Ethical Concerns in Researching Collaborative Natural Resource Management

Abstract

Using three cases of watershed management in the Midwest as illustrations, this article argues that existing ethical guidelines for researching collaborative natural resource management are not always sufficient. While most researchers are monitored by institutional review boards, there are still numerous decisions that the researcher can make in the course of conducting research that can cause unintentional harm to the researched individuals and communities. The article focuses primarily on ethical considerations related to (1) collecting data and (2) publishing and dissemination of findings. The article concludes with suggested guidelines for conducting research on collaborative natural resource management efforts.