Informed science–policy interactions: Advancing the support of collaborative management of social–ecological systems

Abstract

To realize a more sustainable use of our remaining natural treasures, we need to ensure that scientific knowledge effectively meets the information demands of practitioners, who then make scientifically underpinned management decisions. In this thesis, this aspired goal is called “informed science–policy interaction”. To reach this goal, we need science–policy interfaces, i.e., organizational arrangements for processes of social interaction between scientists and practitioners. Unfortunately, many science–policy interfaces encounter interaction problems that diminish their effectiveness. Therefore, this thesis presents a novel approach to design and implement them. The general research approach is to integrate analytical and interactive decision support tools, embed them in participatory processes, and implement and evaluate the resulting science–policy interface in a real-world case study regarding the future of the Dutch peatlands. The research demonstrates how to enhance cooperation among stakeholders, increase their understanding of the complexities of social–ecological systems, and raise their awareness of collaborative options to manage these systems more sustainable. The approach can be repeated in social–ecological systems around the world. The bottom line is that decision support tools should be much better tailored to the demands of the collaborative management process, and the participants of this process should be more strongly involved in the design and interactive implementation of the science–policy interface. This will allow us to embrace the complexity of social–ecological systems and realize the informed science–policy interactions which are needed to manage our social–ecological systems more sustainable.