Ecology and Participation in Landscape-Based Planning Within the Pacific Northwest

Landscape-based planning, and in particular ecosystem management, has been promoted widely as an approach to linking ecological, social, and economic concerns at large spatial and temporal scales, yet there have been few comparative studies of actual projects. We used a mailed questionnaire and four case studies within the Pacific Northwest region of the United States to explore the ways in which ecological analyses are being integrated with landscape planning projects and to identify linkages between science and public involvement. Specifically, we wanted to learn: (a) what types of ecological science are being used in landscape-based planning projects, (b) what factors most limit the application of ecological analyses to land planning processes, (c) how ecological information and analyses are being integrated with stakeholder participation, and (d) what appear to be the key strategies for developing productive links between ecological science and public involvement. Results from the questionnaire show the ecologichl complexities of attempting to manage large landscapes, exemplified by the broad array of ecological issues and stressors that projects attempt to address, the high degree to which they are attempting to analyze them scientifically, and the wide array of assessments and analytical techniques they are using to do so. While both public involvement and scientific research generally had strong influences on planning and management decisions, there appeared to be less effective exchanges between researchers and stakeholders. Based on the case studies, we identified key strategies for strengthening the links between ecological science and public involvement in three principal areas: ecosystem analysis, linking science to the public via community outreach and education, and employing economic development as an ecosystem restoration and management strategy. To implement these strategies requires reconceptualizing the roles of both scientists and stakeholders so as to improve the integration of applied ecological science with democratic decisionmoting.