Sustainability Indicators: Providing Policy Indications or Just Adding Informative Chaos?

Abstract

Sustainability indicators are currently employed by various organizations. This article focuses on the processes where the interpretation over data is created, and thereby the relevant policy messages articulated. The case study under consideration is a sustainability report by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This report aims at providing key information on assessing the sustainability of natural resource management. An analytical framework is outlined to capture current practices in interpreting indicators, and the efficiency of information is examined by considering the reformulation of strategic goals. The impact of new information was found to be modest. In general, few strategic changes were introduced, and the changes that had been implemented were only loosely connected to the information of the sustainability report. Restrictions of indicators as a tool are outlined and the need for more flexible ways of using information at policy forums is pointed out.

Keywords:

• sustainability indicators
• interpretation
• information use
• natural resource management
• strategic planning

Notes

1 Later on, this indicator has been developed by focusing on the overall species composition (Gregory et al. 2000; Heath & Rayment 2001). It now comprises different ecological bird groups instead of individual bird species. Moreover, the data sets are based on national monitoring programs, improving also the policy relevance of these data sets.