Exploring How Knowledge and Communication Influence Natural Resources Management With ReHab

Christophe Le Page, Anne Dray, Pascal Perez and Claude Garcia

Simulation & Gaming, 2016, vol. 47, issue 2, 257-284

Abstract: 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 .

Keywords: agency; communication; computer-supported role-playing game (CRP); conservation; Cormas; natural resources management; development; ReHab; stakeholder; tragedy of the commons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:simgam:v:47:y:2016:i:2:p:257-284

DOI: 10.1177/1046878116632900

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