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May 2014
Science, Education and Outreach

Roadmap for Natural Resources
Prepared by
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Board on Natural Resources
Board on Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate
May 2014
Science, Education and Outreach

Prepared by
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Board on Natural Resources
Board on Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate
About this Publication
To reference this publication, please use the following citation:
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Board on Natural

Resources and Board on Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate,
"Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources,"
May 2014.
An electronic version of this publication is available here:
http://hdl.handle.net/1957/47169
For more information about this publication, contact:
Dan Edge
Daniel.Edge@oregonstate.edu
Wendy Fink
WFink@aplu.org
Cover photo and document design: Caryn M. Davis, Forestry Communications, Oregon State University. Additional images courtesy of Bryan Bernart
Photography; Logan Bernart, OSU; Matt Betts, OSU; Dai Crisp, Lumos Winery; Kevin Davis; Terrence E. Davis; Camille Freitag, OSU; Dave Leer, OSU;
Kansas Department of Transportation; Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry; Garrett Meigs, OSU; Brenda Miraglia; Oregon Department
of Transportation, Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI); Oregon Natural Resources Education Program (ONREP); OSU College Forests; OSU News
& Communications; USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; U.S. Department of Agriculture;
Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Harold Zald, OSU.
Contents
7 Introduction
16 Grand Challenge 1: Sustainability
We need to conserve and manage natural landscapes and maintain
environmental quality while optimizing renewable resource productivity to meet
increasing human demands for natural resources, particularly with respect to
increasing water, food, and energy demands.
28 Grand Challenge 2: Water
We must restore, protect and conserve watersheds for biodiversity, water
resources, pollution reduction and water security.
38 Grand Challenge 3: Climate Change
We need to understand the impacts of climate change on our environment,
including such aspects as disease transmission, air quality, water supply,
ecosystems, fire, species survival, and pest risk. Further, we must develop a
comprehensive strategy for managing natural resources to adapt to climate
changes.
50 Grand Challenge 4: Agriculture
We must develop a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally responsible
agriculture industry.
52 Grand Challenge 5: Energy
We must identify new and alternative renewable energy sources and improve
the efficiency of existing renewable resource-based energy to meet increasing
energy demands while reducing the ecological footprint of energy production and
consumption.
66 Grand Challenge 6: Education
We must maintain and strengthen natural resources education at all levels
to have the informed and engaged citizenry, civic leaders, and practicing
professionals needed to sustain the natural resources, ecosystems, and
ecosystem services of the United States.
84 Appendix A: Glossary for Science, Education, and Outreach Roadmap for Natural
Resources
86 Appendix B: Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources
Contributors
88 Appendix C: Crosswalk for priority areas in the NR Roadmap with priorities
identified in the ESCOP Science Roadmap for Agriculture
In
November of 2010, the Agricultural Experiment Station Committee
on Organization and Policy (ESCOP) published the Science Roadmap
for Food and Agriculture (Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities [APLU] 2010), which identified research priorities
for agriculture for the next decade. Though the definition of agriculture1 in
the report includes natural resources, the focus of the report was primarily
agriculture, with natural resources largely treated as an input into agriculture.
Because of the lack of emphasis on natural resources in the report, several
individuals in the natural resources academic community reacted to the report
with disappointment, feeling that another story needed to be told, one with a
more natural resources-centric perspective.
While there have been many high-level reports and strategic plans written
about the topics covered by this report, most have tended to break natural
resources into sub-disciplines representing particular resources: atmospheric,
coastal, fisheries, forests, marine, rangelands, water, wildlife and others.
Although universities frequently segregate these fields through disciplines, the
resources themselves are all interrelated and need to be dealt with as a whole.
With that in mind, the APLU Board on Natural Resources (BNR) and Board on
Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate (BOAC) jointly created the Science, Education,
and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources (hereafter NR Roadmap).
The BNR represents over 500 university scientists in the fields of ecology,
fish and wildlife, forestry, minerals and water resources. The BOAC represents
over 250 university scientists in the fields of atmospheric, marine, and coastal
sciences.
1 See Appendix A for definitions of commonly used terms.
APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 7
The goals of the NR Roadmap are to:
Chart a path for natural resources research, education, and outreach direction
for public universities for the next 5-10 years;
Identify major challenges, knowledge gaps and priorities;
Provide guidance for policy makers in strategic planning and investment;
Support natural resources agencies, professional societies, and non-
governmental organizations in advocating for the use of sound science in natural
resources decision-making; and
Facilitate the development of interdisciplinary research, education and outreach
teams focused on natural resources challenges.
Conceptual Framework
Historians often tie the success of the nation’s land-grant universities to their
tripartite mission of education, research, and outreach. Originally created to provide
a practical and liberal arts education to average citizens, land-grant universities
expanded their mission to include research and outreach with the passage of the
Hatch and Smith-Lever Acts. This roadmap attempts to honor the tripartite mission
by including education and outreach goals along with research goals.
The NR Roadmap is set in the context of the changing nature of funding
opportunities and research needs. Calls for more interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary
research are now routine among federal agencies funding research. Also routine are
calls to include education and outreach goals during research development, not as
an afterthought. Although the timeframe for implementation of the NR Roadmap is
the next decade, we acknowledge that many of the resources we deal with have
ecological and evolutionary processes with broader temporal and spatial scales.
This roadmap is framed around the following societal needs to:
Optimize renewable resource productivity while maintaining environmental
quality;
Conserve and manage natural landscapes while addressing increasing human
demands for natural resources;
Protect, conserve and restore watersheds for biodiversity, water resources, and
pollution reduction;
Enhance water security globally;
Understand the impacts of climate change on environmental processes;
Develop a comprehensive strategy for managing natural resources to adapt to
climate changes;
Create a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally responsible agriculture
industry;
8 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

Identify new and alternative renewable energy resources and improve the
efficiency of existing renewable resources;
Minimize impacts of increasing energy demands on natural resources;
Include natural resources in the K-12 education system and improve the
scientific literacy of the nation’s citizens;
Promote natural resource stewardship; and
Communicate scientific information to the general public in efficient and
effective ways.
The NR Roadmap Process

Following the release of the ESCOP Science Roadmap for Agriculture (APLU 2010)
in November of 2010, the BNR executive committee began discussing creation of
a natural resources roadmap. On behalf of the BNR, Hal Salwasser, former dean of
the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, obtained a grant from USDA’s
National Institute of Food and Agriculture to conduct a Delphi survey and write the
NR Roadmap based on the results of the survey. The Delphi process utilizes experts
in facilitated rounds of questioning that lead to synthesis and general consensus.
Given that Dr. Travis Park of Cornell University had helped ESCOP conduct a Delphi
survey to gather information for their roadmap, the BNR executive committee chose
to contract with him for the NR Roadmap. The BNR also reached out to APLU’s BOAC
to gain participation from marine, atmospheric, and climate scientists as well as Sea
Grant outreach experts.
The BNR and BOAC nominated 118 thought leaders by discipline or area of
expertise to participate in the Delphi survey. Experts came from the following fields:
atmospheric sciences, climate sciences, economics, energy sciences, fisheries,
forestry, marine sciences, rangelands, recreation, water resources, and wildlife. All
regions of the United States were represented. Of the 118 individuals nominated,
33 chose not to participate, so the survey results are based on the responses of 78
experts.
Participants completed five rounds of Delphi surveys focused on the grand
challenges in natural resources. Given that the BNR and BOAC had not produced any
previous roadmaps, the starting question for the study was:
Preservation, conservation, and use of our natural resources, broadly
defined, face many grand challenges in the next five to 10 years. These
grand challenges are those which are difficult to solve, yet do have
solutions, or at least milestones that mark progress toward solutions.
These grand challenges also carry significant social, environmental,
and economic impact. Grand challenges involve and stretch the
limits of our collective research, extension, and teaching abilities and
capacities.

For example, a grand challenge in technology might be "to make
solar energy economical," or one in global health might be "to create
effective single dose vaccines that can be used soon after birth."
What are the grand challenges in the research and teaching in and
about natural resources over the next 10 years?
The first round of questions began on 19 March 2012 and the last round finished on
12 September 2012.
The first survey round resulted in 576 responses, which were reduced to 95
items through an inductive analysis of the responses by Dr. Park’s team. In rounds
two and three, participants were asked to rate their level of agreement that each
item should be considered a grand challenge for natural resources. Based on those
responses, the team narrowed the challenge items to 38 for round four. In that
round, participants were asked to choose “yes” or “no” as to whether the item
should be considered a grand challenge. If they chose “yes,” participants were asked
to group the grand challenge into eight general areas of natural resources issues
(climate, land use, energy, water, education, sustainability, agriculture and food, or
population). Round four resulted in 18 grand challenge items among the eight areas.
The NR Roadmap Advisory Panel, composed of members from both the BNR and BOAC
executive committees, reduced that to six categories by combining the three areas
of sustainability, land use, and population into a single sustainability area. All three
dealt with the impact of humans on natural resources as a direct result of using the
natural resources or as an indirect result of degradation of natural resources through
pursuit of fulfilling other needs, such as food or energy needs.
The final grand challenge areas identified after the Delphi surveys and the NR
Roadmap Advisory Panel’s decision to create a single sustainability area were
climate change, sustainability, education, energy, water, and agriculture. The
challenge statement that emerged on agriculture was “Develop a sustainable,
profitable, and environmentally responsible agriculture industry.” Given that ESCOP
had produced an entire roadmap dedicated to the science priorities in agriculture,
several of which aim to address the above challenge, the NR Roadmap Advisory
Panel chose to reference the ESCOP Science Roadmap for Agriculture (APLU 2010)
where appropriate rather than writing a separate chapter on the subject. This does
not lessen the importance of the agriculture challenge area, but instead points out
that the expertise for solving the problems of agriculture as they pertain to natural
resources lies largely with those who conduct agricultural science, education, and
outreach. Additionally, the NR Roadmap Advisory Panel crosswalked the priorities
of both the ESCOP Roadmap (APLU 2010) and the NR Roadmap to look for areas
of commonality in solving any of the six grand challenges identified in the NR
Roadmap.
The NR Roadmap Advisory Panel invited scientists from each of the BNR and
BOAC sections to serve as science leaders for each of the grand challenges; 35
scientists wrote the six sections in this roadmap. The Advisory Panel also nominated
peer-reviewers for each section and each section received a minimum of two
peer reviews. Finally, the Advisory Panel invited six thought leaders to provide

comprehensive reviews of the entire document. Science leaders and reviewers are
identified in Appendix B.
The NR Roadmap is divided into five sections, each describing a grand challenge
area in natural resources. Each section follows the same format:
Framing the Issue — Provides background for the grand challenge, discussing
historical, political, social, and/or economic context as needed.
Gap Analysis — Examines current capacity and science gaps and identifies
specific education and outreach needs for the challenge.
Research Needs and Priorities — Identifies needs to conduct the necessary
research and prioritizes research areas in order to solve the grand challenge.
Expected Outcomes — A short summation of outcomes under two scenarios –
status quo versus following the roadmap’s recommendations.
The Six Grand Challenges
Grand Challenge 1: Sustainability

environmental quality while optimizing renewable resource
productivity to meet increasing human demands for natural
resources, particularly with respect to increasing water, food, and
energy demands.
The sustainability of natural resources must be evaluated not only by environmental

quality standards, but also in terms of present and future social and economic
expectations. Often, sustainable may be used synonymously to represent minimized
inputs and idealized environmental quality. This vision of sustainability is often
at odds with the reality of economics, a growing population with an increasing
standard for quality of life, and the necessity to adapt to climate extremes. It is only
with a mind towards the future that scientists can begin to analyze today’s resource
use patterns and start to compare alternative strategies to meet tomorrow’s
increasing natural resource demands.
Focal areas for this research are:
Coupled Human-Natural Systems — Natural resource analyses must account for
interrelated human and natural resource systems by improving the knowledge
base of interactive processes between ecosystems and growing human
populations. There is also the need to understand the influences of social and
economic practices and policies on natural resources.

Soils and Freshwater — Research on adaptive and effective soil and water
management strategies and the role global climate change and demographic
changes will play on crucial water and soil resources.
Forestlands — Refine sustainable forest management and harvesting operations
practices and technologies.
Rangelands — Advance knowledge of how rangeland ecosystems, socioeconomics,
climate, and specific management practices change and interrelate over time.
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems — We need to understand: (1) the status
and trends of resource abundance and distribution through more accurate,
timely assessments; (2) interspecies and habitat-species relationships to
support forecasting of resource stability and sustainability; (3) human-use
patterns that influence resource stability and sustainability; (4) resiliency and
adaptation to a changing climate; and (5) the interactions between coastal
and marine operations/use and the environment. We also need to advance
the environmental sustainability of ocean energy technologies and develop
sustainable fishing practices and technologies.
Grand Challenge 2: Water

We must restore, protect and conserve watersheds for biodiversity,
water resources, pollution reduction and water security.
Water issues are becoming increasingly complex and require multi-disciplinary

science to find cross-cutting solutions. Most of our existing knowledge of human or
natural disturbance impacts on watersheds considers only two variables at a time.
Given the complexity of watersheds and the demands placed on watersheds, along
with a changing climate, we must expand our understanding of multiple stressors
and plan our mitigation of those stressors accordingly. Furthermore, as we improve
our understanding of the mechanics of our watersheds and the risks facing them,
additional research into the impact of energy, transportation, agricultural, and urban
policies on water security, quantity, and quality will need to occur simultaneously.
This will entail integrated work with the social sciences and require outreach and
education components to translate research into workable solutions.
Our areas of scientific focus should be:
Improving understanding of mechanistic linkages between land uses, extractive
consumption of water resources, and watershed resistance and resilience to
better inform policy.
Improving understanding of risks and impacts to water supplies from extractive
uses, carbon sequestration technologies, and extractive technologies.
Improving technology to process and allocate water in a manner that ensures
sustainable, high quality water for human uses and maintenance of ecosystem
services.

Developing understanding of how existing and future policies and land uses
impact water security, quantity, and quality over regional and national scales.
Assessing how the intersection of social (or human) and natural (or
environmental) systems impact water security, quantity and quality.
Grand Challenge 3: Climate Change

We need to understand the impacts of climate change on our
environment, including such aspects as disease transmission,
air quality, water supply, ecosystems, fire, species survival, and
pest risk. Further, we must develop a comprehensive strategy for
managing natural resources to adapt to climate changes.
Ecosystems are critical components of cultural, social and economic systems as they
interact with water and climate to produce critically important natural resources,
biodiversity, and an array of services upon which humans depend. Climate change
threatens disruption of these systems on a massive scale, but our understanding
of these complex systems and their reaction to rapid, multiple changes brought on
by climate change is limited. Like water science, the difficult questions for natural
resources and climate change lie in the complexity of the systems and the likely
changes. While our knowledge of individual species reactions to individual stressors
is good, our knowledge of an entire ecosystem response to the full suite of climate
change variables is meager and will not be useful to natural resource managers or
policy makers as it currently stands.
To remedy this situation, much greater research on the following will be
necessary:
Observational and Experimental Approaches — Many of the greatest challenges
in understanding the effects of climate change on natural resources involve
interactions between multiple climate variables, natural processes, and society.
Ecosystem responses to climate change are contingent upon a large number of
location, history, and stochastic variables.
Simulations and Modeling — Computer models, whether statistical, dynamical,
or mixed, provide useful tools for testing our understanding of the behavior of
natural and human systems. If such models have been validated, they can serve
as valuable planning and management tools.
Management, Risk and Uncertainty — Risk evaluation and management of natural
resources in the context of climate change requires real-time monitoring data,
comprehensive exploration of the consequence of management choices, and
models for testing management hypotheses. There is especially poor cross-
disciplinary knowledge of the uncertainties associated with climate change and
climate change impacts, leading inevitably to poor or biased understanding of
uncertainty by natural resource managers and other stakeholders.

