An Integrated Decision Support Toolbox (DST) for the Management of Mountain Protected Areas

New tools and methodologies are required in systemic planning and management of mountain protected areas. Among others we propose here a decision support toolbox (DST) conceived as an integrated collection of both soft and hard system methodologies, consisting of participatory and computer-based modules to provide a set of integrated, self-contained tools and approaches to support decision-making processes in the management of mountain protected areas. The Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ) in Nepal was taken as a pilot case. A number of participatory exercises such as participatory 3-dimensional modeling, scenario planning, and qualitative modeling were carried out to understand social-ecological processes and generate a systemic view over space and time. The qualitative models were then converted into computer-based system dynamics models. The design and development of DST software were carried out with an incremental and modular approach. This process involved stakeholder analysis and decision-making processes through a series of consultations. The software was developed with the main modules including scenario analysis, spatial analysis, and knowledge base. The scenario analysis module runs system dynamics models built in Simile software and provides functions to link them with spatial data for model inputs and outputs. The spatial analysis module provides the basic geographic information system functions to explore, edit, analyze, and visualize spatial information. The knowledge base module was developed as a metadata management system for different categories of information such as spatial data, bibliography, research data, and models. The development of DST software, especially system dynamics modeling and its linkage with spatial components, provided an important methodological approach for spatial and temporal integration. Furthermore, training and interactions with park managers and concerned stakeholders showed that DST is a useful platform for integrating data and information and better understanding ecosystem behavior as a basis for management decisions.
 
Citation proposal
Birendra Bajracharya (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)) - Franco Salerno (Water Research Institute–National Research Council (IRSA–CNR)) - Sudip Pradhan (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)) - Basanta Shrestha (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)) (2010) . An Integrated Decision Support Toolbox (DST) for the Management of Mountain Protected Areas. Mountain Research and Development Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, University of Bern https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/api/records/196b5a7f-9267-42fb-9462-3ba48783d368
 

INSPIRE

Identification

File identifier
196b5a7f-9267-42fb-9462-3ba48783d368   XML
Online resource
Resource identifier
Metadata language
eng
Encoding
Format
Version
Projection
code
 

Classification of data and services

Topic category
  • Environment
  • Society
 

Classification of data and services

Coupled resource
Coupled resource
 
 

Classification of data and services

Coupled resource
Coupled resource
 
 

Keywords

Other keywords
Keywords ( Place )
  • K2 , Mount Everest , Nepal , Pakistan
Keywords ( Theme )
  • Decision support systems (DSS) , system dynamics , spatial analysis , protected area management , ecosystem management , Management of Mountain Protected Areas , SHARE
 
 

Geographic coverage

N
S
E
W


 

Temporal reference

Temporal extent
Temporal extent
Date ( Publication )
2010-05-10T00:00:00
 

Quality and validity

Lineage

Bajracharya, B., S. Pradhan, B. Shrestha & F. Salerno. 2010.

"An Integrated Decision Support Toolbox (DST) for the Management of Mountain Protected Areas". In: Special Issue “Methodologies and Tools for the Management of Mountain Protected Areas: Mount Everest (Nepal, China) and K2 (Pakistan) Regions”. Mountain Research and Development, 30(2): 94-102.

Abstract: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-09-00048.1

Full text: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-09-00048.1

 

Conformity

Conformity
Conformity
 

Conformity

Conformity
Conformity
 

Restrictions on access and use

Access constraints
 

Restrictions on access and use

 

Responsible organization (s)

Contact for the resource
Organisation name
Mountain Research and Development Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, University of Bern
Email
mrd-journal@cde.unibe.ch
Organisation name
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Email
bbajracharya@icimod.org
Organisation name
Water Research Institute–National Research Council (IRSA–CNR)
Email
salerno@irsa.cnr.it
Organisation name
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Email
Organisation name
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Email
bshrestha@icimod.org.np
 

Responsible organization (s)

Contact for the resource
Organisation name
Mountain Research and Development Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, University of Bern
Email
mrd-journal@cde.unibe.ch
Organisation name
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Email
bbajracharya@icimod.org
Organisation name
Water Research Institute–National Research Council (IRSA–CNR)
Email
salerno@irsa.cnr.it
Organisation name
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Email
Organisation name
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Email
bshrestha@icimod.org.np
 

Metadata information

Contact for the metadata
Organisation name
Ev-K2-CNR
Email
metadata@evk2cnr.org
Date stamp
2025-02-21T19:00:38
Metadata language
eng
Character set
UTF8
 
 

SDS

Conformance class 1: invocable

Access Point URL
Endpoint URL
Technical specification
 

Conformance class 2: interoperable

Coordinate reference system
 
Quality of Service
 
Access constraints
Limitation
 
Use constraints
Limitation
 
Responsible custodian
Contact for the resource
 
 

Conformance class 3: harmonized

 
 

  Overviews

thumbnail

  Provided by

  Share on social sites

         

  Views

Read here the full details and access to the data.

  Associated resources

Not available