Scientific information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However, agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a new type of science product—short science syntheses—for facilitating use of the best available science in public lands decisions.
Understanding potential environmental effects of proposed planning and management actions is a core responsibility of public lands management and is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages a large area of public lands in the United States, and regularly conducts environmental impact analyses. Scientific information is foundational to this process.
BLM decision makers rely on science and analytical tools to help the agency understand potential effects of proposed actions on people, animals, plants, watersheds, climate, and many other resources and values on and around public lands. However, comprehensive review of science relevant to BLM decisions can be challenging. Agency staff often have limited time available to compile and synthesize existing science and data, and may not always have the specific background, training, or expertise needed to conduct such a synthesis on a given issue or topic.
As a result, the BLM has identified a need to explore ways to help facilitate the integration of scientific information into its decisions and NEPA analyses.
The USGS and BLM have begun a program of work to compile and summarize recent, peer-reviewed science and data about priority topics such as greater sage-grouse (e.g., Carter and others, 2020) and invasive grasses (e.g., Poor and others, 2021). The agencies have also worked together to synthesize existing science on major topics (e.g., Hanser and others 2018). In this project, we are exploring a middle ground—development of shorter science synthesis documents on a variety of priority topics for the BLM.
Project Goal
Scientists at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center are partnering with the BLM to develop short science syntheses and assess their utility for facilitating use of the best available science by BLM staff in their decisions.
Approach
We are currently developing short science syntheses for several priority topics for the BLM. We are using these products to gather feedback from BLM staff about the utility of short science syntheses. The feedback and review process will ultimately help to refine the synthesis products and process, maximizing their usefulness for public land managers conducting environmental impact analyses.
Anticipated benefits
We hope that short science syntheses on priority topics will provide BLM staff tailored, practical science synthesis products that they can readily adapt and use in their NEPA analyses.
BLM-USGS Science-Management Partnership
The USGS and BLM are partnering to coproduce practical, actionable science that informs planning, policy, and management decisions on public lands managed by the BLM (see Beier and others, 2017 for more information on coproduction).
Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers
Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management
Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science to support public land management
Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse
- Overview
Scientific information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However, agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a new type of science product—short science syntheses—for facilitating use of the best available science in public lands decisions.
Understanding potential environmental effects of proposed planning and management actions is a core responsibility of public lands management and is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages a large area of public lands in the United States, and regularly conducts environmental impact analyses. Scientific information is foundational to this process.
BLM decision makers rely on science and analytical tools to help the agency understand potential effects of proposed actions on people, animals, plants, watersheds, climate, and many other resources and values on and around public lands. However, comprehensive review of science relevant to BLM decisions can be challenging. Agency staff often have limited time available to compile and synthesize existing science and data, and may not always have the specific background, training, or expertise needed to conduct such a synthesis on a given issue or topic.
As a result, the BLM has identified a need to explore ways to help facilitate the integration of scientific information into its decisions and NEPA analyses.
The USGS and BLM have begun a program of work to compile and summarize recent, peer-reviewed science and data about priority topics such as greater sage-grouse (e.g., Carter and others, 2020) and invasive grasses (e.g., Poor and others, 2021). The agencies have also worked together to synthesize existing science on major topics (e.g., Hanser and others 2018). In this project, we are exploring a middle ground—development of shorter science synthesis documents on a variety of priority topics for the BLM.
Project Goal
Scientists at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center are partnering with the BLM to develop short science syntheses and assess their utility for facilitating use of the best available science by BLM staff in their decisions.
Approach
We are currently developing short science syntheses for several priority topics for the BLM. We are using these products to gather feedback from BLM staff about the utility of short science syntheses. The feedback and review process will ultimately help to refine the synthesis products and process, maximizing their usefulness for public land managers conducting environmental impact analyses.
Anticipated benefits
We hope that short science syntheses on priority topics will provide BLM staff tailored, practical science synthesis products that they can readily adapt and use in their NEPA analyses.
BLM-USGS Science-Management Partnership
The USGS and BLM are partnering to coproduce practical, actionable science that informs planning, policy, and management decisions on public lands managed by the BLM (see Beier and others, 2017 for more information on coproduction).
- Science
Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers
Resource management decisions need to be informed by up-to-date, quality science and data. However there is sometimes an overwhelming number of scientific publications for managers to consider in their decisions. This project provides concise summaries of recent, peer-reviewed science and data products about different resources and topics of management concern, integrated into a searchable tool.Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess potential impacts of proposed actions as part of their decision-making processes. Assessing potential cumulative effects is a challenging component of NEPA analyses. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a process that staff can use to strengthen cumulative effects analyses.Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science to support public land management
Coproduction is a highly collaborative approach to conducting science that focuses on producing actionable products that are used to inform natural resource management decisions. This project will develop an informational toolkit to facilitate coproduction between resource managers and science providers in the context of federal public land management.Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse
The greater sage-grouse has been a focus of scientific investigation and management action for the past two decades. The sheer number of scientific publications can be a challenge for managers tasked with evaluating and determining the need for potential updates to existing planning documents. - Partners