Grand Challenge 4: Agriculture
We must develop a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally
responsible agriculture industry.
As mentioned before, the Delphi survey named agriculture as one of the six grand
challenges of natural resources and we have chosen in this roadmap to reference
the ESCOP Science Roadmap for Agriculture (APLU 2010) rather than writing a chapter
specifically on creating sustainable agriculture. However, we would be remiss if we
did not highlight the importance of developing a sustainable agricultural industry
to the sustainability of our natural resources. Furthermore, we must also point out
that agriculture cannot exist without the natural resources base upon which it exists,
namely clean and abundant water, healthy soils, pollinators, genetic biodiversity,
and a stable climate.
In lieu of a chapter, we provide a visual overview, in the form of a crosswalk
(Appendix 3), of commonalities and differences between the NR Roadmap’s and the
ESCOP Roadmap’s priorities.
Grand Challenge 5: Energy

We must identify new and alternative renewable energy sources and
improve the efficiency of existing renewable resource-based energy
to meet increasing energy demands while reducing the ecological
footprint of energy production and consumption.
Between 1980 and 2000, U.S. energy usage grew 21 percent. Though the past decade
has seen some plateauing of energy consumption in the U.S., energy consumption
is expected to rise again once the economy fully recovers. Even now, the U.S. is
increasing exports of natural gas. To support this current and growing consumption,
the U.S. expends a great deal of capital to produce or purchase energy sources,
often at a cost to natural resources.
While the environmental effects of traditional, carbon-based energy are fairly
well-known, most renewable energy sources are still quite new. Renewable energy
research during the coming decades will need to balance various needs including
environmental stress, public perception and acceptability, regional differences,
economics, technical feasibility, geopolitics, and fluctuations in the supply, demand,
and price of non-renewable energy forms.
Areas of scientific focus should be to:
Improve understanding of costs and benefits of energy development and use
and public perceptions related to energy.
Minimize impacts of increasing energy demands on natural resources.
Maintain available energy and increase efficiency to reduce ecological footprint.
Provide educational opportunities to students, teachers, and consumers on the
social, political, and environmental challenges related to energy production and use.
Grand Challenge 6: Education

We must maintain and strengthen natural resources education
at our educational institutions at all levels in order to have the
informed citizenry, civic leaders, and practicing professionals
needed to sustain the natural resources of the United States.
Issues pertaining to sustainability of natural resources are the focus of local, regional,
and national discussion. In a democracy such as ours, the development of natural
resources policy involves interactions among professional managers, the public and
elected officials. Public acceptance of natural resources plans and their effectiveness
for achieving sustainable management depends upon the integration of scientific
information and societal values.
However, much of the American public has little understanding of the process by
which scientific knowledge is gained. That is, most people neither understand the
framing and testing of hypotheses, nor the difference between hypothesis testing
and construction of theory explaining a body of natural phenomena. Hence, it is
not surprising that citizens—and frequently their leaders—misunderstand and often
misconstrue scientific issues in discussions regarding the science and management
of natural resources. Only by advances in popular understanding of scientific process,
combined with more effective science communication, can discussion of natural
resources issues be elevated. This goal may be achieved by the following:
Include natural resources in K-12 education by incorporation into Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum and activities.
Strengthen natural resources curricula at the higher education level.
Improve the scientific literacy of the Nation’s citizens.
Communicate scientific information to the general public in efficient and effective
ways.
Promote natural resource stewardship.
Promote diversity in the natural resources professions.
Conclusion
It is hoped that the NR Roadmap will serve as a point of reference for discussions
about these crucial resources. Furthermore, the recommendations proposed in this
roadmap should justify increased funding and collaboration for research, education
and outreach in the natural resources.
References
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Experiment Station Committee on Organ-
ization and Policy—Science and Technology Committee. 2010. A Science Roadmap for
Food and Agriculture. Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Washington DC.

Grand Challenge 1: Sustainability

environmental quality while optimizing renewable resource productivity
to meet increasing human demands for natural resources, particularly
with respect to increasing water, food, and energy demands.
Human society has developed activity) to human well-being;
Framing the Issue within the context of coupled

human and natural systems, in
(2) human decisions may affect
ecosystems positively via recovery,
which the natural systems are self- restoration and reclamation, or
sustaining and support human negatively via degradation; and
Survival of human civilization is activities so long as those activities (3) real or perceived well-being
dependent on “life supporting” do not deteriorate the system or of humans should have a direct
goods and services that are provided extract system components in a input in decision making (policy)
by healthy coupled human and manner that compromises the supporting adaptive and sustainable
natural resource systems, or social- system’s functional integrity (Figure management of natural systems
ecological systems. Further, quality 1). These coupled systems and (Willig and Scheiner 2011). From
of life and connection to the natural their interactions are regulated this perspective, the positive inputs
world are positively affected by by selected principles: (1) the from ecosystems represent various
accessibility to intact natural functionality of natural systems provisions, regulations, support, or
resource areas and opportunities to varies along a condition continuum cultural services that are collectively
experience the diversity of services from intact to deteriorated, with considered to be ecosystem goods
that these areas offer to all facets of each system component providing or services.
society at all times. Destruction or positive or negative input(s) The linkages between the
degradation of ecosystems threatens (tradeoffs may exist with respect social and ecological systems are
human well-being and the survival of to inputs for any particular expressed through the delivery
civilization as we currently know it. disturbance or management and utilization of ecosystem

goods and services (Figure 1). The community shifts, and conversion contrast, sustainably-geared social
biophysical condition represents of plant to animal biomass; while policies can lead to changes in
the abiotic and biotic state of the social and economic processes, human behavior and investments
ecosystem elements, while natural such as demographic, cultural, in ecosystem conservation that
capital represents the stock of all and policy-based factors, influence enhance natural capital and
ecosystem elements that lead to the level of benefit derived from biophysical condition. However,
biophysical function. ecosystem services. Interactions socially-imposed restrictions
Human condition represents the between the biophysical and on ecosystem function that are
well-being of people, social capital socioeconomic systems occur the result of actions by poorly
is the capacity for innovation and through the delivery and utilization informed decision-makers can also
adaptation, and economic capital of extractable ecosystem goods lead to long-term deterioration
represents built infrastructure and and the in situ provision of of ecosystems and subsequent
financial stocks that can generate ecosystem services. The utilization catastrophic events. A prime
financial dividends. The vertical of ecosystem goods and services example has been widespread
arrows in Figure 2 represent the can lead to external negative or restrictions on the use of fire as a
processes that affect capital and positive effects. For example, management tool, as well as the
condition within the biophysical natural capital and biophysical suppression of wildfires, that lead
and socioeconomic subsystems condition are diminished if to unmanageable build-up of fuels.
over time. For example, biophysical ecosystem goods are extracted at The result has been large, difficult-
processes lead to soil genesis, plant rates greater than the capacity of to-control wildfires that threaten
growth and reproduction, plant the ecosystem to produce them. By lives, property, and reflect changes

in ecosystem function (away
from historically fire-dependent
Intact ecosystems).
Ecosystems As human populations grow,
pressure on natural resources
increases as illustrated in the
Human Recovery Human linkages in Figures 1 and 2 because
Decision Degradation Restoration Well each person requires space to
Making Disturbance Being live, shelter for survival, and
infrastructure to meet daily needs.
The result is increased dependence
Degraded on extraction and deterioration
Ecosystems of natural resources. Equally and
maybe more importantly, per
capita consumption is increasing
Figure 1. This simplified but overarching conceptual model (Willig and Scheiner 2011) defines
key linkages between natural and human systems that together constitute a dynamic and therefore the environmental
socioecological system. impact of each human being is
also increasing. The combination
of a growing and more affluent
population foretells serious natural
Biophysical Natural Social and Human
State t0 Condition Capital Economic Capital Condition resource challenges.
Incentives to sustain natural
resources for the long term are
Ecosystem often overshadowed by human
desire for short-term gain and
Ecological Processes
Services
Social and Economic
Goods Extraction
profit maximization (economic
capital depicted in Figure 2).
Time
Climate regulation, water retention

Processes
Services In Situ Use

and filtration, healthy streams,
External intact forests and open rangelands
Outcomes provide habitat for many wild
species. They exemplify natural
capital and ecosystem services that
have mostly unquantified economic
Biophysical Natural Social and Human value. By contrast, electricity
State t1
Condition Capital Economic Capital Condition
generated from pollution-emitting
power plants, corn produced in
Water quality Water use drained wetlands, and housing
Soil health Agricultural production
Vegetative diversity Forest/Rangeland production developments on open grasslands
Animal diversity Wildlife conservation or timbered mountainsides have
easily identified market values, but
Figure 2. The integrated social, economic and ecological conceptual (ISEEC) framework for
the associated negative impacts
identifying ecosystem service linkages between biophysical and socioeconomic components of on the natural resources that they
social-ecological systems (adapted from Fox et al. 2009). affect are generally externalized. If

we continue “business as usual,”
current and future generations will
increasingly experience the burden
of ecosystems that have been
degraded by economically-driven
human activities. In turn, this would
result in an ever-larger proportion
of the human population with
inadequate access to the natural
resources that they need and ever-
greater disparity in the quality of
life between the rich and the poor,
which represents a significant
environmental justice issue.
To avoid this outcome, the
highest research priorities should
focus on the means to restore and
maintain the health of existing
and deteriorated social-ecological
systems. Moreover, this restoration to expand agricultural production current food production will need
and maintenance must be into areas previously dominated to be intensified and/or expanded.
accomplished in the face of rising by perennial plant cover that Such land use change often leads
global demand for basic human served as valuable wildlife habitat. to degradation of soil and water
necessities (food, water, energy and Grasslands are vanishing in the resources both on-site and off-site,
shelter) under the uncertainty of upper Midwest faster than at any and destruction of currently intact
ecosystem-wide effects of climate time since the 1920s and 1930s due natural resource systems. The need
change and in a market economy to increasing commodity prices and for a sustainable form of agriculture
that currently has a limited farmers’ desires to capture resulting is paramount from multiple
capacity to identify monetary value profits (Wright and Wimberly natural resource perspectives.
for ecosystem services that can 2013). These and multiple other For a more thorough discussion
examples identified in subsequent of the fundamental necessity to
be obtained only from properly
sections dealing with climate develop sustainable agricultural
functioning natural resource
change and with water illustrate techniques and methods, refer to
systems.
the complex and daunting task of A Science Roadmap for Food and
Natural Resource Stressors sustaining or improving our natural Agriculture prepared by the APLU
resources under the influence of an and ESCOP, and see especially Grand
Climate Change — Rapid changes Challenge 1 (“We must enhance
increasingly variable climate.
in climatic conditions threaten to the sustainability, competitiveness,
destabilize and possibly collapse Agriculture — Humans depend and profitability of U.S. food and
existing social-ecological systems. heavily on agricultural production agricultural systems.”) and Grand
For example, between 1980 and for their survival. In turn, Challenge 6 (“We must heighten
2008 climate change reduced global agriculture is heavily dependent environmental stewardship through
maize and wheat yields (Lobell on natural resources, especially the development of sustainable
et al. 2011), elevating commodity soil, water and pollinators. In management practices.”) (APLU
prices and thus increasing pressure order to meet growing demand, 2010).

Natural Resource Systems the values of the resource base other invasive species on ecosystem
in both rural and urban settings. services and on other environmental
Forestlands — The growth in For example, large acreages of impacts. Life cycle assessment
industries that use forest biomass hardwood forests have suffered modeling will help identify the
will increase utilization of from decades of high-grading in economic and ecosystem value of
forestlands not previously used which the larger, more commercially this natural resource (Wolfslehner et
due to relatively poor timber valuable trees and species were al. 2013). However, assumptions and
quality, low market prices (Janowiak removed, providing a market inputs into these models will need
and Webster 2010) and limited opportunity for the remaining less to be specific in order to accurately
accessibility. However, these desirable species. An emerging represent local contexts and needs
forested areas also contribute market for “lower quality” wood and develop new markets.
to carbon sequestration and, products from urban and traditional
therefore, mitigate climate change Rangelands — Rangelands
forests could encourage a renewal
(Vose et al. 2012), and may encompass many natural resources
of the forest ecosystem with a
support high biodiversity. This and ecosystem services but are
more balanced approach that
change in utilization and increased often discounted due to their
protects species that are desirable
environmental burden applies to relatively low potential for food
for landscape, commercial, wildlife,
increasingly large urban forests and timber production. They are
and other purposes. In addition,
as well as traditional timberlands. among the most widely distributed
enhancing the sustainability of
It is imperative that all forests and diverse landforms in the
forest ecosystem services and
are managed not only for wood world and include grasslands,
systems will require studies to
production but also to protect other shrublands, and savannas. Due to
consider the entire supply chain
ecosystem services and values, their extensiveness, rangelands not
of forest products from stump to
which may require the development only support the livelihoods of over
end use as well as focus on the
of new valuation models. In one third of the world’s population
effects of the harvest intensity
developing these models there is (Reynolds et al. 2007), but they
and consequences such as the
also an opportunity to improve provide many critical ecosystems
introduction of no-native trees and
services, including water catchment
and filtration, carbon sequestration,
and the provision of wildlife habitat,
all of which affect human well-
being. Maintenance and restoration
of rangelands ecosystems in a
changing world are critical for the
future welfare of burgeoning human
populations. In the U.S., federal
subsidies for some commodity
crops have led to the conversion of
marginally productive grasslands
to croplands and subsequently to
non-native pastures. Such land
conversion negatively impacts the
health of native rangelands as well
as those species, especially birds,
which depend on native grassland

habitats. Another growing issue As with agricultural and forest- and important species (Scheffer
is the increasing utilization of rangeland-related uses of natural and Carpenter 2003) as well as
rangelands for energy production, resources, wildlife research needs the intrusion of non-native and
including the development of to focus not only on management invasive species with significant
additional oil and gas resources tied to the direct economic value consequences (Occhipinti-
as well as wind and solar energy of wildlife but also on the effects Ambrogi 2007). Understanding the
(Kreuter et al. 2012). Such of other non-commercial species influence of land use on marine
developments have both biophysical and suites of species on the health and coastal habitats continues
and socio-economic consequences of ecosystems. An example of this to emerge as a vital component
for rangelands. A research, is the removal of wolves leading of sustaining marine and coastal
education, and outreach framework to the increase of elk and the resources. Traditional uses, such
is needed in which rangelands are associated decrease in aspen and as transport, fishing, and tourism
viewed as dynamic and integrated willows and subsequently also now sit alongside more recent
social-ecological systems, and beavers in the Yellowstone National uses such as aquaculture, and
in which the human dimensions Park, which ultimately resulted in tidal, current and wind energy
of these systems are addressed substantial changes in hydrology production. These emerging uses
concomitantly with and to the same within the ecosystem (Ripple and are continuing to expand and it is
degree as the their biophysical Beschta 2012). becoming increasingly challenging
characteristics (Figure 2). Marine and Coastal Ecosystems — to effectively coordinate sometimes
Healthy marine and coastal competing uses through current
Wildlife — Changes in the
environments are in decline, management approaches. On 19
composition of ecological
largely due to over-harvesting, July 2010, President Obama signed
communities through extirpations,
pollution, climate change, reduced an executive order establishing a
invasions and altered abundances,
fresh water inflow, and land use National Policy for the Stewardship
which may be exacerbated through
change. Dramatic shifts in species of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the
climate change, human use and
composition have been observed Great Lakes (Executive Order No.
altered disturbance regimes
for commercially and regionally 13547, 2010). The national policy
such as fire suppression, have
resulted in an increasing need
to understand the relationships
between biodiversity and ecosystem
processes. Results from biodiversity-
ecosystem function studies have
found that increases in diversity
are associated with increase
in resource capture efficiency,
biomass production, organic
matter decomposition and nutrient
cycling. However, research that has
focused on biodiversity has often
been associated with economically
important wildlife species while
studies of the broader effects of
wildlife species on ecosystem
processes have been less common.

