Adaptive learning: lessons from Southern Lao PDR

Adaptive learning is a management approach that explicitly recognises that uncertainties exist and, instead of glossing over them, seeks to reduce them at the same time as managing the resource. In such cases learning, and reducing uncertainties about the resource system being managed, become a crucial component of management itself.

The report presents examples and stages of the process of adaptive learning. The report demonstrates that the approach is a very promising one for the co-management of natural resources in conditions where management ‘best practice’ is uncertain or unknown.