The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is committed to using science-informed decision making for the public lands and resources that it manages. Uses on these lands are varied, and decisions are complex. USGS and BLM are working together to identify specific needs for data, science, methods, and mitigation actions that can strengthen the science foundation for BLM planning and management decisions.
Background
BLM is committed to using science-informed decision making at every level and in every program of the agency to increase the science foundation, consistency, transparency, and defensibility of the agency’s decisions (Kitchell and others, 2015). A key first question is ‘What are the current priority science needs for the agency?’ In essence, what gaps in the science information currently available to BLM planners and managers may be hindering their ability to make effective, scientifically sound resource management decisions?
Project goal
Our goal is to work together with BLM to conduct a structured, repeatable analysis of priority science needs for the agency based on multiple lines of evidence.
Types of science information needs
We are focused on four types of science information that could strengthen the foundation for BLM planning and management decisions:
- Quality data on the presence and condition of resources of concern.
- Scientific studies relevant to the potential for proposed actions (for example, energy development, recreation) to impact resources (for example, rare species, water quality).
- Reasoned and repeatable methods for quantifying potential effects of proposed actions on resources.
- Effective actions for mitigating any negative impacts of proposed actions on resources of concern.
Approach
We are examining multiple publicly available documents to provide a comprehensive assessment of potential science information needs, including BLM management decisions, BLM Resource Management Plans, challenges to BLM planning and management decisions, BLM-authored Science Plans, and news media coverage of the BLM.
Anticipated benefit
Results can help BLM strategically fill current science and data gaps that can support consistent, science-informed decision making across the agency. One focus is developing online, searchable summaries and syntheses of science on high priority topics, such as greater sage-grouse and invasive annual grasses.
Science-Management Partnership
The USGS and BLM are working together as partners to coproduce this effort, with a goal of producing practical, actionable science that informs planning, policy, and management decisions on western lands (see Beier and others, 2017 for more information on coproduction).
Related Publications
Read more about science related to this project.
Using public litigation records to identify priority science and data needs for the Bureau of Land Management
Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers
Developing short science syntheses for use in NEPA analyses and decisions in the Bureau of Land Management
Understanding and fostering use of habitat models for rare plants in Bureau of Land Management planning and management decisions
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
- Overview
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is committed to using science-informed decision making for the public lands and resources that it manages. Uses on these lands are varied, and decisions are complex. USGS and BLM are working together to identify specific needs for data, science, methods, and mitigation actions that can strengthen the science foundation for BLM planning and management decisions.
Background
BLM is committed to using science-informed decision making at every level and in every program of the agency to increase the science foundation, consistency, transparency, and defensibility of the agency’s decisions (Kitchell and others, 2015). A key first question is ‘What are the current priority science needs for the agency?’ In essence, what gaps in the science information currently available to BLM planners and managers may be hindering their ability to make effective, scientifically sound resource management decisions?
Project goal
Our goal is to work together with BLM to conduct a structured, repeatable analysis of priority science needs for the agency based on multiple lines of evidence.
Types of science information needs
We are focused on four types of science information that could strengthen the foundation for BLM planning and management decisions:
- Quality data on the presence and condition of resources of concern.
- Scientific studies relevant to the potential for proposed actions (for example, energy development, recreation) to impact resources (for example, rare species, water quality).
- Reasoned and repeatable methods for quantifying potential effects of proposed actions on resources.
- Effective actions for mitigating any negative impacts of proposed actions on resources of concern.
Approach
We are examining multiple publicly available documents to provide a comprehensive assessment of potential science information needs, including BLM management decisions, BLM Resource Management Plans, challenges to BLM planning and management decisions, BLM-authored Science Plans, and news media coverage of the BLM.
Anticipated benefit
Results can help BLM strategically fill current science and data gaps that can support consistent, science-informed decision making across the agency. One focus is developing online, searchable summaries and syntheses of science on high priority topics, such as greater sage-grouse and invasive annual grasses.
Science-Management Partnership
The USGS and BLM are working together as partners to coproduce this effort, with a goal of producing practical, actionable science that informs planning, policy, and management decisions on western lands (see Beier and others, 2017 for more information on coproduction).
Related Publications
- Science
Read more about science related to this project.
Using public litigation records to identify priority science and data needs for the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages a large area of public lands in the western U.S. for multiple uses and values. Because some of these uses and values may conflict, the agency’s decisions can be controversial and are often challenged. We analyzed public legal records to help identify priority information needs that could strengthen science-based decision-making in the BLMDeveloping 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 short science syntheses for use in NEPA analyses and decisions in the Bureau of Land Management
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 and fostering use of habitat models for rare plants in Bureau of Land Management planning and management decisions
The use of rare plant habitat models in land management decisions can be constrained by issues surrounding data access, model quality, and institutional capacity, among other factors. This project seeks to understand challenges associated with using habitat models and explore avenues for addressing these challenges to facilitate greater use of habitat models in public lands decision making.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. - Publications
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