identifies coastal and marine spatial to meet tomorrow’s increasing There is a rising need for
planning as one of nine priority natural resource demands. For infrastructure planning to be
implementation objectives and example, life cycle analyses used coupled with resource location
outlines a framework for effective to evaluate the sustainability and production capability analysis.
marine planning that addresses of a given system, compared to As human populations grow in
conservation, economic activity, traditional research approaches, size and density and expand
user conflict, and sustainable use of provide a more comprehensive geographically, it will not be
the ocean, our coasts, and the Great opportunity to understand resource feasible to continue converting
Lakes. requirements of that system; natural (frequently less suitable)
similar approaches could be used areas to resource production
to examine externalized costs that areas; nor will it be feasible
Gap Analysis are not considered in the final
prices of goods or services. A useful
from an energy balance stand-
point to produce and process
assessment of future decrease in consumables at great distances
The sustainability of natural economic profit, ability to rely on from the populations needing
resources must be evaluated by a resource, or standard of living these products. The development
environmental quality standards will not be possible until the full of decentralized means to
as well as by present and future value of externalities and resource accommodate food and energy
social and economic expectations. systems is acknowledged and demands is needed, as is public
Heretofore, sustainable has been included in evaluations of social- education on the benefits of
used to represent minimized ecological systems. available local resources.
inputs and idealized environmental The means to generate or An important knowledge
quality. This vision of sustainability recognize incentives are limited gap in the understanding and
is often at odds with the reality of by poor understanding of feasible implementation of sustainable
economics, a growing population ecosystem services trade- systems involves the power of
with an increasing standard for offs. Furthermore, mitigation of local practitioners to integrate
quality of life, and the necessity adversities will not be possible recommendations based on
to adapt to climate changes. It is without understanding the factors scientific knowledge, or the
only with a mind towards the future that affect the values, goals, barriers that prevent them from
that scientists can begin to analyze and decisions of stakeholders doing so. Further, the impacts
today’s resource use patterns and (public) and production groups of current policy on adoption
compare alternative strategies (private). Research to better of science-based resource
understand resource management recommendations
sustainability is not fully known, nor are the
must consider unintended impacts of such
both technologies policies. The long-term success of
and practices that such recommendations, especially
improve or increase between public and private use
production as well sectors, is also not fully known.
as technologies Interdisciplinary research
and practices that must effectively address complex
protect or improve systems critical to the future
environmental management of sustainable natural
quality. resources. Should innovative

methods to preserve and recycle novel agricultural systems that
critical resources, such as water, support ecological processes and Research Needs
be insufficient to support future that are capable of meeting the
demands, implementation increasing demands for food, and Priorities
of adaptation strategies to water, and energy of a growing
certain priority resources may human population. Policies, socio- Coupled Human-Natural
be necessary, perhaps even economic challenges, shifting Systems
transferring the resource product demographics, and public versus
or services produced from one area private stakeholder decision- Natural resource analyses must
to another. The development of making processes and behaviors account for interrelated human
policies and market mechanisms to are all important elements for and natural resource systems by
support such adaptation may also understanding and optimizing the addressing interactive processes
between ecosystems and growing
be needed. potential future use of natural
human populations. Understanding
Research on the responses resources in an environmentally
the influences of social and
of natural resource systems to responsible manner. There is a
economic practices and policies on
different environmental stresses critical societal need to promote
natural resources is critical.
or management strategies has and adopt adaptive management
generated voluminous data, but practices while researchers and Seek to more thoroughly
these data are rarely amalgamated. lawmakers collaborate to devise understand and apply the
scientifically rigorous policies that concept of socioecology; human
There is a great need for the
will facilitate effective sustenance and natural systems are linked
synthesis of these extensive data
of natural resources. Only with and should be studied as one
sets to better understand system
the adoption of social-ecological broad human-natural system.
responses to such stresses and
strategies and, therefore, to better frameworks for developing solutions Improve environmental and
predict their positive or negative to natural resources challenges social justice for all social
impacts on natural resources in the can managers proceed with greater classes.
future. Also, the need for resolution confidence in the sustainability of Apply life cycle analysis to
of these interpretive or predictive their actions. major materials and natural
functions at the local level has
highlighted an inadequacy in both
spatial and temporal analytical
tools or methods in data capture.
The National Center for Ecological
Analysis and Synthesis exemplifies
a strategy to meet this current data
management inadequacy.
Resource priorities such
as maintenance of soil and
ecosystem resiliency, stream
and aquifer water protection,
public lands conservation, and
natural landscapes for diverse
demographics must be balanced
against the need to develop

resources management and alter the future availability, simulations in order to improve
production scenarios. utility, and resilience of natural the capability of climate-
Recognize and account for resources. dependent natural resource
external costs not internalized Soils and Freshwater Resources — models to predict outcomes
in prices. under future climate scenarios
Adaptive and effective soil and
(e.g., water availability; forest,
Improve agricultural, forest and water management strategies
rangeland, and crop response
fisheries production through are necessary. Global climate and
to drought persistence; and soil
more efficient use of land, demographic change will further
erosion).
water, energy, and chemicals stress crucial water and soil
to meet the 9 Billion Challenge resources. Predict and evaluate how
(United Nations 2013). a growing and urbanizing
Quantify the benefits of human populace with an
Simultaneously increase the technological innovation. overall increase in standard
generation of renewable energy Precision technologies (e.g., of living will affect how soils
while reducing the impacts of micro-irrigation) can enhance are managed and how water is
infrastructure and land use the sustainability of how allocated.
change (e.g., wind farms, wells, humans use water and soil.
pipelines) on fisheries and
Apply systems-level analytics
Determine the capacity of soil to understand the complex
wildlife. and water reserves to meet feedbacks between humans,
Evaluate how food production, current and future demands for soil, and water and to identify
freshwater availability, and agricultural and forest products. key leverage points for policy
natural landscapes can coexist Evaluate the effectiveness makers in order to optimize the
in a sustainable manner while of policies and incentives efficiency of public and private
facing the demands of a that promote soil and water conservation expenditures.
growing human population. conservation.
Forestlands — Refined sustainable
Evaluate how different policy Increase the spatial and forest management practices and
and economic scenarios might temporal precision of climate technologies will be required to
meet the growing needs of an
expanding and more diverse society.
Create quantifiable measures
of the cumulative effects of
improved forest management,
including harvesting and
transportation practices, and
products on integrated soil,
water, ecosystem services and
biodiversity protection needs.
Research and identify forest
management practices that
support amelioration of climate
change.
Develop realistic economic
assessments of the long-term

effect of current utilization rates hayfields. Expand spatial and keeping them within the
on the resource and ecosystem temporal scales of research to sustainable capacities of their
productivity with the goal of provide accurate measurements habitats.
determining the utilization of the heterogeneous Quantify native and invasive
rates needed to maintain forest biophysical factors as well as species responses to habitat
health and reduce negative response lags to management changes imposed by climate
environmental effects, while practices that influence and land use change and
meeting society’s needs. rangeland productivity and develop options that improve
Identify reasonable scale and the ecosystem services they native species adaptation
utilization rates of resources to provide. as well as invasive species
reduce negative environmental Promote transdisciplinary containment or mitigation.
effects, e.g., limits for biomass research to address cross- Identify local and regional
removals to retain soil nutrients cutting social and biophysical strategies for conservation of
and organic matter and the factors that influence the threatened and endangered
effectiveness of intensive dynamics of rangelands species in light of likely climate
forestry for cellulose-based and tradeoffs resulting and land change scenarios.
products in offsetting the need from changing demands
for tree harvests on ecologically for potentially competing Monitor the arrival and
or aesthetically sensitive sites. ecosystem services. encroachment rate of invasive
flora, insects, and diseases,
Identify forest management Develop protocols, document and the resulting effects on
options for sustainable and and assess contributions of biodiversity at the landscape
economically viable use of non- science-based and local land level.
forest timber products. management decisions to short-
and long-term outcomes of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems —
Fully analyze the impacts of To improve sustainability of marine
proposed large scale extraction conservation programs.
and coastal ecosystems we must
projects, such as hydraulic Biological Diversity — While the understand: (1) the status and
fracking, on overall forest health diversity of native flora and fauna trends of resource abundance and
and landscapes. —both aquatic and terrestrial—and distribution through more accurate,
Rangelands — There is a ecological processes are integral timely assessments; (2) interspecies
fundamental need to advance to all of the mentioned systems, and habitat-species relationships
knowledge of how rangeland improved understanding of to support forecasting of resource
ecosystems, socioeconomics, responses to and adaptation to stability and sustainability; and (3)
climate, and specific management climate change and land use change human-use patterns that influence
practices change and interrelate is a pressing need. resource stability and sustainability.
over time. Assess watershed and regional Assess the coupled impacts of
Emphasize and promote an landscape connectivity factors resource use and extraction
integrated systems approach for major groups of species, (e.g., fisheries, ocean mining,
for research and outreach to e.g., residential and migratory tourism, energy) and systemic
improve policy formulation birds and mammals, with change.
that supports the long-term large area requirements, and Monitor living resources at
sustainable management of pollinators. multiple trophic levels using
dynamic rangeland ecosystems, Monitor key wildlife populations both fishery-independent
including pastures and and develop techniques for and fishery-dependent data

organisms and ecosystem a more integrative and holistic
function. approach to the evaluation of the
Model release, dispersion, conditions and trends of natural
cycling, and cumulative resources.
ecological impacts of
contaminants (e.g., from
oil spills and releases, air
emissions, and non-point New Directions
sources of pollution).
collected at appropriate Future investments for research,

levels of species resolution to
understand and better identify
Expected Outcomes education, and outreach relating
to the provision and use of natural
physical, biological, and social resources must promote systems-
thresholds and sustainability thinking approaches to developing
shifts. Status Quo — Disconnected silo-type new knowledge and novel solutions
Promote marine spatial research approaches may not only to natural resource challenges.
planning by developing and be economically inefficient but may Such approaches must incorporate
validating ecosystem and also hinder a broader understanding rigorous scientific methodology
species interaction models. of natural resource system with integrative modeling and
dynamics and factors that influence adaptive management approaches
Develop approaches and the sustainability of such systems. to problem solving. Moreover,
scenarios to understand and
Especially problematic is the lack of increasing emphasis needs to
integrate the specific and
knowledge about feedback effects be placed on multidisciplinary
cumulative impacts of various
resulting from human economic research, education, planning,
natural resource policies on
activities on biophysical functions and outreach endeavors, all
living resources and human
and processes that produce the supported by the development
communities.
ecosystem goods and services of a comprehensive knowledge
Conduct process studies and upon which human well-being is network for sustainability science.
develop models to assess predicated. Moreover, an over- As the biophysical and social
impact and recovery responses emphasis on reductionist science scientists increasingly interact
to natural and anthropogenic and the lack of focus on integrated in such integrative solution-
induced declines (e.g., linking systems-thinking approaches to oriented approaches, a wider
effects of hypoxic zones to problem solving with respect to the range of knowledge bases as well
land use practices) in natural, management of natural resources as data acquisition and analytical
biological or physical coastal contradict the goal of sustainability, tools need to be appreciated and
and marine resources. whereby future generations have utilized. These include scientific as
Develop means to measure the same right and ability to well as local knowledge sets, and
the impact of invasive species, benefit from natural resources as both quantitative and qualitative
aquaculture development, current generations. It also inhibits research methods. With such
disease and pathogens, ocean the capacity of natural resources multifaceted approaches there is
warming and acidification, managers to adapt to changing a greater potential that complex
severe weather and coastal biophysical and socioeconomic and dynamic natural resources
flooding/erosion on marine conditions; such adaptation requires systems can not only be better

understood but also that natural biomass harvesting. Journal of Population Division. 2013. World
resources managers will develop Forestry 108:16-23. Population Prospects: The
a greater capacity to adapt Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka, 2012 Revision, Highlights and
K.A. Maczko, D.W. McCollum, Advance Tables. Working Paper
to changing biophysical and
J.E. Mitchell, C.S. Duke and L. No. ESA/P/WP.228.
socioeconomic conditions. This is
Hidinger. 2012. Framework for Vose, J.M., C.R. Ford, S. Laseter, S.
critical for the sustainable use of comparing ecosystem impacts Dymond, G. Sun, M.B. Adams,
natural resources under changing of developing unconventional S. Sebestyen, J. Campbell, C.
conditions in an increasingly energy resources on western US Luce, D. Amatya, K. Elder and
populated world. rangelands. Rangeland Ecology T. Heartsill-Scalley. 2011. Can
and Management 65:433-443 forest watershed management
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Grand Challenge 2: Water
We must restore, protect and conserve watersheds for biodiversity,

water resources, pollution reduction and water security.
rivers comprise only 0.3 percent of U.S. waters and have resulted in a
Framing the Issue total global water resources, which

are constantly being cycled from
reduction in certain types of water
pollution. For example, the CWA
rainfall to the oceans (Oki and Kanae led to the development of Best
2006). Efficient and balanced use of Management Practices (BMPs) for
Humans, animals, plants, and
clean freshwater supplies is critically forestry and agriculture, which
terrestrial ecosystems depend on
important (Russi et al. 2013). have helped to reduce sediment,
a consistent supply of freshwater.
Scientists, managers, and policy nutrient, and pesticide discharges
Indeed, most major civilizations
makers have made great strides to waterways. The CWA also led
have been formed near the sources
in improving water quality and to the development of the Total
of clean and abundant freshwater
that are critical for drinking, raising equitable access to water in the Maximum Daily Load program,
agricultural crops, supporting U.S. The 1969 fire on the Cuyahoga which has helped managers to
industry, and transporting goods River, Ohio was a major event that prioritize pollutant reductions
(Naiman et al. 1995). Although 71 led to the passage of the Clean based on localized watershed
percent of the earth’s surface is Water Act (CWA—originally the conditions, although this effort
covered by water, only about 2.5 Federal Water Pollution Control Act has been hampered by inadequate
percent of the earth’s water is of 1972). The CWA and subsequent understanding of water quality
freshwater, primarily composed of updates and guidance have provided thresholds and contaminant
groundwater and glaciers. Surface a solid framework for regulating movements (Keisman and Shenk
waters such as wetlands, lakes, and direct discharge of pollutants into 2013).

