TY - JOUR

T1 - Decision-Support Tools Used in the Baltic Sea Area

T2 - Performance and End-User Preferences

AU - Nygård, Henrik

AU - van Beest, Floris M.

AU - Bergqvist, Lisa

AU - Carstensen, Jacob

AU - Gustafsson, Bo G.

AU - Hasler, Berit

AU - Schumacher, Johanna

AU - Schernewski, Gerald

AU - Sokolov, Alexander

AU - Zandersen, Marianne

AU - Fleming, Vivi

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).

PY - 2020/12

Y1 - 2020/12

N2 - Decision-support tools (DSTs) synthesize complex information to assist environmental managers in the decision-making process. Here, we review DSTs applied in the Baltic Sea area, to investigate how well the ecosystem approach is reflected in them, how different environmental problems are covered, and how well the tools meet the needs of the end users. The DSTs were evaluated based on (i) a set of performance criteria, (ii) information on end user preferences, (iii) how end users had been involved in tool development, and (iv) what experiences developers/hosts had on the use of the tools. We found that DSTs frequently addressed management needs related to eutrophication, biodiversity loss, or contaminant pollution. The majority of the DSTs addressed human activities, their pressures, or environmental status changes, but they seldom provided solutions for a complete ecosystem approach. In general, the DSTs were scientifically documented and transparent, but confidence in the outputs was poorly communicated. End user preferences were, apart from the shortcomings in communicating uncertainty, well accounted for in the DSTs. Although end users were commonly consulted during the DST development phase, they were not usually part of the development team. Answers from developers/hosts indicate that DSTs are not applied to their full potential. Deeper involvement of end users in the development phase could potentially increase the value and impact of DSTs. As a way forward, we propose streamlining the outputs of specific DSTs, so that they can be combined to a holistic insight of the consequences of management actions and serve the ecosystem approach in a better manner.

AB - Decision-support tools (DSTs) synthesize complex information to assist environmental managers in the decision-making process. Here, we review DSTs applied in the Baltic Sea area, to investigate how well the ecosystem approach is reflected in them, how different environmental problems are covered, and how well the tools meet the needs of the end users. The DSTs were evaluated based on (i) a set of performance criteria, (ii) information on end user preferences, (iii) how end users had been involved in tool development, and (iv) what experiences developers/hosts had on the use of the tools. We found that DSTs frequently addressed management needs related to eutrophication, biodiversity loss, or contaminant pollution. The majority of the DSTs addressed human activities, their pressures, or environmental status changes, but they seldom provided solutions for a complete ecosystem approach. In general, the DSTs were scientifically documented and transparent, but confidence in the outputs was poorly communicated. End user preferences were, apart from the shortcomings in communicating uncertainty, well accounted for in the DSTs. Although end users were commonly consulted during the DST development phase, they were not usually part of the development team. Answers from developers/hosts indicate that DSTs are not applied to their full potential. Deeper involvement of end users in the development phase could potentially increase the value and impact of DSTs. As a way forward, we propose streamlining the outputs of specific DSTs, so that they can be combined to a holistic insight of the consequences of management actions and serve the ecosystem approach in a better manner.

KW - Baltic Sea

KW - DAPSIWRM

KW - Decision-making

KW - Ecosystem approach

KW - Marine management

U2 - 10.1007/s00267-020-01356-8

DO - 10.1007/s00267-020-01356-8

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32910293

AN - SCOPUS:85090158330

VL - 66

SP - 1024

EP - 1038

JO - Environmental Management

JF - Environmental Management

SN - 0364-152X

IS - 6

ER -