Towards a Shared Vision

Abstract

Lewis and Clark were, arguably, the first official Federal scientists. It was fitting, therefore, that the Heads of three science-based agencies (Chief Dale Bosworth, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service; Director Charles G Groat, US Geological Survey [USGS]; and Administrator Conrad C Lautenbacher, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]) addressed the ESA membership during a Special Plenary session at this year's Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, to consider the role of science in the Federal Government. As I sat in the audience, I realized I was hearing the same message about ecological science and its influence on decision making from all three speakers. More importantly, the message sounded as though it had sprung from the recently published Ecological Visions report, “Ecological Science and Sustainability for a Crowded Planet: 21st Century Vision and Action Plan for the Ecological Society of America” (Science 2004; 304: 1251–52). So, how does the Visions Committee report align with what I heard? Vision 1: Informing Decisions with Ecological Knowledge. There was a clear recognition that ecosystems are complex and must be considered at multiple scales. For NOAA, this recognition has led to a matrix organizational approach that brings multiple disciplines together around goals. This change is clearly forcing the agency to think and act in an integrated manner. The direct result can be seen in the creation of the White Water to Blue Water Initiative, which Administrator Lautenbacher described as “an international effort to promote the practice of integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based management in support of sustainable development”. Chief Bosworth challenged the Forest Service to “…focus on entire ecosystems…and take an ecosystem-based, landscape-scale approach to management”, while at the same time recognizing the societal context for those ecosystems. Vision 2: Advance Innovative and Anticipatory Research. The Heads of both USGS and NOAA highlighted the new technological tools being made available to enhance ecosystem monitoring and to support ecological forecasting – another ESA Visions priority. From seismic monitoring to global observatories, these agencies are responding to the need for timely data about changing ecosystem conditions. Emphasis was also placed on long-term studies that are the result of deliberate investment by the Federal agencies in locations such as the Hubbard Brook and HJ Andrews Experimental Forests, and Everglades National Park. These locations, and other experimental forests and rangelands, have the advantage of a “protected” status and can form the core of a national long-term network for ecological science. Another innovation spotlighted by both the Ecological Visions report and the speakers is the need for a science that supports ecosystem valuation. This concept has been put into practice in the marketplace through carbon credit trading, but are there other opportunities for environmental credit trading that consider water, biodiversity, and pollinators, to name a few? The integration of ecology and economics is not new, but widespread application is. Vision 3: Stimulate Cultural Changes for a Forward-Looking and International Ecology. The Visions report challenges ecologists to get out of the lab and to engage other scientists and practitioners in new and innovative partnerships. The report also identifies the need for the public to better understand and internalize the value of ecosystems in their daily lives. All three speakers echoed that theme and indicated that a cultural change is occurring within their agencies, to bridge the gap between research and management – with some pain, but a lot of promise. Equally important was the challenge to be more effective communicators. The Federal plenary speakers stressed the importance of translating science into information that could be put into the hands of the people who use it. As Director Groat said, “Both scientists and managers need to learn each other's language and culture…we must demonstrate the value that science adds by communicating effectively”. The ability of scientists to convey their findings in multiple venues is one of our greatest challenges, and one that the ecological community is addressing in a number of ways, through initiatives such as the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program and communications training workshops at ESA Annual Meetings. As the speakers stated, the users are ready to listen if we can get the scientists to the table. I believe that the remarkable alignment between the main ideas expressed in the Ecological Visions report and the themes explored by Chief Bosworth, Director Groat, and Administrator Lautenbacher is not a coincidence. This is a clear indication of the maturation of ecological science and the enormous need for decision makers to integrate sound science into their thinking. The agencies are willing partners in bringing ecological science to natural resource decision making. This ecologist is excited! Ann M Bartuska, Deputy Chief, Research and Development, USDA Forest Service