Furthermore, an increased modeling has provided information addressing these challenges will
understanding of the importance on attributes that contribute to a require enhanced technology, policy,
of wetlands led to the 1985 Farm high quality and high functioning and management approaches.
Bill “Swampbuster” Provision, watershed. In spite of significant There are potentially large
which makes agricultural producers progress, we still have polluted economic and human welfare
ineligible for certain farm programs waterways in agricultural, rural costs of failing to conserve water
if they convert wetlands to and urban areas, limited water and sustain water quality. Recent
farmland. Wetland and stream availability in arid regions, water unexpected droughts and floods
mitigation policies and technologies use conflicts even in humid regions, in regions not previously thought
have led to further protection rivers with highly modified water vulnerable (e.g., drought in
and enhancement of water flows and habitat connectivity, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida)
resources. For example, scientific and deteriorated watersheds. A demonstrate the need to plan
breakthroughs including genetic complex regulatory system that for the unexpected. They further
alteration of plants have resulted cannot always accommodate whole demonstrate the need to form
in reduced water requirements ecosystem services or all potential more nimble water management
for some crops (Paoletti and water users, the failure of our institutions and adapt water law
Pimentel 1996). Improvements in economic systems to properly to allow more flexibility in times of
irrigation technology have led to the account for externalities, and rigid stress.
conservation of water in arid and institutional structures all contribute Water also has cultural and
semi-arid environments. Watershed to these problems. Effectively recreational benefits to our society.

We rely on clean fresh water for 1. Naturally vegetated riparian proper ecosystem functioning;
spiritual and cultural activities. In zones and wetlands that and
some areas, recreational fishing, assimilate nutrients, shade the 5. Built-in natural redundancy—if
boating and swimming are the water, reduce sedimentation, one water source should fail or
primary sources of income in sequester carbon, and provide experience disturbance (e.g.,
regional economies. All of these habitat for fish and wildlife; wildfire), another is available
uses depend on healthy ecosystems 2. Working, well maintained for ecosystem services (and
and healthy watersheds. forests and grasslands that to provide source populations
Researchers and managers promote infiltration, resulting for plant and animal
increasingly recognize watersheds in cleaner water and reduced recolonization).
and aquifers as the proper scale incidence of flooding;
Watersheds can be resilient
for action when addressing 3. Connected aquatic and
and accommodate a variety of
nonpoint source pollution problems. terrestrial habitats, allowing
land use changes and impacts.
Watersheds and aquifers form for animal movement, plant
However, there can be tipping
useful identifiable areas for dispersal, and recolonization
points at which cumulative water
management of water and other of disturbed habitats and thus
quality impacts move aquatic and
natural resources. Well-functioning maintaining ecosystem function
wetland ecosystems to new quasi-
watersheds are more resilient and biodiversity;
equilibrium states associated with
to external pollution loads, and 4. Dynamic flow regimes that
greatly diminished ecosystem
their protection, restoration, and support multiple water quality
services. A prominent example is
conservation at all scales (e.g., from processes and aquatic physical
the recurrent algal bloom and zone
headwater streams and wetlands regimes, including temperature
of hypoxia off the mouth of the
to estuaries, bays, and oceans) are dynamics, biogeochemical
Mississippi each summer due to
vitally important for maintaining cycling, and geomorphological
excess nitrogen fertilizer leaching
biodiversity, water resources, processes (woody debris,
into the Mississippi tributaries.
and pollution reduction. High sediment deposition, floodplain
In some cases, watersheds
quality, functional watersheds are connectivity), across spatial and
require minimum flows and peak
characterized by: temporal scales important to
flow events to sustain aquatic
biodiversity. Management of
withdrawals and storage systems do
not always take these concepts into
consideration.
Future economic and
environmental sustainability,
human health, and population
growth are all tied to and limited
by the supply of water and the
ecosystem services provided by
healthy watersheds. Hullar (1996)
grouped water issues into three key
areas: (1) physical and hydrologic
challenges, (2) biological problems,
and (3) policies and institutions.

More recently, Kiang and others from fertilized farm fields; (8) allocation and access; (3) political
(2011) stress the impact of land emergence of legacy contaminant and technical interstate and
use change, climate change and issues and the influence on water interbasin transfer of water; and (4)
variability, and markets, policies, quality; and (9) overall increased redundancy of backup systems and
and regulations on watershed demand on the water supply at conservation strategies.
health and resilience. Water issues regional domestic and international
are becoming increasingly complex scales.
and require multi-disciplinary Watershed function (health Water Research
science to find cross-cutting
solutions. There are a number
and resilience) and water security
(quantity, quality, and variability)
Gaps
of emerging factors that impact are inter-related, and they must
a watershed’s ability to deliver be sustained at local, regional, While the Clean Water Act has
clean and plentiful water supplies, national, and global scales. For significantly decreased point
including: (1) climate change and example, local communities are sources of pollution, non-point
its potential effects on biodiversity, often more attuned and responsive sources of pollution such as
water availability, and water quality; to watershed conditions and sediment, excess nutrients, solar
(2) groundwater overdraft for urban thus are critical in developing insolation (causing high summer
and suburban water supplies and rapid responses to perturbations. water temperatures), and urban
cropland irrigation, leading to Regional-scale assessments and runoff continue to plague many of
depleted water tables and drying management includes potential the nation’s waterways. Research
aquifers; (3) changing land use conflicts across political boundaries has significantly advanced our
such as increased urbanization, (e.g., state, county), but usually understanding of the importance
which result in more impervious at scales that are consistent with of aquatic physical regimes,
surfaces and leads to increased locally developed solutions. including temperature, sediment,
incidences of flooding and pollutant National-scale policies and wood debris input, and flow, for
inputs; (4) contaminants, such as actions are important for multi- maintaining functioning flowing
endocrine disruptors, or activities jurisdictional issues, but can involve water ecosystems from headwaters
such as hydrofracking or mining more complex trade-offs and to estuaries. Our understanding
and their impacts on aquatic life equity issues. Globally, watersheds of the watershed processes that
and human health; (5) deposition of encompass transboundary issues contribute to functioning non-
atmospheric pollutants and impacts that have the potential to create flowing water systems, from small
on surface water quality; (6) shifts international disputes and conflicts ephemerally flooded wetlands
in agricultural commodities or (Michel and Pandya 2009). to the Great Lakes, has also
production methods, which may Lessons learned from improved. This understanding has
lead to increased erosion and studying watershed function and yet to be fully implemented in a
sedimentation from conventional management within the U.S. are policy framework—we monitor and
tillage or overgrazing, increased transferable to other parts of the regulate systems using maximum
inputs of nitrogen, phosphorous, world. In particular: (1) industrial daily loads and maximum or
and carbon from fertilizer and and municipal wastewater minimum threshold values rather
livestock feed, and decreased and drinking water treatment than maintaining spatially explicit,
stream flows due to surface technologies for improving water regime-based water quality
diversions for irrigation; (7) quality; (2) implementation of standards that may be more
estuarine eutrophication due to policies, laws, and rules for relevant for maintaining watershed
leaching of high levels of nitrate governance to promote fair water function.

Successfully conserving changes to many aspects of stream functioning and water quality (e.g.,
watersheds for biodiversity and function, and prioritizing stressors areas of groundwater recharge,
water quality requires holistic, is difficult (Wenger et al. 2009). riparian areas, wetlands, or
interdisciplinary research. This Further stressors include nonnative floodplain habitats) (Wickham and
research can be paired with policy species introductions, interbasin Flather 2013).
and social-science studies to transfers, and habitat and species Despite our broad understanding
develop science-based solutions to homogenization. We generally lack of the impacts of human activity
on-the-ground problems. To foster a full understanding of how these on water quality and quantity,
public support and understanding changes in habitat translate to watershed planners face a variety
of policy changes, research needs changes in watershed biodiversity of unknowns, including changing
to be accompanied by outreach and ecosystem functioning (e.g., economic conditions for crop
and education focused on policy Jackson and Pringle 2010). A production (e.g., corn production
outcomes that translate to better understanding of linkages for ethanol markets), the impact
improvements in human quality of could inform policy aimed at of new extractive technologies
life and biodiversity. setting meaningful water quality (e.g., hydrofracking), and issues
The impacts of natural and thresholds, the maximum human for which there is little guidance,
human disturbances, including footprint levels in a watershed, such as minimizing and mitigating
silviculture, agriculture, and or regime-based standards for introductions of nonnative species.
urbanization on freshwater and water quality and quantity that are In addition, the energy-water
coastal marine habitats are necessary to maintain ecosystem nexus continues to dominate
generally well understood, but function and biological diversity many aspects of water quality
in a piecemeal fashion. While we from headwater streams to and quantity as energy extraction
understand that water quality estuaries (e.g., Poole et al. 2004, can sometimes both use and
stressors are inter-related, our Ice et al. 2004). To be effective, contaminate water (e.g., through
knowledge of system responses regulatory thresholds and/ damming, acid mine drainage, mine
to pollutants is usually based on or landscape planning must be tailings, hydrofracking solutions),
a series of bivariate relationships spatially explicit to protect areas while cheaper energy increases
(i.e., one response variable and one of watersheds or landscapes that options for water supply (e.g.,
stressor). Watershed urbanization are more vulnerable than others desalination).
imposes broad simultaneous or more essential for ecosystem Further complicating planning
is a lack of technology to process
and distribute water in a manner
that ensures consistent and
high quality supply to both
human users and the ecosystem
services expected from freshwater
habitats. In particular, we lack
sufficient techniques for removing
pharmaceutical waste from
wastewater, which may impact to
an unknown extent the integrity
of biological systems, animal
behavior (both domestic and
wildlife), and human health. It

may be more effective to consider communities should important
watershed mitigation activities primary water supplies or habitats Research Needs
that address water quality and become temporarily unavailable.
aquatic ecosystem function Policies must facilitate spatially and Priorities
holistically rather than through explicit management, and focus on
ad-hoc implementation of simple resistance and resiliency that are In the United States, a number of
and individual water properties most relevant in our most disaster- water quality challenges, particularly
and attributes (e.g., temperature, prone areas (e.g., coastal habitats, related to point sources of pollution,
nutrient loads). In addition, the areas prone to drought, wildfires have been effectively addressed.
importance of understanding and areas of high-seismic activity). The water problems we face now
watershed physical regimes (water are more complex and multi-
Ultimately, to sustain watershed
quantity and stream flow, thermal dimensional. Developing solutions
functioning and water security at a
regimes, and groundwater recharge) will require inter-disciplinary
range of geographic scales, we need
necessitates the advent and approaches involving the social and
to understand which human factors
advancement of technology that natural sciences. This integration
impact water and energy security,
allows us to monitor and manage of physical, biological, and social
water quantity, and water quality
water in real-time. sciences can help to create
at the local, regional, national,
linkages between the science and
Finally, we must understand and global levels. Human factors
management that allow for adaptive
the policies—including mitigation include impacts of existing energy
approaches to both. Prioritizing
requirements, watershed policy (biofuels, hydrofracking,
challenges and research needs
management, and water allocation— drilling, atmospheric deposition
will help lead to the development
that best contribute to sustaining from coal fired power plants,
of more efficient and effective
aquatic ecosystem services in pipelines, mineral extraction), forest
environmental policies. Gold et al.
the face of human land use management policy (streamside
(2013) and APLU (2010) outline a
activities, natural disturbance, management zones, and other set of research needs for water in
and climate change. Resistance, BMPs), agriculture policy (water agriculture. Here we expand this
the ability of an ecosystem to subsidies and other agriculture scope beyond agriculture to propose
maintain function when disturbed policies and practices that lead five research themes and associated
or undergoing environmental to unsustainable water use), objectives for moving water quantity
change, and resilience, the ability residential and urban development and quality management forward.
of an ecosystem to rapidly return (land-use and city planning), and
to a pre-disturbance state, are transportation (urban sprawl, mass Theme I: Improve understanding
increasingly important research transit, and highway development). of mechanistic linkages between
topics. This importance increases Policies appropriate for each factor land uses, extractive consumption
of water resources, and watershed
given the increased impact on across the range of scales are
resistance and resilience to better
society from natural disasters, required to ensure a balance of
inform policy.
including drought, hurricanes, and water supply with demand, and
wildfire. Intact systems with a full resilience of supply in the face of Quantify loads and impacts of
complement of native fauna appear unexpected disaster, disturbance nutrients in watersheds. Identify
more resistant to the impacts and ongoing climate change. In methods to reduce loads while
of disaster, and redundancy in summary, we need to understand maintaining healthy economies.
water supplies and key habitat which policies lead to a watershed- Identify meaningful water quality
features allows for increased specific ‘tipping point’ from fully thresholds related to biological
resilience in human and biological functioning to impaired. and human health.

Define achievable restoration Identify spatially explicit
targets for forested, urban, landscape and groundwater
agricultural, aquatic and features that provide
wetland systems. mechanisms of resistance and
Theme 2: Improve resilience to natural and man-
understanding of risks and caused hazards, particularly in
impacts to water supplies our most disaster-prone areas
from extractive uses, carbon (e.g., coastal habitats, areas
Determine the undeveloped sequestration technologies, and prone to wildfire and areas of
footprints needed in watersheds extractive technologies. high-seismic activity).
to buffer hydrologic and water Increase precision of
Quantify current agriculture use
quality changes and sustain groundwater data and
and overdraft.
biodiversity, water quality, or modeling to better manage
water quantity. Quantify the impacts of lands that recharge aquifers
Identify the land use variables increased irrigation due to to increase aquifer yield and
(indicators) that impact drought and changing climate prevent groundwater quality
watershed biodiversity in agricultural areas and deterioration from agricultural
and associated thresholds define sustainable use limits. and other sources.
(tipping points) beyond which Improve understanding of Apply geospatial approaches
watersheds are impacted or the presence of introduced such as modeling and remote
degraded. chemicals and resulting sensing technologies to better
Define components of natural byproducts resulting from model water quality and
regimes (flow, temperature, hydrofracking. quantify future water supply
natural vegetation) required to Improve understanding of and demand at regional and
maintain ecosystem services, the presence of introduced national scales.
and develop regime-based chemicals and resulting Use satellite and advanced
standards for water quality and byproducts resulting from information technologies to
quantity that are necessary to carbon injection in deep water predict potential water conflict
maintain ecosystem function wells. at all scales (inter- and intra-
and biological diversity, from Theme 3: Improve technology basin) and inform policy and
headwater streams to estuaries. to process and distribute water management.
Improve understanding of sub- in a manner that ensures Theme 4: Develop understanding
surface flow and groundwater sustainable, high quality of how existing and future
and surface water interactions, water for human uses and policies and land uses impact
which can be crucial for maintenance of ecosystem water security, quantity, and
biological communities and services. quality over regional and national
provide mechanisms for scales.
Develop techniques and
resilience to drought, climate processes for removing Engage communities early, and
warming, and disturbance. pharmaceuticals from in meaningful ways, in decision
Improve understanding of wastewater. and policy making processes
groundwater recharge and Develop technology that at the watershed level, giving
contaminant fate and transport allows us to monitor and them a voice and ensuring that
in both ground and surface manage water systems in real- the results are implementable
waters. time. and effective.

