Developing the Problem Tree. The problem tree helps to explain how threats affect the population and how they are related to their root causes. The tree is built using the cause-effect relationships of threats and their impacts. The workshop participants should review and confirm the draft problem analysis to make sure it reflects the common understanding on the range and importance of threats by the relevant experts. The box below provides a generalised example of a problem tree. The Action Plan workshop discussions on the draft problem tree aim to reveal the key threats affecting the species. It is a useful approach to start from identifying the demographic parameters, such as increased mortality rates amongst adults and/or young, reduced productivity or low recruitment of immature individuals, that drive the decline of the population. Then identify what are the direct causes of the deviations (e.g. poaching, by-catch, increased predation, farming operations etc.). Once the direct causes are identified, it is important to understand why the impact of the direct causes has increased, what motivates the stakeholders etc. Some root causes such as policy issues are complex and indirect. Therefore, compilers should encourage the use of relevant policy specialists (such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry or rural development experts etc.) in the problem analysis. The final problem tree should be included as Figure 2 in the Action or Management Plan. Example: Problem Tree Level 1: Stress through which the threats operate (increased mortality etc.) Level 2: Direct threats (illegal trapping) Level 3: Immediate causes of threats (demand as food in restaurants) Level 4: Root causes of threats (local cultural traditions prevail over law enforcement)
Developing the Problem Tree. The problem tree helps to explain how threats or management concerns affect the population and how they are related to their root causes. The tree is built using the cause-effect relationships of threats or management concerns and their impacts. The workshop participants should review and confirm the draft problem analysis to make sure it reflects the common understanding on the range and importance of threats by the relevant experts. The box below provides a generalised example of a problem tree. The Action or Management workshop discussions on the draft problem tree aim to reveal the key threats or management concerns affecting the species. Once these have been agreed, the root causes of all of the effects should be determined, which may for example include socio-economic factors, acting policies or political processes. Although habitat loss and degradation are the major causes for the decline of many populations, this form of analysis often indicates that the immediate reasons for the decline are different. Therefore, indirect threats may manifest themselves by affecting one or the other demographic parameters, such as increased mortality rate among adults or young, reduced productivity or low recruitment of immature individuals. Some root causes such as policy issues do not directly relate to the threats, because their mechanisms are complex and indirect. Therefore, in the problem analysis compilers should encourage the use of relevant policy specialists (such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry or rural development experts etc.). The final problem tree should be included as Figure 2 in the Action or Management Plan.
Developing the Problem Tree. The problem tree helps to explain how threats or management concerns affect the population and how they are related to their root causes. The tree is built using the cause-effect relationships of threats or management concerns and their impacts. The workshop participants should review and confirm the draft problem analysis to make sure it reflects the common understanding on the range and importance of threats by the relevant experts. The box below provides a generalised example of a problem tree. The Action or Management workshop discussions on the draft problem tree aim to reveal the key threats or management concerns affecting the species. Once these have been agreed, the root causes of all of the effects should be determined, which may for example include socio-economic factors, acting policies or political processes. Although habitat loss and degradation are the major causes for the decline of many populations, this form of analysis often indicates that the immediate reasons for the decline are different. Therefore, indirect threats may manifest themselves by affecting one or the other demographic parameters, such as increased mortality rate among adults or young, reduced productivity or low recruitment of immature individuals. Some root causes such as policy issues do not directly relate to the threats, because their mechanisms are complex and indirect. Therefore, in the problem analysis compilers should encourage the use of relevant policy specialists (such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry or rural development experts etc.). The final problem tree should be included as Figure 2 in the Action or Management Plan. Example: Problem Tree Level 1: Mechanism through which the threats operate (increased mortality etc.) Level 2: Specific threats (illegal trapping) Level 3: Immediate causes of threats (demand as food in restaurants) Level 4: Root causes of threats (local cultural traditions prevail over law enforcement)
