Scientific, Institutional, and Individual Constraints on Restoring Puget Sound Rivers

Abstract

The tasks of restoring rivers, watersheds, and other critical habitats are complex and represent some of the most difficult challenges faced by natural resource scientists and managers today. Blame for society’s inability to adequately deal with restoration challenges is placed on both scientists and policy makers. Some people argue that the necessary information and levels of certainty fall far short of scientific standards for decision making; others argue that science is not the issue, and indecisiveness merely reflects a lack of political leadership and will. Regardless, the discussion ultimately focuses on the science-policy interface as a root cause of the inability to address such complex management issues. Both science and policy hold unique cultural positions, values, and norms. When the two spheres try to communicate, these differences can interfere with developing, selecting, and implementing management alternatives. This chapter addresses the topic of science and policy communications, offers a conceptual framework to assist in understanding how scientists and policy makers might forge a new dialogue, and discusses additional institutional and individual constraints to restoration efforts. Examples of approaches toward overcoming these constraints provide hope for addressing and ultimately realizing the restoration challenges that lie ahead.