Use of 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 on a topic. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to explore the utility of 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 U.S., and regularly conducts environmental impact analyses. Scientific information is foundational to this process.
BLM decision makers rely on science to provide information and analytical tools that help the agency understand potential effects of proposed actions on people, animals, plants, watersheds, recreation, 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 different ways to help facilitate the integration of scientific information into its NEPA analyses.
The USGS and BLM have begun a program of work to compile and summarize recent, peer-reviewed science and data on 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 will explore a middle ground—development of shorter science synthesis documents on a variety of priority topics for the BLM.
Project Objectives
Scientists at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center are partnering with the BLM to develop and explore the utility of short science syntheses for facilitating use of the best available science by BLM staff in their decisions.
Methods
We will first develop pilot science synthesis products on several priority topics for the BLM based on existing science summary products, literature searches, and staff expertise. We will then gather feedback from BLM staff about the utility of the products using interviews, surveys, or other qualitative methods. Finally, we will use that feedback to refine the synthesis products to maximize their utility for public land managers conducting environmental impact analyses
Anticipated benefits
We hope that developing short science syntheses on topics that are frequently of management concern for BLM will provide BLM staff with easy access to relevant science that they can readily adapt and use in their NEPA analyses.
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 et al. 2017 for more information on coproduction).
Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science with the Bureau of Land Management
- Overview
Use of 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 on a topic. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to explore the utility of 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 U.S., and regularly conducts environmental impact analyses. Scientific information is foundational to this process.
BLM decision makers rely on science to provide information and analytical tools that help the agency understand potential effects of proposed actions on people, animals, plants, watersheds, recreation, 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 different ways to help facilitate the integration of scientific information into its NEPA analyses.
The USGS and BLM have begun a program of work to compile and summarize recent, peer-reviewed science and data on 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 will explore a middle ground—development of shorter science synthesis documents on a variety of priority topics for the BLM.
Project Objectives
Scientists at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center are partnering with the BLM to develop and explore the utility of short science syntheses for facilitating use of the best available science by BLM staff in their decisions.
Methods
We will first develop pilot science synthesis products on several priority topics for the BLM based on existing science summary products, literature searches, and staff expertise. We will then gather feedback from BLM staff about the utility of the products using interviews, surveys, or other qualitative methods. Finally, we will use that feedback to refine the synthesis products to maximize their utility for public land managers conducting environmental impact analyses
Anticipated benefits
We hope that developing short science syntheses on topics that are frequently of management concern for BLM will provide BLM staff with easy access to relevant science that they can readily adapt and use in their NEPA analyses.
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 et al. 2017 for more information on coproduction).
- Science
Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science with the Bureau of Land Management
Coproduction is an approach to conducting science that focuses on scientists and resource managers working closely together to produce actionable products that are used to inform natural resource management decisions. This project will develop a toolkit to facilitate coproduction between the Bureau of Land Management and the USGS. - Publications