Identify water impacts resulting Analyze the importance of scale Increase social science research
from existing energy policy for watershed management that identifies decision-making
(e.g., production of biofuels, and BMPs implementation to processes that are necessary for
hydrofracking, oil drilling, maximize cost effectiveness watershed solutions.
atmospheric deposition from and ecological benefits and Increase understanding of
coal fired power plants, environmental services. how educational, incentive,
pipelines, mineral extraction, Assess the optimal places or regulatory tools change the
carbon injection, acid mine to focus future production behavior of the individual and
drainage, valley fill from of timber, bioenergy crops, institutional users of water
mountaintop removal mining) commodity crops, fruits and resources.
and potential solutions. vegetables, and livestock Develop a holistic
Identify regional and national grazing within sustainable understanding of our water
water impacts resulting from water use limits. resources in a systems context.
existing forest, rangeland, Assess the regional and
and agriculture policies and national future water pricing,
subsidies (e.g., water allocation
laws, existing national cropping
policy, conservation, and Expected Outcomes
management programs needed
and grazing patterns resulting to balance national water
from farm bill incentives relative demand with sustainable
to local supplies and resiliency) Water is a key component of our
supply.
and potential solutions. ecosystems and our economy.
Theme 5: Assess how the While significant progress has been
Define water impacts resulting
intersection of social (or human) made in protecting and restoring
from existing regional and
and natural (or evironmental) our watersheds, there is a need
national residential and urban
systems impact water security, to continue and even accelerate
development patterns and
quantity and quality. our efforts. Additional research,
identify potential alternatives
education, and outreach efforts are
and solutions. Increase use of hydro-
needed to better understand the
Examine water impacts resulting economics to understand and
challenges we face in protecting,
from existing transportation predict how new technologies
restoring, and conserving our
patterns and policies (e.g., and policies will ultimately
watersheds and aquifers.
impervious surface, sprawl, affect the condition of the
targeted water resource Implementation of the NR
habitat loss, introduction of
systems. Roadmap will create the knowledge
metals and salts into aquatic
necessary to inform policy
ecosystems), and analyze Increase economic
decisions that can result in more
effects of potential solutions understanding of management
(e.g., mass transit, high speed alternatives for wetland and
rail, cluster development, etc.). aquatic systems.
Analyze inter- and intra-basin Enhance use of benefit/cost
policy alternatives required analysis and policies to increase
to ensure a balance of water understanding of public
supply with demand and opinion (and determinants
resilience of supply in the face of) concerning economic-
of unexpected disaster and environmental trade-offs in
ongoing climate change. watersheds.

sustaining watershed functioning supply from natural disasters.
and water security at a range of The science in this roadmap
scales by proactively implementing will inform policies related to
BMPs and conservation alternatives, energy, forestry, agriculture, land
management strategies, watershed use, and transportation in ways
planning, and comprehensive that will improve water demand
conservation policies, all in balance management and sustain water
with societal needs. It will allow quality and supply.
us to identify opportunities for
improved water management, References
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watershed quality, security, and trends in water supply and water Universities, Experiment Station
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climate change, land use change, manner, and provide broad Technology Committee. 2010.
A Science Roadmap for Food
population growth, and other geographic context for assessing and Agriculture. Association
processes. These watersheds will be the consequences of not addressing of Public and Land-grant
able to provide economic services threats. Universities, Washington, DC.
while also providing ecosystem Implementation of the NR Gold, A.J., D. Parker, R.M. Waskom,
and environmental benefits. This Roadmap will help inform policy J. Dobrowolski, M. O’Neill, P.M.
will increase our ability to produce Groffman and K. Addy. 2013.
from the local to the global level. Advancing water resource
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Grand Challenge 3: Climate Change
We need to understand the impacts of climate change on our environment,

including such aspects as disease transmission, air quality, water supply,
ecosystems, fire, species survival, and pest risk. Further, we must develop
a comprehensive strategy for managing natural resources to adapt to
climate changes.
are known to have taken place in not only temperature change

during the past 10,000 years even but also sea level rise and altered
Framing the Issue while the climate was relatively storminess, make quantifying the
stable. Present-day climate change, future impacts of climate change
including but not limited to difficult.
Natural and managed ecosystems change caused by our alteration Much of the challenge of
are presently undergoing changes of greenhouse gas concentrations, understanding the interaction
in many respects at rates and is almost certain to move the between climate change and
magnitudes that mankind has Earth’s global mean temperature ecosystems is that present-day
never previously witnessed. The beyond the limits of the past climate change is relatively small
key drivers of these changes are 10,000 years (Marcott et al. 2013), and within the bounds of recent
traceable to human civilization, and is likely to move it beyond the variability, while most projections
climate change is one such driver. nominal 2°C (above preindustrial foresee much larger future changes.
Climate change involve atmospheric temperatures) limit of the past few At the local level, changes in
composition, temperature statistics, hundred thousand years (Masson- weather patterns over the past few
rainfall statistics, sea level rise, Delmotte et al. 2013), and in decades are sometimes as much or
the frequency and severity of some circumstances may cause more a product of natural variability
extreme events, and many other global temperatures to exceed the as climate change. This makes it all
characteristics of the climate system. bounds of the past few million the more challenging to distinguish
The Earth’s climate is always years (Dowsett et al. 2010). The effects caused by climate change
changing, and ecosystem changes wide range of future possibilities, from effects caused by other

external or internal drivers. Also, and providing recreation environment such as atmospheric
climate change responses will likely opportunities. nitrogen deposition (Templer et al.
not be linear, meaning that as the At the same time that we 2012). The permafrost underlying
climate changes beyond its recent must understand how climate will the Arctic tundra has stored carbon
geological envelope, many new and impact ecosystem structure and reserves on the same order of
unforeseen ecosystem responses function, we will also benefit by magnitude as the total human
are likely to emerge. understanding how ecosystems release of CO2 to the atmosphere
As a society, we must seriously themselves have the potential to date. The melting of the tundra
explore the potential impacts of to mitigate or exacerbate climate is therefore one of the largest
climate change on ecosystem change through natural responses single threats to rapidly increase
structure and function. Ecosystems and manag=ement choices. For the global atmospheric CO2
are critical components of cultural, example, because ecosystems store concentration (Schaefer et al. 2011).
social, and economic systems. large quantities of carbon in soils Climate change affects
Ecosystems produce an array of and biomass, many ecosystems agriculture directly because crops
critical services that support our such as forests have the potential are sensitive to temperature and
society, including but not limited to feedback positively or negatively precipitation and to extreme
to regulation of water quantity on atmospheric CO2. Whether weather events such as intense
and quality, carbon sequestration, such feedbacks are positive or rain events, flooding, frost, heat
provision of renewable natural negative will depend both on forest waves, and drought. Climate change
resources, harboring biodiversity, management and interactions with also affects agriculture indirectly
supporting wildlife and fisheries, other human influences on the by changing the natural resource

(Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii)
in Muskegon Lake, Michigan
(USA). Climate-driven anomalies
associated with global climate
variability patterns (Linthicum et
al. 2010) are also responsible for
epidemic and epizootic events of
both infectious and vector-borne
pathogens including diarrheal
diseases, cholera, bluetongue, Rift
Valley fever, dengue, and malaria.
Assessing risks and developing
strategies to focus interdisciplinary
research and to mitigate these
complex systems against global
health threats require adaptation in
scientific and policy considerations
base it is built upon, such as water and abundance of vectors such at all levels (Caceres 2012).
available for irrigation. Regional as mosquitoes and ticks and Understanding the magnitude
climate warming has already caused both native and exotic vertebrate and direction of the direct and
snowpack in western mountain host species change risk profiles indirect effects of climate change
ranges to melt more rapidly, causing for pathogen transmission and on ecosystems, combined with
diminished dry-season streamflows subsequent diseases of humans, the effect of ecosystem changes
and reduced water availability for livestock and wildlife (Tabachnick on climate, are among the most
irrigation. Agriculture is perhaps 2010). Likewise, invasive species important questions facing
the economic sector in the United and their negative impact on ecologists and natural resource
States most vulnerable to climate recreation and economics is well scientists and managers in the 21st
change; agriculture is the largest recognized, costing for example, the century.
water user in the United States and Great Lakes Region ~$200 million
accounts for 80-90% of consumptive
water use in the western United
dollars per year (Rothlisberger et
al. 2012). Increasing globalization Current Capacity
States (U.S. Department of
Agriculture [USDA] 2012).
of trade is enhancing the mobility
of potentially invasive species,
and Science Gaps
Climate change affects the and climate change can make
emergence and re-emergence of them more suited to a local Our knowledge about responses of
diseases of humans, livestock and climate than the native species ecosystems to climate change lies
other animals, as well as plants, (Drake et al. 2007, Litchman 2010, along two continua: from single
and can be viewed under the Strain 2012). New waterborne components of climate change
national and global concept of diseases and outbreaks (WBDOs) to the complete suite of climate
One Health (2014)) and phenology are spreading in a similar way. change effects, and from the
for plants and animals, the For example, Hong et al. (2006) response of individual organisms or
central focus of the USA National have documented the presence characteristics to the response of
Phenology Network (USA-NPN of a subtropical neurotoxin- entire ecosystems, including human
2014). Changes in distribution producing cyanobacterium components (Figure 3).

In general, our understanding Individual organisms Ecosystems
of the response of individual or characteristics and societies
organisms or characteristics to Single
a single component of climate climate Knowledge
change is relatively good, because variable level: good
questions of this sort are amenable
to experimentation and often a
wide variety of observations are
available. Although studies are
emerging that account for effects
over many generations of rapidly
growing microorganisms (Lohbeck
et al. 2012), it still remains a
challenge to adequately approach Complete
appropriately long timescales for suite of
larger organisms (months, years climate means Knowledge
extremes, level: poor
and longer), as well as timescales
and variability
relevant for evolution (Vose et al.
2012). Figure 3. Level of knowledge concerning climate change impacts along climate
and environmental complexity continua.
Our knowledge is much more
scarce when considering entire
biomes. We have a general sense minimum zones in the oceans large-scale water enclosures, known
of the effects of climate change (e.g., Gilly et al. 2013). Terrestrial as mesocosms (e.g., Riebesell et
on ecosystems from the behavior ecosystems respond to increased al. 2010), larger or more complex
of individual species. Increases in precipitation by increasing net systems are more difficult to treat
CO2 concentration generally lead to primary production and carbon holistically. For example, in forest
increases in water use efficiency, storage (Sala et al. 1988, Knapp and systems, climate change effects
and often but not always enhance Smith 2001). However, ecosystems research has focused on individual
net primary production and carbon are more than a collection of trees, usually seedlings or small
storage (Andreu-Hayles et al. 2011, independently acting species, and individuals. Research on stands
Keenan et al. 2013). Increases in our understanding of how species is rare due to the difficulty of
temperature lead to phenological interactions will be impacted by manipulating most climate-change
responses in freshwater (Berger climate change is rudimentary factors at large scales, and studies
et al. 2010), marine (Winder et al. (see, e.g., discussion in Thingstad on interactive effects (involving
2012), and terrestrial environments et al. 2008). These interactions will multiple climate factors) are almost
(Cleland et al. 2012). Increased be critical determinants of future non-existent (Vose et al. 2012).
ocean acidification due to increased changes in ecosystem structure Most ecosystems are tightly linked
CO2 loading is hypothesized to and function, and thus direct and to human systems through the
cause negative effects on calcifying indirect effects on cultural, social, services they provide, yet funding
organisms (Lohbeck et al. 2012), and economic systems. for human dimensions research
and food web transfer between Scale issues remain a problem as it pertains to natural resource
trophic levels (Rossoll et al. 2012) for most ecosystems studies. While management, such as ecosystem
and may be partially responsible for some plankton ecosystems have services, natural resource policy,
the rapid expansion of the oxygen been successfully manipulated in and environmental education,

is even more limited than the the first and best empirical data we that can explain observed changes
biophysical research on these have to predict future responses. (i.e., hindcast), few if any biological
systems. Ecosystem perturbations However, natural resource changes ecosystem models forecast complex
driven by climate change will have are complex and are also strongly interactions with any accuracy (see
direct impacts on natural resources affected by increasing human examples from marine ecosystem
and thus on jobs, economic growth, populations searching for better models tested on an ecosystem-
health, and well-being. While it standards of living, increased scale in mesocosms [Thingstad and
is relatively straightforward to energy demands, housing, and Cuevas 2010]).
predict how changing temperature food. Changing habitats will be a To predict future ecosystem
and precipitation will alter water major factor in determining how changes, it is further necessary to
quantity (Sun et al. 2011), it is climate change impacts the earth. predict future changes in climate.
much harder to determine how Because future climate change will At present, such predictions
natural resource productivity will not necessarily match past climate are rudimentary and uncertain.
be sustained as water quality change, it is necessary to develop Challenges in estimating future
and quantity change within a mechanistic knowledge of the emissions, and the strength of
and across biomes. The United particular aspects of climate change climate feedbacks, mean that
Nations Conference on Sustainable that are likely to have the greatest estimates of global temperatures
Development (2012) and the United impacts. For example, the rapid in the year 2100 vary by several
Nations Development Program increase in Oxygen Minimum Zones degrees Celsius. Scale issues are
(Kjørven 2012) have both recently (OMZ) in the world oceans (e.g., important here as well: at the local
noted many emerging research Gilly et al. 2013) is thought to be level, some aspects of climate
topics that are essential to the related to climate change through change seem relatively certain such
management and sustainability of changes in weather patterns in as temperature changes, while
the natural resource base on our turn altering ocean currents. Many other aspects are much more poorly
planet. ecosystem changes, such as earlier known. For example, just about
As scientists attempt to fill growing season starts, earlier everywhere in the United States
gaps by expanding our knowledge migration arrivals, and species there are some climate models that
of individual effects, it is also distributions shifting upward project an increase in summertime
possible to work from the observed in elevation and pole-ward, are precipitation and others that project
effects of a changing climate. The explainable as a direct consequence a decrease (Scheff and Frierson
response of ecosystems to past or of changing temperatures. However, 2012).
ongoing climate change is often the more complex interactions Uncertainties in future climatic
must be studied conditions are but one source of
in the context of uncertainty. Universities and their
entire ecosystems federal, state, non-profit and private
to be understood, partners have a wealth of scientific
because present expertise on how to quantify
models fail to population, metapopulation and
explain these community dynamics and the
mechanisms. In relationship of fish and wildlife to
fact, whereas habitats (e.g., Brodie et al. 2013,
many ecosystem- Parn et al. 2011, Schwartz 2012,
scale models have Weber and Brown 2013). For many
been developed decades, scientists have been

