Integrating Science and Policy in Natural Resource Management: Lessons and Opportunities From North America

Responsibility for the final content and interpretation rests with the two primary authors. Contributing authors provided substantial additions and insights to this paper. Relations between science and policy concerning many issues (e.g., health, energy, natural resources) have been changing worldwide. Public pressure to resolve such complex and often controversial issues has resulted in policymakers and policy implementers seeking better knowledge on which to base their decisions. As a result, scientists have become more actively engaged in the creation and evaluation of policy. In this paper we summarize the literature and experience in how Canada, Mexico, and the United States approach the integration of science and policy; we describe some apparent barriers and lessons; and we suggest some issues that may prove fruitful for discussion and future collaboration. This paper represents a beginning to understanding science and policy interrelations in North America: we found that we have much to learn from one another. We must avoid, however, the tendency to overgeneralize from one country, or even from one case, to another. The particulars of the situation and context surrounding the cases make drawing firm conclusions and generalizations a risky business. There are some important differences among the three countries that help to explain different approaches to seemingly common problems in the integration of science and policy. Abstract 1 Relations between science and policy concerning many issues (e.g., health, energy, natural resources) have been changing worldwide. Public pressure to resolve such complex and often controversial issues has resulted in policymakers and policy implementers seeking better knowledge on which to base their decisions. As a result, scientists have become more actively engaged in the creation and evaluation of policy. During the last several decades, the literature on the general practice of policy formulation and issues surrounding the role of science and scientists has grown markedly (Meidinger and Antypas 1996). Natural resource management in North America, as well as elsewhere around the world, is controversial, and diverse stakeholders have increasingly polarized perspectives. As policymakers create broad policy and specific programs in keeping with changing and often conflicting societal values and demands, there is a growing recognition that the knowledge base on which to make informed decisions is weak (Friedman 1996). With the high stakes surrounding resource decisions (locally, regionally, nationally, globally), more stakeholders and interests are calling for scientific scrutiny and involvement in making important resource allocation and management decisions, particularly on public lands …