In: Biology
The ecosystem service concept has emphasized the role of people within socio-ecological systems. The analysis of area gaps, functionality of habitat networks, or choice of management system would show that status of ecosystems, deviate from the desired. The institution involved in the implementation of policies need to be evaluated. This requires an understanding of temporal and spatial boundaries of the system itself. Practise analytic framework to map a policy process by distinguishing three principal group of variables for different actors. These are social process and mapping of the context, the decision process and clarification of the common interest, and problem orientation to find solutions. The policy science approach stresses the need for both participant and observers to understand their stand points in relation to the policy processes, to use multiple methods and to be guided by democracy and human rights.
It is almost a truism that any important policy decision is better with stronger information behind it. Three main factors have inhibited the integration of science into the decision making process such as, decision-makers have not always been aware of how or when research might be helpful to them. In the past, decision-makers have been reluctant to ask researchers for help because it meant acknowledging uncertainty, or worse, relinquishing some power by reducing the range for their discretion and basic research is often not designed to answer management and policy questions.
The increasingly polarized debate concerning the management of natural resources, science should play a large in informing the choices made in the decision making process. Which suggest scientific information can help better inform these difficult decisions in several ways. It increase the understanding of management decisions and help lead to the expected outcomes.