studying and modeling factors which climate change impacts management. Policymakers tend
that impact species' persistence can be reduced through adaptive to advocate the elimination of
and then implementing necessary management. But this information risk, even though elimination
conservation and management is critical to determine the benefits of risk may be cost-prohibitive
actions (e.g., Langwig et al. 2012, and costs of proactively managing or technologically impractical.
Peron and Koons 2012). The great climate change risks. In some cases, For example, many government
challenge and gap, albeit a gap that it may be best to prevent emerging organizations (e.g., the Great Lakes
is closing with modern technologies threats, while in other cases it may Restoration Initiative) and non-
and improved statistical knowledge, be best to simply deal with the government organizations are
is to quantify and understand consequences as they occur. calling for a “zero tolerance level”
the uncertainty and variability in Ultimately, these combinations of of aquatic invasive species and
population, metapopulation and uncertainty mean that the challenge water-borne disease outbreaks
community dynamics, habitat of natural resource management in through early detection surveillance,
ecology, and climate change and to a changing climate is fundamentally rapid response capability, and
then incorporate that uncertainty an exercise in risk management. development of ballast water
and variability into management Understanding the potential impact technology. Traditional sampling
actions. We also need to bridge of climate change and the benefits practices of netting, trapping,
gaps among the physical, biological, and costs of proactively managing or time series analysis will not
and social sciences by encouraging climate change risks is the ultimate accomplish these goals.
interdisciplinary teams that will link challenge for economic research on
climate change models to habitat
models to models of population and
climate change. These challenges
include:
Research Needs
community dynamics (e.g., Gieder
et al. 2014). As such integrated
What are the potential economic and Priorities
impacts of climate change at
models become accurate, we will
local, state, regional, national,
need to translate their predictions Much could be written about
and global levels, and on
into actionable knowledge for promising approaches for reducing
individuals, businesses, and
natural resource managers and the various knowledge gaps
public institutions?
policymakers. discussed in the previous section.
Much research has focused
What are distributional impacts Here we highlight some overarching
of climate change? In other research themes that apply across
on the potential environmental
words, how does climate many subdisciplines and offer the
and economic impacts of climate
change affect populations in greatest potential for practical
changes. How these impacts are
different regions and income knowledge gains.
distributed spatially and across
groups?
socioeconomic groups are not
well understood. Are low-income What are the opportunity Observational and
households more vulnerable to costs of proactive adaptive Experimental Approaches
climate change? How will climate- management? Many of the greatest challenges in
related changes impact the How do uncertainty and understanding the effects of climate
economical basis for rural versus irreversibility affect the benefits change on natural resources involve
urban communities, and thus and costs of climate change risk interactions between multiple
demography and infrastructure? management? climate variables, natural processes,
In addition, we have limited Society has historically not and society. Ecosystem responses to
information about the extent to done a very good job with risk climate change are contingent upon

change as well as capturing
ecosystem response to
stochastic events along the way.
Simulations and Modeling

Computer models, whether
statistical, dynamical, or mixed,
provide useful tools for testing our
understanding of the behavior of
natural and human systems. If such
models have been validated, they
can serve as valuable planning and
management tools utilizing long-
term data sets (e.g., Dodds et al.
2012, Hunt and Nuttle 2007). Key
needs are to:
Develop mechanistic ecosystem
models with predictive power
comparable to statistical
a large number of location, history, utilize confluences of modeling models, suitable for ecosystem
and stochastic variables. Among the technologies in predicting management planning under
highest-priority research challenges changes and are informative to uncertain or novel climatic
are to: governments, agencies, and the futures;
Identify signals of climate public at large;
Improve climate-based models
change that inform short-, Prioritize resources for research for areas where we presently
intermediate-, and long-term in different geographical areas are expecting the most rapid
predictions, forecasting, and on the basis of level of present global impacts, such as for the
early warning involving whole- understanding, the speed of melting tundra where present
system structure and function; environmental change, and models predict a third of the
Define effects of predicted the potential for far-reaching global soil carbon may be
climate change on nature- impacts. released as CO2 within decades
human interactions; Develop practical technologies (e.g., Dorrepaal et al. 2009);
Define interactions and effects for measuring, analyzing, Improve climate-based models
of climate and habitat changes and assessing environmental for key insects, diseases,
on population, meta-population, responses to climate change, disease vector dynamics, and
and community dynamics especially on full ecosystem potential human, animal and
and change at ecosystem levels to separate single species plant health impacts;
boundaries, along habitat vulnerability from system
Improve methods for
gradients, and within ocean resilience; and
quantifying carbon pools
current systems, at local to Support long-term ecosystem and fluxes suitable for use
regional scales; research that offers unique by resource managers and
Develop early warning systems opportunities to study incorporation into ongoing
(e.g., real-time analyses) that responses to recent climate inventory programs such as

those for fisheries, forestry, and model simulations, and natural
Expected Outcomes
agriculture; variability;
Improve models for predicting Identify and estimate location-
changing hydrologic regime specific climate drivers and
impacts on natural and their uncertainties under a
Climate change impacts are complex,
managed ecosystems – e.g., range of future scenarios;
that is, they cut cross traditional
range or forest health and yield Define the impacts of population, community, and
under warmer scenarios with uncertainty and irreversibility ecosystem boundaries, and they
increased evapotranspiration; associated with climate are often not fully understood
and change and their impacts on unless the cumulative impacts can
Coordinate climate and management strategies and be quantified across large spatial
ecosystem researchers and public policies for mitigating and long temporal scales. Research
data for improved modeling of climate change impacts; efforts to address cumulative
weather variability and extreme Develop improved impacts of climate change, and to
cyclical events (wildfire, insect communication language and quantify and understand uncertainty
and disease, cyclonic storms, education from the scientists/ related to the impacts, will enable
etc.) and their alteration by researcher to the decision us to effectively use our limited
predicted or forecast climate maker/politician/land manager, resources to prioritize mitigation
change. and public at-large; and strategies and manage climate
Management, Risk and Define best-practice tools and change risks at a scale that will
processes for quantifying and lead to the best outcome. Research,
Uncertainty teaching, and outreach are the
assessing risk (vulnerability,
Risk evaluation and management of susceptibility, and probability) key components to preparing for,
natural resources in the context of under typical natural resource mitigating, and adapting to future
climate change requires real-time management scenarios and climate changes. Better coupling
monitoring data, comprehensive for better managing under of teaching (kindergarten through
exploration of the consequence uncertain future conditions. graduate school) and outreach
of management choices, and
models for testing management
hypotheses. Cross-disciplinary
knowledge of the uncertainties
associated with climate change and
climate change impacts is especially
poor, leading inevitably to poor or
biased understanding of uncertainty
by natural resource managers and
other stakeholders. Among the
highest-priority challenges are to:
Determine the uncertainties
in estimates of ongoing and
future local and regional climate
change that arise from potential
errors in climate change drivers,

(to professionals, policymakers, of improved adaptation measures, Improved allocation of resources
and the general public) functions public policy and management to manage risks associated with
to research efforts are central tools for the natural resources climate change and variation;
to achieving meaningful societal systems that we rely upon for Rational, scientifically informed
outcomes. These coupling functions economic goods and services. public policy for addressing
must operate multi-directionally, Adopting these policies and climate change issues;
allowing for crosstalk and feedback measures will lead to more
Discovery of new paradigms
among functions that will enhance effective mitigation actions and
supporting real-time
the efficiency and effectiveness will better prepare us for climate
management; and
of the research, education and change risks.
outreach enterprises. Specifically, the expected Discovery of new technologies
outcomes from adopting for monitoring, evaluating,
Presently, natural resource
recommendations in the NR adapting and managing
management agencies are
Roadmap include: resources, risk, and mitigation.
addressing climate change impacts
and threats with the existing Improved outreach education References
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Grand Challenge 4: Agriculture
We must develop a sustainable, profitable,

and environmentally responsible
agriculture industry.
specifically on creating sustainable
Framing the Issue

agriculture. However, we would
be remiss if we did not highlight
the importance of developing a
sustainable agricultural industry
The Delphi survey named to the sustainability of our natural
agriculture as one of the six grand resources. Furthermore, we must
challenges of natural resources. We also point out that agriculture
have chosen in the NR Roadmap cannot exist without the natural
to reference the ESCOP Science resources base upon which it exists,
Roadmap for Agriculture (APLU namely clean and abundant water,
2010) rather than writing a chapter healthy soils, pollinators, genetic
biodiversity, and a stable climate. References
To demonstrate the degree Association of Public and Land-grant
of overlap between the natural Universities, Experiment Station
resources and agriculture, we Committee on Organization
have examined the goals under and Policy—Science and
Technology Committee. 2010.
the challenges in both roadmaps
A Science Roadmap for Food
and looked for commonalities. We and Agriculture. Association
present the areas of overlap in of Public and Land-grant
Appendix C. Universities, Washington DC.

Grand Challenge 5: Energy
We must identify new and alternative renewable energy sources and improve
the efficiency of existing renewable resource-based energy to meet increasing
energy demands while reducing the ecological footprint of energy production
and consumption.
Between 1980 and 2000, U.S. need to focus our research. This
Framing the Issue

energy usage grew 21%. Though is meant to be a high-level, broad
the past decade has seen some overview of the intersection of
plateauing of energy consumption energy and natural resources. By
in the U.S., energy consumption necessity, most topics are covered
Throughout history, all civilizations
is expected to rise again as the briefly. Furthermore, the chapter
have depended on some type
economy cycles back into a strong is not intended to be all inclusive,
of energy, but modern society
growth period. Even now, the U.S. but to focus particularly on new
consumes vast quantities of
is increasing exports of natural gas. and developing energy sources.
energy. Energy consumption
To support this current and growing That said, some traditional energy
is a primary base upon which
consumption, the U.S. expends a sources are raising new questions
the U.S. economy rests.
great deal of capital and resources related to natural resources. In
From transportation to food
to produce or purchase energy particular, hydrofracking has raised
production and consumption to
sources. a variety of new natural resources
climate-controlled buildings to
manufacturing to delivery of tap Energy production and issues. This chapter does not
water to households, Americans transformation, no matter the address research related to energy
could not live in the manner they source, creates stresses on the efficiency although there have
are accustomed if not for large environment. This chapter examines been remarkable gains in this area
energy production, availability, and those impacts and ask what gaps over the past 20 years. Continued
consumption. in knowledge exist and where we improvements in energy efficiency

represent a key opportunity for potential releases of radiation and habitat fragmentation, and
meeting energy demands of the and the concomitant dangers of water contamination. Hydrofracking
world’s growing human population. those releases as well as release may add to this list of concerns
When considering the impact of excess heat into the atmosphere for natural gas production, so
of energy production and use on and water bodies. Coal production additional research will be needed
natural resources, it is useful to raises concerns about mining and in that area. The biggest challenge
divide the sources of energy into its effects on local ecosystems, for these traditional carbon-based
non-renewable and renewable. particularly water contamination, energy sources, however, has
Non-renewable energy sources soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. been the growing knowledge and
include traditional sources such as Historically, its associated air evidence of their impact on climate
coal, petroleum, natural gas, and pollution has been costly to the change. Concern about climate
nuclear. Renewable energy sources environment, particularly in the change has led the coal-related
include hydropower, wind, solar, form of acid rain down-wind industries to research carbon
geothermal, marine, and biomass/ from coal burning facilities. Oil sequestration as a tool to reduce
bioenergy. production and delivery comes with their carbon emissions. Because
The impacts on natural concerns about oil spills, water this technology is still under
resources and society from the contamination, habitat disturbance, development, additional research
extraction, production, and use of air pollution, and noise. Natural on impacts of natural resources of
non-renewable energy are fairly gas production and delivery brings carbon sequestration from coal will
well-known. Nuclear energy risks concerns about air pollution, land be needed.

Renewable energy research coal, petroleum, and natural gas history and produces a great deal
during the coming decades will can disturb the environment at, of electricity, particularly in the
need to balance various needs above, and below the earth’s Pacific Northwest. There are very
including environmental stress, surface. The direct economic costs few new opportunities to expand
public perceptions and acceptability, of development, e.g., environmental hydroelectric power in the U.S.
regional differences, economics, permitting, infrastructure However, operating hydropower
technical feasibility, geopolitics, and development, labor, and equipment, dams as a system, there is potential
fluctuations in the supply, demand, are quantifiable. The externalities, to increase the overall capacity
and price of nonrenewable energy. such as negative impacts associated (i.e., meeting peak loads) of the
In sum, the environmental impacts with contaminated ground and hydropower system. Furthermore,
of carbon-base energy extraction surface water, noise and air many small and large dams are
are highly complex and require pollution, temporary and permanent being removed for environmental
multi-disciplinary input. Similarly, changes to the landscape, reasons as their operation licenses
the varied factors associated with biodiversity, and impacts to expire (Poff and Hart 2002, Gowan
renewable energy development natural resources are more difficult et al. 2006). The rivers that can
require broad and multi-disciplinary to valuate. These often require be cost effectively dammed have
consideration. There is no single- environmental economics, life cycle been harnessed. The capital cost of
best or one-size-fits-all answer. analysis, social science and human hydroelectric power, along with the
dimensions studies. environmental costs (particularly
There is a great national interest to riverine fish and other aquatic
Gap Analysis in developing means of renewable resources) is increasingly difficult
energy. Hydroelectric power is to justify in the U.S. This notion
perhaps the most mature of these is evidenced by the lack of new
Energy production is a stressor areas. Deriving its energy from the and removal of some existing
with respect to natural resources. combination of gravity and water, hydroelectric structures. In areas
Exploration and development of hydroelectric power has a long where hydroelectric power will be
maintained, substantial challenges
and knowledge gaps remain with
respect to fish passage (both
upstream and downstream) and
effects on aquatic resources from
hydrology and hydroperiods that
differ from natural flows (Renöfält
et al. 2009). Two related energy
sources may largely replace new
dams. Pump storage facilities are
viable environmentally. These
require a major capital outlay and
consume large amounts of land.
These systems work by using
two reservoirs, one elevated with
respect to the other. At night, when
electric power demand and rates
are low, water is pumped to the

