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A Decision Support Framework for Science-Based, Multi-Stakeholder Deliberation: A Coral Reef Example

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Abstract

We present a decision support framework for science-based assessment and multi-stakeholder deliberation. The framework consists of two parts: a DPSIR (Drivers–Pressures–States–Impacts–Responses) analysis to identify the important causal relationships among anthropogenic environmental stressors, processes, and outcomes; and a Decision Landscape analysis to depict the legal, social, and institutional dimensions of environmental decisions. The Decision Landscape incorporates interactions among government agencies, regulated businesses, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders. It also identifies where scientific information regarding environmental processes is collected and transmitted to improve knowledge about elements of the DPSIR and to improve the scientific basis for decisions. Our application of the decision support framework to coral reef protection and restoration in the Florida Keys focusing on anthropogenic stressors, such as wastewater, proved to be successful and offered several insights. Using information from a management plan, it was possible to capture the current state of the science with a DPSIR analysis as well as important decision options, decision makers and applicable laws with a the Decision Landscape analysis. A structured elicitation of values and beliefs conducted at a coral reef management workshop held in Key West, Florida provided a diversity of opinion and also indicated a prioritization of several environmental stressors affecting coral reef health. The integrated DPSIR/Decision landscape framework for the Florida Keys developed based on the elicited opinion and the DPSIR analysis can be used to inform management decisions, to reveal the role that further scientific information and research might play to populate the framework, and to facilitate better-informed agreement among participants.

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Acknowledgments

This is a contribution to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development’s Ecosystem Services Research Program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development collaborated in the research described here. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency. We thank the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and workshop participants for sharing their expertise and for their generous input of information, time and effort, Ashley Weatherall for technical assistance, and Susan Yee and Brian Dyson for greatly improving the quality of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwest Fisheries Science Center, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    Amanda P. Rehr

  2. Departments of Civil & Environmental; Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Porter Hall 119, Frew Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Mitchell J. Small

  3. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, c/o Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL, 33040, USA

    Patricia Bradley

  4. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Dr, Gulf Breeze, FL, 32561, USA

    William S. Fisher

  5. National Risk Management Research Laboratory, LRPCD/RRB, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA

    Ann Vega

  6. Neptune and Company, Inc, 1435 Garrison St., Suite 110, Lakewood, CO, 80215, USA

    Kelly Black

  7. Neptune and Company, Inc, 1505 15th Street, Suite B, Los Alamos, NM, 87544, USA

    Tom Stockton

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  1. Amanda P. Rehr
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Correspondence to Amanda P. Rehr.

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Appendix: Blank Elicitation Form for Florida Keys Workshop

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Rehr, A.P., Small, M.J., Bradley, P. et al. A Decision Support Framework for Science-Based, Multi-Stakeholder Deliberation: A Coral Reef Example. Environmental Management 50, 1204–1218 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-012-9941-3

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