Monitoring local well-being in environmental interventions: a consideration of practical trade-offs. Issue 1 (28th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palmer Fry, B.; Agarwala, M.; Atkinson, G.; Clements, T.; Homewood, K.; Mourato, S.; Rowcliffe, J.M.; Wallace, G.; Milner-Gulland, E.J.
• Is Part Of: Oryx. Volume 51:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 76
• Publication Date: 2015-10-28
• Subjects: Conservation, -- evaluation, -- happiness, -- monitoring, -- validity, -- well-being; Wildlife conservation -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; 639.9
• DOI: 10.1017/S003060531500112X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-6053

Abstract

Abstract: Within the field of environmental management and conservation, the concept of well-being is starting to gain traction in monitoring the socio-economic and cultural impact of interventions on local people. Here we consider the practical trade-offs policy makers and practitioners must navigate when utilizing the concept of well-being in environmental interventions. We first review current concepts of well-being before considering the need to balance the complexity and practical applicability of the definition used and to consider both positive and negative components of well-being. A key determinant of how well-being is operationalized is the identity of the organization wishing to monitor it. We describe the trade-offs around the external and internal validity of different approaches to measuring well-being and the relative contributions of qualitative and quantitative information to understanding well-being. We explore how these trade-offs may be decided as a result of a power struggle between stakeholders. Well-being is a complex, multi-dimensional, dynamic concept that cannot be easily defined and measured. Local perspectives are often missed during the project design process as a result of the more powerful voices of national governments and international NGOs, so for equity and local relevance it is important to ensure these perspectives are represented at a high level in project design and implementation.