PARENT SESSION
Special Session 10: Building an ecological observatory network for regional- to continental-scale research—NEON, the National Ecological Observatory Network
Organized by: J Goldman and B Hayden
Wednesday, August 10, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Exhibit Hall 210a-e, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Delivering results of local, national and continental scale research and monitoring to decision-makers and society.
Vaughan, Hague*,1, 1 Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), Burlington, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- Effective delivery of research and monitoring results involves dialogue with users resulting in the identification of needed enhancements to the way environmental monitoring and research are conducted and to the manner in which their success is measured. Making information available or accessible is necessary but insufficient. Investigating the nature of those enhancements, EMAN coordinated studies in 31 diverse Canadian communities into how to engage local groups in environmental monitoring using standardized protocols and deliver the resulting information effectively to local decision-makers. Standardization allows such information to be subsequently rolled up and delivered at higher scales. It was found that in order to pursue adaptive management, community decision-makers require information which is relevant, comprehensible, place-based and integrated: these can be readily accomplished through local assessments and enhanced communication strategies. But environmental information must also be timely and allow decision-makers to weigh choices and consequences: these present challenges to certainty-based science. Risk-based, early indications of change in locally valued attributes derived from a shared vision can be generated through scientifically solid community-based programs. Results can be effectively linked to adaptive responses and also provide a bridge to conventional science products. Characteristics of community decision-systems make these lessons applicable to Parks and protected areas but less readily applicable to multi-community, multi-sectoral watersheds where further investigation is needed.
Key words: delivery, outreach, adaptive, monitoring