n = 32) and literature (n = 22) are reviewed and assessed using the Adaptation Knowledge Cycle to characterise analytical and empirical foci. The detailed assessment of knowledge for Impacts, Implications, Decisions or Actions enables a robust and rigorous assessment of existing knowledge, identifies critical research gaps and emerging needs. Results show research to date has focused almost exclusively on understanding the impact of climate variability and extremes on land management. There are significant empirical (e.g. location and sector) and methodological (e.g. integrated assessments, scenarios, and vulnerability assessment) gaps, for at risk regions and sectors, and limited understanding of the decisions and actions necessary to enable successful adaptation. To inform future adaptation planning, additional work is required to better understand the implications, decision-making processes and obstacles to action. More detailed understanding of location-, season-, time- and sector-specific responses to climate change is also necessary. Findings advance our understanding of adaptation knowledge and reflect on diversity of information necessary to enable and sustain resilient rural futures and provide a conceptual and methodological basis for similar assessments elsewhere

Australasia

Observed changes and impacts Ongoing climate trends have exacerbated many extreme events (very high confidence). The Australian trends include further warming and sea level rise sea level rise (SLR), with more hot days and heatwaves, less snow, more rainfall in the north, less April–October rainfall in the southwest and southeast and more extreme fire weather days in the south and east. The New Zealand trends include further warming and sea level rise (SLR), more hot days and heatwaves, less snow, more rainfall in the south, less rainfall in the north and more extreme fire weather in the east. There have been fewer tropical cyclones and cold days in the region. Extreme events include Australia’s hottest and driest year in 2019 with a record-breaking number of days over 39°C, New Zealand’s hottest year in 2016, three widespread marine heatwaves during 2016–2020, Category 4 Cyclone Debbie in 2017, seven major hailstorms over eastern Australia and two over New Zealand from 2014–2020, three major floods in eastern Australia and three over New Zealand during 2019–2021 and major fires in southern and eastern Australia during 2019–2020

Data for: Adaptation knowledge for primary industries: known, not known and needed

Systematic review protocol and search strings used in this study

Data for: Adaptation knowledge for primary industries: known, not known and needed

Summary of research outputs used in this review

Transforming food futures in the post-disaster setting of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand

On 14 November 2016, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the small coastal settlement of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand. Severe damage to critical infrastructure brought significant logistical, economic and social challenges to the town, cutting road and rail access and disrupting the collection, processing and distribution of agricultural products, and stemming the flow of tourists, the district’s key industries. Commercial fisheries and the town’s whale-watching operations were also affected when the seabed rose by two metres, limiting access to the harbour. Kaikōura faced an uncertain future, but as in many disaster contexts, these disruptions have provided a window of opportunity for regeneration, recreation and re-imagination. This paper uses qualitative case study analysis to explore post-quake transformations in Kaikōura’s food networks and food security. We present and discuss two case examples. ‘The Hospo Project’ is an award-winning initiative in which 22 local businesses collaborated on a multi-million dollar project to cater to hundreds of workers rebuilding the road and rail corridor, enabling hospitality businesses to remain commercially viable and retain staff. The second involves a broader reimagining of agriculture, food harvesting, production and distribution to enhance regional food security, which is taking many forms. These initiatives show that harnessing existing relationships and social capital can create novel pathways for rethinking local food futures. Transformation is often experienced following a disaster, only to fall back into pre-existing structures without adequate support. We conclude this paper by considering some of the factors required to ensure these initiatives are able to transition to a new and improved system, or transform into something much more original, representing wide-spread, systemic change. In particular, we highlight the need for such initiatives to be grounded in the lived reality and experiences of the local community and their understanding of place, and for transformative changes to be supported by appropriate governance and compliance arrangements and structures

Post-disaster experiences of Chinese tourists in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Presentation given at CAUTHE 202

