Adaptive learning for science-based policy: the Everglades restoration

The Everglades ecosystem restoration is totally unprecedented. The spatial scale involves all of southern Florida and the temporal scale is decades. A lthough it is one of the most studied ecosystems in the world, much additio nal knowledge will have to be acquired for the restoration to ultimately re establish a naturally functioning ecosystem. Additionally, political suppor t will have to be maintained throughout the endeavor, and this will require a different form of understanding, a form useful to decision-makers and po litical representatives. Adaptive ecological learning embedded in an adapti ve ecosystem assessment and management structure is offered as a possible s upplement to the ongoing scientific learning. The goal of such an adaptive ecological learning approach is to facilitate more holistic understanding u seful to decision-makers and political representatives. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.