MARISCO: Adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites

MARISCO represents a toolbox and an approach to adaptive ecosystem-based management. If facilitates the integration of a dynamic risk and vulnerability perspective into the management of conservation projects and sites.

Key to this method is the input of multi-stakeholder groups which get together and discuss ecosystem services, likely impacts of climate change, as well as other direct and underlying threats. This discussion is supported by further knowledge, such as scientific data that is collected beforehand and presented in an easy to understand way during the stakeholder get-together.

Vulnerability is then assessed within the group in 4 steps:

1. Definition of the conservation targets, with regard to biodiversity and human well-being.

2. Identification and assessment of current and future threats and stresses affecting the targets, underlying processes (e.g., criticality, dynamics, manageability, knowledge).

3. Illustration of the systemic effects in a conceptual model that also identifies major groups of relevant factors.

4. Identification and prioritization of vulnerability-decreasing and low-risk strategies and incorporation of these into existing management plans.