MAKING SENSE OF THE POLICY PROCESS FOR CARNIVORE CONSERVATION

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), mountain lions (Puma concolor ), wolverines (Gulo gulo), wolves (Canis lupus), and lynx (Felis lynx) are all top-level carnivores in the Rocky Mountains of the northern U .S. and southern Canada. Because of their body size and high trophic p osition, these species require abundant prey species and large habitat areas-requirements that make their conservation a controversial publi c policy problem. Because the challenge of conserving these species ex tends beyond biological issues, it is necessary to involve other relev ant disciplines and perspectives in understanding and solving the prob lem. Our examination of the context, content, and process of large car nivore conservation policies suggests more effective and active roles for scientists in designing solutions to the problem of landscape-leve l carnivore conservation. Scientists must develop an understanding of the range of participants in the policy process and the ways in which these participants receive and utilize information. This knowledge of the policy process could help scientists to better understand their ro les in framing and clarifying policy questions, projecting the consequ ences of various alternatives, and presenting policy information in ap propriate fora.