Adaptive management is like a science experiment. It's used to figure out the best way to take care of something, like a river or forest, by seeing what works and what doesn't. It's like a "test and learn" approach. For example, if we want to make sure fish can live in a certain river, we could try putting in a dam to help hold back the water, or changing how fast the river flows. By trying different things and looking at the results, we can figure out which option works best for protecting the fish.