Science and scale mismatch: Horizontal and vertical information sharing in the Puget Sound polycentric governance...

Area of Science:

• Environmental governance
• Social-ecological systems
• Collaborative conservation

Background:

• Environmental governance often lacks hierarchical authority, necessitating resource sharing for cross-scale steering.
• Scientific information is a key resource for navigating complex social-ecological systems and addressing scale mismatches.
• Polycentric governance involves multiple actors and institutions interacting across various scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how actors in local collaborative organizations share and utilize scientific information within a polycentric governance system.
• To identify patterns of horizontal and vertical information sharing in environmental management.
• To understand the role of knowledge brokers and scale mismatches in the use of scientific data.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using interviews with participants in local collaborative organizations.
• Focus on environmental governance efforts in the Puget Sound, USA.
• Analysis of information sharing, knowledge brokerage, and scale issues.

Main Results:

• Horizontal scientific information sharing occurs through networks, conferences, and document searches.
• Vertical information transmission relies heavily on knowledge brokers and guidance documents.
• The application of scientific findings is context-dependent, influenced by biophysical and political factors, often creating tension between scientific rigor and local relevance.

Conclusions:

• Effective environmental governance in complex systems depends on strategic scientific information sharing across scales.
• Knowledge brokers play a crucial role in bridging information gaps between local actors and scientific sources.
• Successful integration of science requires adapting research to local contexts and addressing inherent trade-offs.