Strategic management model for agroecological transition in biosphere reserves
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Abstract
Biosphere reserves face crises of institutional fragmentation and disconnection between regulatory frameworks and local practices that threaten their conservation capacity. This research aimed to design a strategic management model based on organizational change theory for biosphere reserves, integrating agroecological principles and strategic foresight. The study was developed using a mixed approach (quantitative-qualitative), non-experimental cross-sectional design and Delphi method for validation. The research was structured in three phases: bio-socioeconomic characterization and participatory diagnosis with 23 communities; model design based on the integration of Lewin's change theory, Kotter's 8 phases and Galbraith's Star model; and theoretical-practical validation through contrast with international frameworks and pilot application in three communities. The result was a model structured in three interconnected subsystems (diagnosis and social mobilization; progressive management and implementation; prospective organizational architecture), articulated through a cross-cutting phase of control and feedback. The model incorporates innovative mechanisms such as territorial stewardship contracts, community co-management platforms and Dinamica EGO modeling for climate scenarios. Expected results, validated with 15 specialists (concordance index 0,82), include 40% increase in climate resilience through successional agroforestry systems, reduction of project approval times from 90 to 30 days through coordination nodes, and 35% improvement in community participation. The model contributes to overcoming institutional fragmentation and promoting agroecological transitions through adaptive governance, constituting a scalable reference for biosphere reserves in Cuba and Latin America.
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