Roles of research scientists in natural resource decision-making

The issues surrounding natural resource decision-making in the present day are complex, varied and debated frequently and contentiously by the public. The complexity of the issues poses new challenges for scientists who are b eing asked to actively engage in this debate. This raises questions about w hat is credible scientific information and how such information is used in often emotionally or politically laden natural resource management decision s. One result has been an uncomfortable partnership among scientists and na tural resource managers. Scientists are being asked to frame their research in ways that maintains scientific independence yet is responsive to manage ment questions, at scales that often challenge existing scientific knowledg e and under severe time constraints. Resource decision-makers are challenge d to clarify their management goals, to fully understand and use the scienc e, and to explicitly identify the level of acceptable risk. Using the Inter ior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project as an example, lessons lear ned from the interaction among scientists and natural resource decision-mak ers is discussed and propositions for appropriate roles are presented. When properly generated, presented, and accountably used, science facilitates d iscussion among competing interests by helping to define the range of avail able choice and focusing discussions on consequences of social choice. By e xpanding and revealing the range of possible outcomes, scientists increase the likelihood that management decisions are understood and that those deci sions can endure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.