The role of research scientists in adaptive management programs

This thesis investigates the effectiveness of the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP) in improving and increasing the contributions of scientists to natural resource management decision-making. Natural resource managers turn to scientists for assistance in understanding the complex natural systems they are charged with managing. However, interaction between scientists and decision makers is traditionally been described in terms of tensions and tradeoffs, which lead to a less than optimal utilization of scientific information in policy decisions. The primary cause of these tensions is a mutual lack of understanding of the differences between the norms of practice within the scientific and policy communities, respectively. Adaptive management is a promising strategy to resolve these tensions. The GCDAMP is one of the most developed adaptive management programs in the country. This research compares the experience of GCDAMP scientists with that of scientists within the US Geological Survey (USGS). USGS is a research science organization within the Federal government, and as such is constantly facing the tension between science and policy. Their experience is used as a proxy for typical interactions between scientists and policy makers. The study found that GCDAMP scientists contributed more freely, to more aspects of decision- making, than scientists working with more traditional policy formulation processes. The main reason for this was the strong and secure role scientists play in the GCDAMP as compared to more tenuous and less consistent roles played by scientists in decision making processes in which USGS scientists participate.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Lenard, Steven R. (Steven Robert), 1976-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David Laws.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/17695

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/17695