ARDI: A Co-construction Method for Participatory Modeling in Natural Resources Management

"The outcomes of a series of tests of the ARDI (Actors, Resources, Dynamics, and Interactions) method in complex cases or conflict-ridden situations is presented. ARDI is part of a companion modeling approach that makes it possible to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the design and development of land and water management plans. It is based on participatory workshops that set out to collaborativelyimagine a future open, dynamic management system, capable of adaptation and anticipation, by gatheringthe various stakeholders in a partnership to examine conservation of the natural resources and promotinga sustainable development. Its originality lies in the co-construction of a 'conceptual model' of thefunctioning of the territory, according to an overarching, negotiated development question. The approachis based on the collective articulation of the key elements of a context or territory by stakeholders such asmanagers, representatives, socio-professional technicians, nongovernmental organizations, experts, andscientists, and local policy makers. This sharing of representations is done by means of a series of collectiveworkshops during which Actors, Resources, Dynamics, and Interactions constituting the profile of theterritory are identified and clarified. This work of co-construction is conducted within a precisemethodological framework that we present in a step-by-step format. The method is grounded in concreteexperience gleened from tests conducted by the authors over the past five years. Finally, the requirementfor specific skills as well as pitfalls to avoid when applying the method are discussed."