When faced with complicated, potentially controversial decisions that affect our environment, many resource management agencies have come to realize the value of structured decision making (SDM) - the systematic use of principles and tools of decision analysis. Few professionals, however, have extensive experience implementing SDM. Structured Decision Making provides key information to both current adopters of the method and those who are deploying it for the first time by demonstrating the formal use of decision analysis to support difficult, real-world natural resource management decisions. Drawing on case studies from multiple public agencies in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Mauritius, the authors provide an overview of decision analysis, a classification of decision types, and a catalog of decision analysis methods. Dozens of detailed charts and maps help contextualize the material.
These case studies examine a rich variety of topics, including
keeping forest birds free from disease
conserving imperiled freshwater mussels
managing water for oil sands mining
dealing with coastal wetlands in the face of sea-level rise
designing networks for prairie-dependent taxa
combatting invasive alpine shrubs
managing vernal pool habitats for obligate amphibian species
and much more
Aimed at decision makers tackling natural resource challenges in government agencies around the world, as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students preparing to work in natural resource management, Structured Decision Makingshows how SDM can be implemented to achieve optimal outcomes that integrate social values and scientific understanding.
Contributors: Taber D. Allison, Larissa L. Bailey, Ellen A. Bean, Clint W. Boal, Gregory Breese, Stefano Canessa, Jean Fitts Cochrane, Sarah J. Converse, Cami S. Dixon, John G. Ewen, Christelle Ferri+¿re, Jill J. Gannon, Beth Gardner, Adam W. Green, Justin A. Gude, Victoria M. Hunt, Kevin S. Kalasz, Melinda G. Knutson, Jim Kraus, Graham Long, Eric V. Lonsdorf, James E. Lyons, Conor P. McGowan, Sarah E. McRae, Michael S. Mitchell, Clinton T. Moore, Joslin L. Moore, Steven Morey, Dan W. Ohlson, Charlie Pascoe, Andrew Paul, Eben H. Paxton, Lori B. Pruitt, Michael C. Runge, Sarah N. Sells, Terry L. Shaffer, Stephanie Slade, David R. Smith, Jennifer A. Szymanski, Terry Walshe, Nicolas Zuël
DedicationContributorsPrefaceIntroduction1. Decision analysis for managing public natural resources, by Michael C. Runge and Ellen A. BeanSection 1: Structuring Decisions2. Introduction to structuring decisions, by David R. Smith3. Allocating funds under the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, by Michael C. Runge4. Keeping Hawaii's forest birds one step ahead of disease in a warming world, by Eben H. Paxton and Jim KrausSection 2: Addressing Tradeoffs5. Introduction to multi-criteria decision analysis, by Sarah J. Converse6. Strategic conservation of an imperiled freshwater mussel, the Dwarf Wedgemussel, in North Carolina, by David R. Smith and Sarah E. McRae7. Spawning closures for coral reef fin fish, by Terry Walshe and Stephanie Slade8. Managing water for oil sands mining, by Dan Ohlson, Andrew Paul, and Graham LongSection 3: Addressing Resource Allocation9. Introduction to resource allocation, by James E. Lyons10. Resource allocation for coastal wetland management: confronting uncertainty about sea level rise, by James E. Lyons, Kevin S. Kalasz, Gregory Breese, and Clint W. Boal11. Reserve network design for prairie-dependent taxa in South Puget Sound, by Sarah J. Converse, Beth Gardner, and Steve Morey12. Optimizing resource allocation for managing a shrub invading alpine peatlands in Austrailia, by Joslin L. Moore and Charlie PascoeSection 4: Addressing Risk13. Introduction to risk analysis, by Michael C. Runge and Sarah J. Converse14. Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana, by Sarah N. Sells, Michael S. Mitchell, and Justin A. Gude15. Hedging against uncertainty when granting permits for mitigation, by Jean Fitts Cochrane, Taber D. Allison, and Eric V. Lonsdorf16. Dealing with risk attitudes in supplementary feeding of Mauritius olive white-eyes, by Stefano Canessa, Christelle Ferriere, Nicolas Zuel, and John G. EwenSection 5: Addressing Knowledge Gaps17. Introduction to prediction and the value of information, by David R. Smith18. Developing performance criteria for a population model for Indiana bat conservation, by Jennifer A. Szymanski and Lori B. Pruitt19. Using a research experiment to reduce key uncertainty about managing vernal pool habitats for obligate amphibian species, by Adam W. Green and Larissa L. Bailey20. Prioritizing uncertainties to improve management of a reintroduction program, by Sarah J. ConverseSection 6: Addressing Linked and Dynamic Decisions21. Introduction to linked and dynamic decisions, by Michael C. Runge22. Restoration of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region, by Victoria M. Hunt, Melinda G. Knutson, and Eric V. Lonsdorf23. An adaptive approach to vegetation management in native prairies of the Northern Great Plains, by Clinton T. Moore, Jill J. Gannon, Terry L. Shaffer, and Cami S. Dixon24. Decision implementation and the double-loop process in adaptive management of horseshoe crab harvest in Delware Bay, by Conor P. McGowan, James E. Lyons, and David R. SmithIndex
