Exploring How Knowledge and Communication Influence Natural Resources Management With ReHab

Background and Aim. It is often assumed in natural resources management that communication helps with solving the ‘ tragedy of the commons ’ by way of shared knowledge and better coordination . R e H ab is a role-playing game , both cooperative and comp etitive, exploring the role of knowledge production and communication for the conservation and management of natural resources through experiential learning . Method. R e H ab pitches players as Harvesters or Rangers in an abstract landscape representation where a resource is distributed in discrete units of Biomass . The landscape is also a nesting and breeding ground for a protected migratory Bird. The Ranger s’ task is to maximize Bird reproduction by creating protected areas, while Harvesters have to collect Biomass . Rules about biomass regeneration, distribution amongst harvesters, and bird reproduction are not disclosed to the players. A typical game session includes two successive scenarios : No communication between players, followed by open communication. A final debriefing session with all players focuses on eliciting a common understanding of the hidden rules, as well as the influence of individual or collective strategies on scenario outputs . The analysis includes records from 45 sessions played since 2008. Results. Our results show that in most cases communication improves the outcomes for both roles, Harvesters and Rangers , even though players construct and articulate rational decisions based on limited or even flawed understandings of the rules. In the absence of enforcement mechanisms , trust and communication prevail over knowledge and understanding when it comes to managing natural resources and resolving trade-offs between conservation and development .