Nature Futures Framework (NFF)
The Nature Futures Framework (NFF) is designed to capture three overarching viewpoints for how individuals and communities value nature: “Nature for Nature,” “Nature for Society,” and “Nature as Culture” (Pereira et al., 2020). The NFF was developed through a co-production process facilitated by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The process involved an expert group with diverse participants including Indigenous peoples, government officials, and academics (Pereira et al., 2020). The NFF helps users visualize a complex social reality where communities will likely hold some proportion of all three of these values. The NFF can help managers navigate where different communities sit on the value spectrum to identify areas of conflict or collaboration. By mapping different values, managers can use the NFF to incorporate multiple differing worldviews of nature, an often overlooked dimension of conservation planning, into structured decision-making and modeling (Palacios-Abrantes et al., 2022; Pereira et al., 2020).
Palacios-Abrantes et al. (2022) give several examples of how the NFF can help illustrate different values, and the acceptable management actions stemming from those values. Many of their examples are international, so we provide a hypothetical adaptation of one of their examples for the Northeast. This example is intended to demonstrate how the NFF could be used to map values in different communities and does not incorporate all dimensions of managing Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra).
Fraxinus nigra, commonly known as Black Ash, Brown Ash, Basket Ash, and Swamp Ash (hereafter referred to as Black Ash) is an economically, ecologically, and culturally important species in the Northeast and is currently threatened by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis). Climate models indicate Black Ash habitat may decrease in the future. Additionally Black Ash is intolerant of drought, making it sensitive to changing hydraulic conditions (D'Amato et al. 2020). As climate change potentially reduces suitable habitat for Black Ash, management decisions may become more fraught, and creating climate-informed management plans may need to incorporate actions that align across different value systems.
Nature for Nature: Black Ash is a keystone species in forested wetlands given its ability to survive in the flooded or seasonally wet conditions (Constanza, 2017). It provides habitat and forage for wildlife and plays an important role in nutrient cycling and hydrologic regulation (D’Amato et al., 2023b).
Nature for Society: Black Ash can be commercially harvested, and the presence of EAB reduces the economic prospects of Black Ash.
Nature as Culture: Black Ash is an important cultural species for Indigenous peoples across its range, including the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Wabanaki in the Northeast. Materials from ash are used for making baskets and snowshoes, and for medicines. Black Ash is central to creation stories for Indigenous people in the Northeast.
In this example, the NFF framework could help managers identify that people who identified with any of the three value sets, value maintaining the tree species. It can also help identify points of divergence between the values sets. For instance, there could be disagreement about whether harvesting trees is permissible. Individuals holding Nature for Society values may support a “pre-salvage” harvesting strategy to minimize economic loss. Those holding this value may feel that there is nothing to be done to eliminate EAB, and the best course is to minimize economic losses (D’Amato et al., 2023a). In potential opposition, those with Nature for Nature and Nature as Culture values might advocate for management strategies to preserve Black Ash to maintain the ecosystem benefits and cultural practices. While aligned on maintaining Black Ash populations, those holding these different value sets might choose different ways to approach pest management. Those holding Nature as Culture values might prioritize protecting basket trees, additionally some management options, like injecting ash with insecticides, may be a difficult decision that needs community consultation (D’Amato et al. 2023b). Researchers suggest coordinating with different communities to help create an effective and integrated path forward for managing Black Ash (D’Amato et al. 2023b).
References
Adapted from
Staudinger, M.D., A.V. Karmalkar, K. Terwilliger, K. Burgio, A. Lubeck, H. Higgins, T. Rice, T.L. Morelli, A. D'Amato. 2024. A regional synthesis of climate data to inform the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans in the Northeast U.S. DOI Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Cooperator Report. 406 p. https://doi.org/10.21429/t352-9q86