| In response to natural resources degradation, millions of dollars have been spent on developing Environmental Information Systems (EISs). An EIS is commonly referred to as a technical and institutional response needed for the provision of timely environmental information to improve environmental management. Despite the millions of dollars invested, efforts to develop EISs have been littered with failures.; Based on a thorough literature review, EIS conceptualizations and implementation guidelines were found to inadequately address the broad range of EIS-related activities and long-term sustainability. This study proposes—based on existing EIS and related references and the author's experiences to develop EIS-related activities in Malawi—a conceptualization and set of implementation guidelines of a Sustainable EIS (SEIS).; This study's SEIS conceptual framework emphasizes the long-term development of an institutional, human, technical, and financial infrastructure to routinely and strategically conduct environmental information needs assessments, acquire and analyze environmental data sets, and disseminate environmental information to influence natural resource management decisions. The SEIS conceptual framework is used to develop a comprehensive set of SEIS implementation guidelines that emphasizes participatory, coordinated, decentralized, evolutionary, and over-investment strategies to facilitate the routine production and use of environmental information.; This study's SEIS conceptual framework and set of guidelines are used to assess and shape the long-term development of a SEIS in Malawi. While Malawi has developed several EIS-related activities—particularly under the Malawi Environmental Monitoring Programme (MEMP)—Malawi at present does not have a coordinated institutional structure that draws on strengthening existing institutions to routinely and strategically produce and use environmental information. It is envisioned that this study's SEIS conceptual framework and set of implementation guidelines may be used in Malawi and elsewhere to facilitate the routine production and use of environmental information to ultimately improve livelihoods and the environment. |