upward reservoir. During the day, turbines may represent the greatest substantial (Bedard et al. 2010,
when electric power demand is impact on wildlife (Arnett et al. Boehlert and Gill 2010). These
peaking—and most costly—water is 2007, Pearce-Higgins 2009, Sovacool include extraction of energy from
released from the upper reservoir to 2009). Loss and fragmentation waves, tides, ocean currents,
generate power. Given the advances of habitat due to construction, temperature gradients, and salinity
in real time metering, use of pump increased human access and the gradients. Offshore wind is an
storage facilities may increase. footprint of the facilities can be important resource that is included
Secondly, in-stream turbines significant issues in some habitats. here because the technology and
that can be used in both riverine Thus, there are knowledge gaps potential environmental effects
and tidal situations are showing with respect to wind farm siting, differ from those in terrestrial
potential (Khan et al. 2009). turbine design and long-term installations, but the full realm of
Wind power is also a proven operations. Some studies suggest offshore wind impacts are not well
technology that is expanding that bat mortality frequently occurs understood. In general, research
dramatically worldwide, and during periods of low wind and on environmental effects of marine
is the most rapidly growing energy production suggesting that renewable energy in Europe has
renewable energy source in the curtailment experiments might be moved forward more rapidly than
U.S. Most studies of impacts of possible to reduce impacts (Arnett that in North America (see, for
wind developments on wildlife et al. 2007). Research on alerting example European Marine Energy
have been short-term in nature and deterring mechanisms such as Centre [EMEC] 2005, Maunsell and
and longer term studies will be visual or auditory approaches may METOC PLC 2007), but this summary
needed to better elucidate patterns also help reduce conflicts (Arnett et will focus on North American.
and develop models predicting al. 2007). Marine renewable energy sources
habitat fragmentation and other Several sources of marine are not without environmental and
disturbance effects (Arnett et al. renewable energy are under social effects (Pelc and Fujita 2002,
2007). Wind energy causes both development or consideration, Boehlert and Gill 2010, Henkel et
direct and indirect impacts on and the potential resources are al. 2013). Early development of
ecosystems and wildlife species.
Wind energy developments affect
the visual landscape as wind towers
and wind farms are visible for
many miles. Other direct effects
include mortality of birds and bats
that are struck by turbines or by
collisions with other structures
associated with wind development
(i.e., towers, fences, transmission
lines) (Arnett et al. 2007, Smallwood
and Thelander 2008). Indirect
effects of wind energy are less well
understood and likely pose greater
impacts on wildlife populations
than the direct effects (Arnett et al.
2007). Disturbance of wildlife and
avoidance of areas in proximity to

tidal energy, for example, used the Management [BOEM] 2011, Boehlert beneficial increase in biodiversity
barrage, basically a dam across a et al. 2013) generally show that in these systems (Inger et al.
tidal area that allowed water in we are in an early stage of our 2009, Witt et al. 2012). Langhamer
on incoming tides but held it on understanding, and that research and Wilhelmsson (2009) noted an
outgoing tides and used the trapped is needed to identify the stressors increase in fish and crab abundance
water height differential to generate that may have serious impacts and near anchors for a wave energy
electricity. Much like traditional rule out those that will not; several development, and by engineering
dams, these are in disfavor due to common threads of potential the foundations with holes, noted a
their environmental effects, and in- impacts to natural resources cross five-fold increase in the abundance
stream turbines have taken their the various technologies (Table 1). of commercially important crab
place. More recent development Some effects of developing species compared to nearby
of new marine technologies (e.g., marine renewable energy in marine areas. Similarly, floating devices
wave, tidal, ocean current, offshore systems have been cited as positive or structures in the water column
wind, ocean thermal energy or beneficial. Many of these can aggregate organisms through
conversion) is accelerating, but effects have to do with structural the “FAD” or fish aggregation
examination of environmental changes to the marine environment device effect (Addis et al., 2006).
effects is just beginning; the associated with anchors or drifting Larger-scale installations of marine
potential impacts on natural structures. In the case of wave renewable energy devices may also
resources represent an important energy development, the majority act as de facto marine reserves due
part of these undertakings. The of installations will take place to potential exclusion of fishing
level of interest in these impacts on relatively featureless sand or within deployment areas (DOE
is shown by a report on possible mud-sand bottoms. Placement 2009).
environmental effects documented of anchors, in many cases large Biomass fuels, derived from
in response to an act of Congress concrete and steel structures, plant materials and animal wastes,
(Department of Energy [DOE] 2009). will have an “artificial reef” can provide a significant portion
Review papers (e.g., Boehlert and effect, changing bottom type and of the nation’s renewable energy
Gill 2010) and reports of workshops consequently the communities of (Energy Information Administration
(Boehlert et al. 2008, Polagye et al. organisms that are found there. [EIA] 2008). While many definitions
2011, Bureau of Ocean and Energy Some have cited this change as a of “biomass” are available, in
Table 1: A summary of marine renewable energy sources and examples of knowledge gaps regarding
possible environmental effects, with references for further reading.
Technology Examples of Environmental Knowledge Gaps Reference
Wave Energy Marine mammal and endangered fish interactions; alterations to benthic Boehlert et al. 2008, DOE
ecosystems; impacts on near-shore sand transport; electromagnetic effects; 2009, Boehlert et al. 2013
acoustic effects
Tidal Energy Acoustic effects, electromagnetic effects, benthic changes; fish and marine DOE 2009, Polagye et
mammal impacts al. 2011
Offshore Wind Seabird interactions; lights; acoustics; cetacean impacts with in-water Arnett et al. 2007, BOEM
structures 2011, Boehlert et al. 2013
Ocean Current Energy Entanglement, pelagic organism aggregation and community effects, elec- DOE 2009
tromagnetic effects, acoustic effects
Ocean Thermal Energy Thermal discharge effects, noise, entrainment and impingement DOE 2009
Conversion

the case of bio-energy it basically of achieving the maximum possible
encompasses the parts of plants rates of use. Forestry-based
that are generally indigestible biomass – whether as bark, leaves,
(non-food) and from which no branches, etc., or as clean woody
other value added products such fiber, is one of the most important
as lumber and engineered panel sources. Forest-based biomass is
products can be derived. Biomass readily available throughout the
from the unused stems and leaves year. This seasonal availability
of plants, bark, needles, roots, is advantageous as compared
shells, etc. can be burned directly, to agriculture-based biomass
pelletized, or converted to liquid sources, which generally have
fuels. Additionally, biomass can be fixed and limited annual growing
converted to synthesis gas (syngas) and harvesting seasons. While
in a gasifier and subsequently the corn-based ethanol is a bio-fuel,
syngas can be burned, transported, it is not biomass derived. Biomass
or compressed and stored. Clean energy can be generated from plant
low-value wood, such as that from materials and animals wastes in a Ash content minimization is one of
thinning southern pines is also a number of ways including anaerobic the key factors related to energy
candidate for bio-energy production. digestion, gasification, direct from biomass. Levels on the order
The Gulfsouth and Southeast region combustion, co-firing (with coal or of 1% ash cause major tool wear,
of the U.S. is a strong candidate natural gas), and combined heat poison catalysts, create enormous
for biomass-related research as it and power generation. There have spent ash and boiler slag disposal
has warm temperatures and ample been substantial advances over problems, etc. In general, wood as
rainfall for biomass production. The the past two decades in making a biomass source for other energy
availability of marginal land is a key biomass generation more efficient technologies such as liquid fuels,
to large scale biomass production. and cleaner and this will continue briquettes, pellets, lead other
If biomass is to achieve widescale to be a critical research need into biomass types in commercialization.
acceptance as an energy source, it the future (Tilman et al. 2009). Other key issues are continuity of
must be competitive for land use; Comparatively low ash content is supply and transportation distance
that is, its cultivation must be more another benefit of forest-based as forest residues are bulky and
financially attractive than the crop biomass. Clean woody fiber, that given their often high moisture
with the next highest value. Prime is debarked wood, has one of the content are expensive to move.
farmland, developed real estate, lowest ash contents of all bio-based Further reference is available from
and lakefront recreational areas for plant materials (<0.5% on a dry the Journal of Forestry, special
example are worth more per acre basis). Bark, leaves, and needles issue related to biomass use
for those uses than they would be from trees as well as plant-based and feedstock issues (Society of
if deployed for biomass production. stems, stalks, husks, shells, etc., American Foresters 2011).
At present, biomass is typically commonly have ash contents above New technologies for bio-fuel
a coproduct from agriculture and 1%. Due to its ready availability, production are rapidly emerging
forestry sources. That is, corn, transportation infrastructure, and and represent a significant focus
soybeans, paper, lumber, etc. are existing conversion facilities such for research and development
the primary products and burning as gassifiers, burners, and boilers, (Abbasi and Abbasi 2010). These
or baling of forest and agriculture as well as nearby markets, basic emerging technologies include
residues is performed as a means wood energy is well developed. microalgae (Chisti 2007), fuel cells

[NRC] 2011). Sources of biomass (Wu 2000, NRC 2011, Rupp et
can be harvested at unsustainable al. 2012). Research is needed
rates and their production and to evaluate and mitigate these
extraction can damage ecosystems. impacts.
There are many historical examples Biomass fuels derived from
in which forests have been wholly forest resources may also pose
denuded in support of heat energy substantial environmental issues
production. Production of energy (NRC 2011). Much of these fuels
from biomass may also consume are likely to come from non-
large amounts of water and industrial private forestlands (U.S.
produce harmful air pollution or net Forest Service [USFS] 2001) that
greenhouse gas emissions (Table 2). are primarily regulated at the
Three areas warrant special mention state level, resulting in substantial
because of their potential impacts variation in permissible practices
on natural resources. across jurisdictions. Two primary
Production agriculture dedicated issues are supply dependability
for converting sugars directly to biomass production may have and environmental sustainability
to electricity (Chaudhuri and substantial ramifications for natural (NRC 2011). Environmental
Lovley 2003), and development resources depending on the crops sustainability is maintained
of engineered yeast for increased produced and the production by state-specific BMPs, third-
ethanol yields (Alper et al. 2006) systems used and may increase party forest certification, or by
among others. In some cases, fuel net greenhouse gas emissions (NRC forest management plans. These
production may be coupled with 2011). The use of non-agricultural approaches seek to minimize short-
water treatment plants because oil lands or conversion of conservation term impacts and avoid long-term
can be extracted from microbes that easements (i.e., Conservation deterioration of key indicators of
digest sludge. Reserve Program lands) for biofuel sustainability—water quality, soil
Biomass energy has production may impact biodiversity productivity, wildlife habitat, and
environmental risks that need to be (Bies 2006, Fargione et al. 2009, biodiversity. Forest biofuels that
mitigated and addressed in energy Rupp et al. 2012), wildlife habitats, rely on removal of timber residues
policy (National Research Council water quality and soil productivity such as branches, bark and tree
Table 2: A summary of possible negative environmental effects from biomass energy production, with
references for further reading.
Possible Environmental Effects Reference
Air quality and net carbon emissions Bain 2003, Tilman 2009, NRC 2011
Biodiversity Bies 2006; Fargione et al. 2009, 2011; Webster et al. 2010; NRC 2011
Wildlife habitat loss and degradation Abbasi and Abbasi 2000, Wu 2000; Rowe et al. 2009, Tilman 2009, NRC 2011
Nutrient removal and loss Pimentel et al. 1983, National Academy of Sciences [NAS] 2003, Eisenbies et al.
2009, NRC 2011
Soil erosion and run-off Abbasi and Abbasi 2010
Water quality and use Pimentel et al. 2004, Schilling 2009, Murphy and Allen 2011, NRC 2011

tops that are commonly left on
the ground are likely to decrease
ground-level habitat for wildlife
and arthropods (Webster et al.
2010, Rupp et al. 2012) and reduce
site productivity (Eisenbies et al.
2009) and water quality (Schilling
2009). Forest biofuel production that
removes logs and snags may reduce
biodiversity (NRC 2011, Rupp et al.
2012). However, converting woody
material into products and biofuels
and subsequently intentionally
managing and replanting the
forest is more favorable for
carbon tracking and sequestration
than letting the forest decay.
For additional information about water chemistry, and water level Finally, substantial research
this complex issue, the reader is maintenance and evaporative is needed to quantify policy
referred to the Journal of Forestry loss of open systems especially options associated with biomass
special issue (Society of American in arid regions most suitable energy production. These analyses
Foresters 2011). for cultivation, and wastewater should examine trade-offs
Biofuels produced from pollution of aquatic systems between economic benefits and
microalgae and cyanobacteria (Murphy and Allen 2011). Supply environmental costs at appropriate
offer high biomass productivity and recycling of key nutrients affect scales over the life cycle of the
and can be grown in cultivation net energy production and may fuels (NRC 2011) and develop
ponds, bioreactors or on non- pose substantial environmental uniform indicators for monitoring
arable lands using waste and saline costs depending on the source and environmental effects of biofuels
water (NRC 2012). Algal biofuels are production system used (Cai et al. (van Dam et al. 2008). Landscape
among the least well-developed 2011). Conversion of land (primarily planning approaches that integrate
renewable energies and substantial grasslands and rangelands) for bioenergy into agriculture and forest
research and development is algal biofuel production impacts management are likely to lead to
needed in the areas of strain terrestrial (Fargione et al. 2011) and development of biofuel industries
selection, use of wastewater aquatic ecosystems (NRC 2011) and that result in net environmental
and recycling of harvested water results in land-use changes with benefits.
and recycling of nutrients (NRC ramifications for natural-resource Solar energy production is
2012). Use and production of algal based communities (Darzins et rapidly increasing in the U.S.
biofuels may cause significant al. 2010). Finally, whether algae primarily in the form of solar
environmental impacts. Water would be burned, extracted for oil, photovoltaic and solar thermal
quantity and quality are critical fermented into alcohol, or other, its systems. Solar systems adapted to
concerns in several aspects of high water content is problematic. the built environment (i.e., roof-
algal biofuel production, including The water must be removed, an top solar panels) are assumed to
amounts of water added to or energy intensive process, for any have minimal impact on natural
purged to maintain appropriate type of fuel development. resources (Katzner et al. 2013).

are decades away at best, but
they help exemplify the need for
consideration of changes to the
grid.
Geothermal energy is among
the best developed renewable
energy sources. Geothermal energy
uses the earth’s heat as an energy
source and is developed in three
general ways: geothermal springs
and hot dry rock geothermal for
electricity production, and ground-
source heat pumps for direct
heating and cooling of buildings
and homes. Environmental impacts
of geothermal energy production
depends on the technology used to
convert the heat to electricity and
The primary environmental refining the raw materials to make the type of cooling technology used.
issue associated with industrial- the photovoltaics are not well Geothermal energy production has
scale solar systems is the large documented. the potential to impact both water
collection areas required for Distributed versus centralized quantity and quality. Because some
deploying the systems for energy power systems is an area of current water is lost to steam, geothermal
capture and electricity generation research. Smaller, distributed plants require additional water to
(NRC 2010) and the resulting generation systems place different maintain underground reservoirs
ecological and environmental demands on the electrical grid. and prevent ground subsidence,
impacts. The principal region to Distributed systems are often and some cooling system
deploy solar energy systems in less efficient than centralized technologies require substantial
the U.S. is in the desert Southwest generation facilities however, less water inputs. Some plants use
and a typical system may cover transmission infrastructure is treated wastewater to maintain
more than a square mile of land required. Ultimately, if technologies reservoir levels, but no cases of
resulting in wildlife habitat loss such as solar panels and residential water contamination have been
and degradation. Roads and hydrogen turbines are perfected, documented in the U.S. (National
transmission lines associated then every household could be its Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL]
with these developments cause own generation point. Similarly, 2012). Open-loop systems emit
additional habitat loss and there are active discussions related hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide,
fragmentation. Furthermore, to electric cars wherein they could ammonia, methane, and boron,
arid areas where solar systems be plugged in and recharged at which may contribute to acid rain.
are most likely to be deployed night (when overall grid demand Land use is another potential issue
commonly have high biodiversity is low), driven to work, then with geothermal energy production
and endemism (Katzner et al. plugged in such that the battery because plants have large footprints
2013). The external costs of solar discharges in part to the grid (when and are frequently located in
energy production, such as those overall grid demand is high), then remote, environmentally sensitive
associated with mining and driven home. These possibilities areas.

