Adaptive management intentions with a reality of evaluation: Getting science back into policy. Issue 78 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hasselman, Lyndal
• Is Part Of: Environmental science & policy. Issue 78(2017)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Adaptive management -- Evaluation -- Science -- Uncertainty -- Accountability; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2017.08.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-9011

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Adaptive management integrates scientific experimentation in the policy process. It addresses uncertainty (imperfect knowledge, incomplete knowledge and unpredictability). Evaluation is performance driven, judging achievement of policy objectives. In practice, adaptive management and evaluation have merged, limiting science. Adaptive management and evaluation are both required as distinct parts of environmental policy. Abstract: In Australia's Murray-Darling Basin water reform has been contentious as government attempts to reconcile historical over allocation of water to irrigation with the use of water for environmental outcomes. However, in many aspects, scientific knowledge of the environment is either imperfect, incomplete or environmental responses are unpredictable, with this uncertainty preventing definitive policy and closure of political arguments. In response to uncertainty and knowledge gaps, adaptive management has been written into the legislation, along with provisions for periodic evaluation. This research ascertains how adaptive management is understood by policy makers, with this indicative of future implementation of adaptive management. The way in which adaptive management is constructed by policy makers is determined through legislation, public speeches, government reports and semi-structured interviews. The findings demonstrate that adaptive management has been subsumed by evaluation. The loss of adaptive management as a distinct concept is seen as a loss of science and discovery from the policy process, with the dominance of evaluation discussed as limiting innovation and reinforcing a 'muddling through' of policy.