Capacity building for learning laboratory for sustainability: The case of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve

This paper describes a problem-based learning approach to develop systems thinking and capacity building for a team of interdisciplinary mid-career professionals, engaged in the management of the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve (CBBR) in Vietnam. Following a preliminary workshop in Viet Nam in 2007, which indentified a number of crucial areas for capacity building, an integrated multi-dimensional program was designed for a select group of managers and technical officers from different levels of government and cross sections of agencies working in the CBBR. A general introduction to systems thinking concepts and tools, including causal loop modelling and Bayesian Belief Networks, was followed by skills development courses and field trips. The training courses were evaluated weekly and at the end, followed-up six months after the completion of the program, using some of the participatory methods taught during the course. A recent visit to Viet Nam and discussions with the program participants revealed significant adoption and continued practice of the tools and concepts covered in the program, as well as further applications of the concepts within the participants’ teams and areas of responsibilities. The paper will conclude by drawing generic lessons for capacity building for learning laboratory for sustainability in other biosphere reserves around the world. The paper also serves as a good example of teaching systems that could be shared and promoted within the systems networks.