South African National Parks (SANParks), ZA

This guidelines outlines one management tool, strategic adaptive management, that has been developed by the staff and managers of Kruger National Park. This approach recognises and is responsive to global change factors in a realistic and practical manner. The guideline aims to present an overview of strategic adaptive management practice, or SAM, as it has emerged within the specific context of Kruger National Park. The specific illustrative context that we use is that of rivers which have undergone enormous change. 

This publication lays out the basic steps required by a catchment or protected area manager to begin the Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) process. We provide the series of steps to help deal with the complex task facing the freshwater manager. The guide provides a framework for managing the maintenance of flow regimes and water quality to support healthy ecosystem services desired by stakeholders. The approach follows a structured path adapted for any reserve, whatever the configuration, threat or resources available.