Transforming rural value chains in the 'Top of the South', New Zealand

Exposure to risks and hazards—including earthquakes, floods, snowstorms, and the current and anticipated impacts of climate change—have significant implications for rural regions throughout New Zealand. Agriculture and tourism make a vital contribution to local economies, but are sensitive to disruption and can be slow to recover. The vulnerability of rural regions in the ‘Top of the South’ was highlighted during and after the 2016 Kaikoura-Marlborough-Hurunui earthquake, which coincided with the effects of drought in North Canterbury, and was followed by extreme weather in autumn 2017. Rural communities, producers and businesses faced immediate and longer-term logistical, economic, and social challenges caused by these events, including damage to critical infrastructure and lifelines, and supply chains. The cascading and compounding effects of disruption affected flows of agricultural products and tourists, necessitating flexible and adaptive response mechanisms. Drawing on insights from ongoing qualitative research in the region with wine producers, tourism stakeholders and sheep and beef farmers, we discuss empirical examples highlighting the distinctive dynamics of disaster response mechanisms and recovery trajectories. Results show emerging reorganisation and redesign of rural value chains, with implications for further transformation, driven by enhanced social capital, strengthening of key relationships and growing diversification

Enabling adaptation to interacting stressors: Climate, water and wine

From the fires that devastated California’s Napa Valley and many Australian wine regions, to frost and hail events and extended drought in North America and Europe, there is growing evidence of the vulnerability of grape growing and wine making to changes in climate variability and extremes. Climate change impacts do not occur in isolation however; they have the potential to cascade across interconnected systems, creating new risks and exacerbating existing ones. This is particularly relevant for climate sensitive and water-dependent primary industries, such as viticulture. Enhancing the industry’s capacity to anticipate and mitigate identifiable risks, buffer against unexpected risk and increase their adaptive capacity is urgently required to secure economic resilience. Wine and viticulture is New Zealand’s fastest growing primary industry. Furthermore, it is relatively concentrated in small areas, characteristic of its dependence on suitable combinations of temperature, precipitation and soil types. However, current understanding of vulnerability for this, and other primary sector activities in New Zealand, rely extensively on linear outcome-oriented modelling to assess likely impacts and implications using probabilistic and biophysical modelling. There is an urgent need however, to better understand the context for adaptation, the interactions, synergies and potential trade-offs between strategies and the barriers and limits to adaptation, particularly in relation to water-limited futures. Responding to multiple, interacting and compounding stressors requires innovative and practical solutions from the industry. The New Zealand wine industry is aware of these risks, and are actively considering ways to mitigate and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Drawing on results of industry surveys, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with grape growers, wine makers and industry stakeholders, and analysis of secondary data, a ‘‘bottom-up’’ contextual assessment of vulnerability was developed and empirically applied. Preliminary findings demonstrate the combined effects of the interaction and implications of climate change and changing water availability on the Marlborough wine industry; source for more than two-thirds of New Zealand’s wine production. Climatic conditions, workforce availability and markets are the main sources of exposure for growers, with sensitivity moderated by location. Growers employ mostly short-term, reactive adaptive strategies to manage climate exposure and sensitivity, but have less capacity to respond to market-related stressors. Warmer and drier conditions are likely to have adverse effects and compound existing demands on irrigation. In order to realise opportunities and minimise losses, longer-term strategic responses are required

Growing food; growing community: The role of community food initiatives in Ōtautahi Christchurch

The COVID-19 pandemic and phased lockdowns have disrupted the agri-food system in Aotearoa New Zealand, highlighting acute vulnerability, supply chain fragility, and critical dependencies. To reduce future risk, there is now growing interest in regional food security and opportunities to ‘buy local’. There is evidence, too, that pandemic lockdowns have also led many New Zealanders to reassess priorities, with ‘slow food activities’ such as baking and cooking and establishing, or expanding, home vegetable gardens becoming increasingly popular. While these trends reflect a global movement amongst consumers for locally, ethically and sustainably produced food, the pandemic has also highlighted significant issues of food security for many households and communities, where simply having enough nutritious food to feed a family is the immediate priority. This paper reports on qualitative research into five community food ventures in Ōtautahi Christchurch, particularly community gardens and food forests, in the context of COVID-19. Findings reveal that while food is the pivotal element of these ventures, their role in the community is much broader than this. There has also been a shift in roles and priorities for these ventures over time, often precipitated by crises in the city; this has been witnessed during the current pandemic, but was also evident during the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes, attracting new participants, and reflecting broader changes in values around food, food security, and community