Evaluating integrated resource management

Approaches to natural resource management based on the integration of commu nity involvement, technical knowledge, and organizational structure and pol icy objectives are endorsed throughout Australia. The emerging paradigm of resource management supports a more flexible and adaptive approach to addre ss the uncertainty, complexity, and interconnectedness associated with natu ral resource and human management systems. The translation of this concept into practice, however, is proving difficult, and proactive evaluation shou ld help. But the evaluation of the effectiveness of integrated resource man agement (IRM) approaches both in Australia and internationally is relativel y more neglected. This article discusses issues of IRM evaluation and propo ses a conceptual evaluation framework that identifies a range of technical, institutional, economic, and social criteria that may influence the succes s of IRM in practice. This framework should facilitate the proper formulati on of the natural resource management problem and its underlying characteri stics.