Many projects within the Network use an Adaptive Management approach in their work with LMMAs. Adaptive Management is the integration of design, management, and monitoring of a project to systematically test assumptions in order to adapt, learn, and improve the results of their efforts. The LMMA Network provides guidance and capacity-building to members in the use of Adaptive Management.

The Adaptive Management cycle is
shown in the diagram below.

(adapted from Margoluis & Salafsky 1998)

We have found that project design, management and monitoring cannot be separated. Instead, monitoring must be integrated into the overall project cycle because it is essential for generating sound information upon which management decisions are made. By systematically moving through the cycle, practitioners can test different assumptions about their actions, using the results to adapt their actions and increase their effectiveness and efficiency over time.

To learn more about Adaptive Management, please visit:
http://www.fosonline.org/Adaptive_Management1.cfm