Regardless of energy or resource issues; some of these existing markets but require
bioenergy type a variety of issues can only be addressed with process, transportation, or
must be addressed. These include cooperation among natural resource combustion modifications.
compliance with or influencing professionals, policy makers, Identify opportunities to
rules and regulations have been engineers, etc. improve redundancy and
developed over time that apply capacity in the electrical grid.
Improve understanding of
directly to the energy sector and its
costs and benefits of energy Scale up from bench-top to pilot
relationship with natural resources.
development and use and public level conversion technologies,
The environmental costs associated perceptions related to energy. on the path toward
with any energy type need to be
commercialization.
addressed. Air pollution, water Conduct full life-cycle analyses
pollution, noise, light pollution, land of costs and benefits of Minimize impacts of increasing
changes, and public perception all different energy sources at energy demands on natural
must be addressed constructively. local, regional and national resources.
scales.
Develop uniform indicators,
Quantify trade-offs among
Research Needs land/sea-use alternatives (i.e.,
such as life cycle analysis
scoring or reporting of
and Priorities fisheries, forestry, grazing) in
areas that may be developed
environmental effects of energy
development and use.
for energy production.
Demand for energy in the U.S. and Quantify biodiversity impacts of
Conduct economic analyses energy development and use
globally is expected to increase
regarding present and (e.g., slash and coarse woody
56% by 2040 (EIA 2013). Increasing forecasted future energy debris removal for biofuels;
demand will necessitate increased production costs compared fish passage and hydrological
production of alternative energy to the projected costs of changes at hydroelectric power
sources while at the same time renewable energy types. facilities; land conversion for
concerns regarding greenhouse gas
Develop new and more efficient fuel production and facility
emissions and other environmental
renewable energy supply siting).
and land-use impacts are likely
to lead to increased efficiencies systems. Quantify behavioral changes
in our current energy sources Identify and test new bioenergy and mortality of organisms
and changes in public preference systems especially from waste associated with energy
among available sources of energy. streams of existing land development and use (e.g.,
Prioritizing research needs will management activities. bird and bat mortality at
help lead to the development wind turbines; marine
Identify and test new or more
of more efficient and effective mammal and fish attraction
efficient feedstocks production
environmental policies related to or avoidance of tidal energy
and conversion systems for
energy production and use. Here facilities; relationship of animal
bioenergy.
we propose research themes and movements to electromagnetic
objectives for identifying and
Develop marine renewable field changes).
energy sources. Identify sources and quantify
reducing the impacts of energy
development and use on natural Identify and develop markets water and air pollution
resources and society. Some of for renewable energy. Many associated with energy
these relate solely to natural such markets are similar to production.

Quantify water demand for can only be met through a better likely to increase in this sector,
steam production and cooling of understanding by all parties. necessitating increased funding
geothermal, biofuels, solar and for internships and fellowships.
The National Renewable Energy
traditional energy sources (coal, 3. Broadening college-level
Laboratory (U.S. Department of
natural gas, nuclear). requisite curriculum beyond
Energy) reports that renewable
Understand public’s perceptions energy and energy efficiency natural-resource-specific
of alternative energy sources research and development is content to include a greater
and barriers to adoption of only part of the new energy emphasis on public policy
energy conservation practices. future equation. Educating making, life cycle analysis,
Maintain available energy and students, teachers, and economics, statistics, and
increase efficiency to reduce consumers is the other key multidisciplinary problem
ecological footprint. to finding new renewable solving.
ways to power our homes, 4. Renewable energy education
Increase water-use efficiency in businesses, and transportation. and outreach programs
steam production and cooling Priority should be given to the through the university system
systems to reduce water use. following: throughout the U.S. Outreach
Increase efficiency and 1. K-12 Science Programs to and engagement programs,
use of existing energy engage young minds in such as those in place
sources/infrastructure (e.g., renewable energy and also nationally through Cooperative
hydrofracking for natural gas provide teacher support. Extension at land-grant
production). Educational programs that universities, can enable the
Increase fuel conversion explain the social, political public to better understand the
efficiency for biofuels. and environmental challenges sustainability, environmental
associated with reliance impacts, and potential issues
on fossil fuels and the related to carbon sequestration
Education and challenges and opportunities and climate change associated
for transitioning to renewable
Outreach Needs sources are critical needs for
with their energy choices and
promote energy conservation
K-12 science programs. practices.
Education and outreach will be 2. College and Post-Graduate
required at all levels, not only programs to help develop a
through formal education programs capable and diverse workforce Expected Outcomes
but also informal ones, bringing for the future through
in both lifelong learners as well mentored research internships
as stakeholders who may not and fellowships. Energy We now live in a world in which
otherwise be identified (Henkel et development and production in global economic growth—particularly
al. 2013). This is nowhere more true the U.S. and globally will require the growing energy demand in
than in considerations of natural well-trained scientists from developing countries—will contribute
resource and environmental effects diverse STEM-related disciplines to a 50% increase in worldwide
of energy development. Conflicts ranging from math and physics energy consumption by 2025.
between consumptive and non- to geology and biology to By 2050, the world will need to
consumptive users as well as the agriculture and forestry. The find an additional 20 terawatts
concerns of the general public need for graduate degrees is of energy and the U.S. will be

competing along with countries Mediterranean. Aquatic Living Management, Cooperative
such as China and India to satisfy Resources 19:149-160. Agreement with Oregon State
our growing energy needs. To meet Alper, H., J. Moxley, E. Nevoigt, G.R. University M12AC00012. OCS
Fink and G. Stephanopoulos. Report BOEM 2013-0113. 134 p.
the challenges of this new energy
2006. Engineering yeast Boehlert, G.W., G.R. McMurray
future, we will need new ways
transcription machinery for and C.E. Tortorici, editors.
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conservation, increased energy Johnson, R.P. Larkin, S. Manes, Oceanographic and Atmospheric
A.M. Manville, J.R., Mason, M.L. Administration, Technical
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improve national security. Bain, R. 2003. Biopower Technical Workshop, July 12-14, 2011,
Assessment: State of the Herndon, VA. Bureau of Ocean
Investment in continued and Industry and the Technology. Energy Management.
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Grand Challenge 6: Education
We must maintain and strengthen natural resources education at all levels

to have the informed and engaged citizenry, civic leaders, and practicing
professionals needed to sustain the natural resources, ecosystems, and
ecosystem services of the United States.
career professionals, the public, by informal education institutions
Framing the Issue

and elected officials. Public such as museums and by youth
understanding and acceptance organizations such as 4-H, scouting
of natural resources policies groups, and Boys and Girls Clubs
and management plans and (Bell et al. 2009).
Broadly defined, natural resources their effectiveness for achieving However, much of the
include renewable resources sustainability depend on integration American public has little
(forests, fisheries, rangeland, of scientific information and understanding of the process
water, and wildlife), non-renewable societal values. Fruitful interaction by which scientific knowledge is
resources (such as minerals), among well-trained natural gained. That is, most people do
ecosystems, and ecosystem services resources professionals, an not understand framing/testing
(such as groundwater recharge, informed citizenry, and civic leaders of hypotheses or the difference
assimilation of wastes, pollination favors effective natural resources between hypothesis testing and
and recreation). Issues pertaining to management. Effective natural construction of theory explaining
long-term sustainability of natural resources education at the K-12 a body of natural phenomena.
resources are the focus of local, and university levels—burnished by Hence, it is not surprising that
regional, and national discussions. life-long learning—will provide the citizens—and frequently their
In a representative democracy informed citizenry and practicing leaders—misunderstand and
such as ours, development of professionals needed to sustain the often misconstrue scientific
natural resources policy involves natural resources of the U.S. Key issues in discussions regarding
structured interactions among supporting roles must be provided the science and management

of natural resources. Only by and activities; strengthening natural the need to include instruction
advances in public understanding resources curricula at the higher in natural resources within our
of the scientific process, combined education level; improving the educational system, including
with more effective science scientific literacy of the Nation’s classroom-based and informal
communication, can discussion citizens; communicating scientific education. Although progress
of natural resources issues be information to the general public has been made, we must further
elevated. We also need education in efficient and effective ways; embed natural resources and
regarding how representative promoting the sustainability of environmental education within
government works; the roles of natural resources; and promoting K-12 curricula (Ramsey et al.
individuals, governments, and diversity in the natural resources 1992). Our citizenry, as it becomes
private-sector entities; and the profession. more urbanized, is becoming
process of translating scientific detached from understanding and
information into public policy and Goal I: Include appreciating the social, ecological,
implementation regarding natural natural resources in and economic importance of our
resources management. This chapter natural resources (Louv 2005). Our
youth education by
identifies knowledge gaps, research citizens and civic leaders must
needs and priorities, and expected incorporation into STEM understand the multi-faceted
outcomes related to six natural curriculum and activities. importance of natural resources
resources goals: including natural so that they may act responsibly
resources in youth education by Natural resources-oriented regarding policy, legislative, and
incorporation into STEM curriculum professionals have long recognized management actions. Hence,

we must educate regarding the within K-12 curricula, ensuring that for example, the environmental
fundamental values and importance national core competencies (in education program at the Wisconsin
of sustainable management of science, technology, engineering Center for Environmental Education
natural resources; we must start and mathematics, termed “STEM” (WCEE) in the College of Natural
at the K-12 level, as it is then requisites) are met (Hopkinson and Resources at the University
that cognitive skills are optimal James 2010). Much research has of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
for learning (North American addressed approaches to improve fosters, develops and evaluates
Association for Environmental natural resources and environmental environmental education in K-12
Education 2010). Attitude and education that lead to youth schools of Wisconsin. Some states
value formation also occur during engagement and active behavioral have made notable attempts to
childhood and youth; hence, change (e.g., Reilly et al. 2011). develop Environmental Literacy
informative, positive experiences There are significant nation-wide Plans (ELP). Around 2010-2011, a
with nature and in natural natural resources and environmental national grassroots initiative aimed
resources-centered education will education programs, such as Project to pass legislation encouraging
have greater probability of changing Wet (http://projectwet.org/), Project integration of environmental
behaviors as adults. WILD (http://www.projectwild.org/) education into K-12 curricula; the
The goal of youth education and Project Learning Tree (https:// proposed program was known
in natural resources is to plt.org). However, use of activities as “No Child Left Inside.” This
realize the knowledge base from these supplemental curricula legislation proposed federal funding
and integrative abilities that is insufficient for a significant for states to implement K-12
underpin understanding of natural portion of the K-12 population to environment education through
resources-related issues, as well achieve the necessary knowledge, statewide educational standards
as foster behaviors that promote understanding, and problem- voluntarily developed by a state’s
sustainability of our natural solving skills associated with the Department of Education in concert
resources. Fundamental concepts science and management of natural with its respective natural resource
of natural resources science and resource stewardship. There are agencies and environmental
management can be embedded notable efforts at the state level; educational entities. States with
approved ELPs would be eligible
for federal funding that would aid
in fulfilling ELP objectives within
state schools. Maryland and Rhode
Island (http://rieea.org/resources/
ri-environmental-literacy-plan/)
are two of the few states that
completed the process, although
legislation died during deliberations.
However, despite these notable
programs, significant gaps remain
in the preparation of our students,
teachers, and institutions to
understanding, comprehending, and
engaging in meaningful behavioral
changes regarding natural
resources.

education students to meet Natural resources problems
the current demands of are a great way to approach
Gap Analysis curricula within K-12 schools; the multidisciplinary, problem-
unless states mandate natural solving approach that Common
resources STEM in K-12 Core curricula promote.
Impediments to achieving integrated
curricula, teacher preparation A keystone for any educational
natural resources education within
programs are not likely to endeavor is to have in place
K-12 curricula include the following:
include it in their courses of a consistent and effective
Natural resources education study. State departments of evaluative process to ensure
starts with those who establish education determine what that the curriculum is effective,
certification criteria for K-12 college-level courses are learning is achieved, and the
and informal teaching and required or acceptable for citizenry (child and parent/
learning. There are programs teacher certification, and if guardian) are increasingly more
evaluating embedding of natural these agencies do not accept aware and responsive to issues
resources (environmental natural resources science-based pertaining to natural resources
sciences) within K-12 training credit hours toward certification science and management. The
that satisfy STEM standards (as is the case, for example, in National Center for Education
(Hopkinson and James 2010). Mississippi), then the students Statistics (2012) biennial report,
However, misunderstanding will be less interested in taking The Nation’s Report Card:
regarding natural resources these classes that do not apply
Science 2001, is a promising
education remains among toward their degree program.
start, but lacks specific
research scientists, university Active-learning curricula reference to natural resources.
faculty, federal and state appropriate to a wide range of Natural resources education
leaders, school superintendents, target populations should be programs could be evaluated
principals, and teachers. Until developed and implemented, not only on a national, but
an appropriate niche (Ramsey perhaps nationally. The
et al. 1992) is determined, also on a local level. Scientific
Association of Fish and Wildlife literacy is considered to be
implementing any definitive Agencies’ (2008) conservation
K-12 curriculum in natural contextual in nature, and local
education strategy, Stewardship evaluation would capture
resources will be impossible. Education: Best Management
Integration of natural resources more of such context than
Planning Guide, is an excellent would a national evaluation.
topics into K-12 curricula will starting point. We need
remain problematic until state We need goals (Hungerford
educational resources (e.g., et al. 1980) to ensure that
or federal departments of hands-on, learner-centered
education require that these all levels of governance of
curricula, as well as interactive
topics be included in their education programs (federal,
online learning activities) that
curriculum standards, as in the state, regional, and district) are
satisfy the requisites of STEM
case of Maryland and Rhode consistent in application and
core competencies and include
Island. program evaluation.
fundamental concepts of
Integration of natural resources natural resources science. This Because much science is
content into pre-service teacher goal can be accomplished by learned in out-of-school settings
training at the university level encouraging publishers to use (Bell et al. 2009), we also must
will prove largely untenable if concepts of natural resources to consider how to strengthen
the status quo is maintained. illustrate principles of science, natural resources education in
These institutions are preparing technology and mathematics. the informal education sector.

The successful integration of play a key role in such Hence, designers, developers,
natural resources within K-12 coordination. We note that educators, political leaders,
and informal curricula will these types of informal science and citizens throughout society
require cooperation among learning opportunities are should make changes in our
federal, state, and private often not available to or used modern built environments to
conservation organizations. by under-represented groups; provide children with positive
Key state and federal natural hence, cultural, financial and contact with nature.
resources management agencies transportation barriers to
and many non-governmental access need to be considered
organizations (e.g., Ducks with respect to out-of-school Research Needs
Unlimited, National Turkey
Federation, National Wildlife
settings.
Play in nature, particularly
and Priorities
Federation, American Forests, during the critical period of
Council for Environmental middle childhood, appears Research needs that must be
Education, and Project Wet to be especially important met before we can effectively
Foundation) have youth for developing capacities for integrate natural resources science
education programs involving creativity, problem-solving, and management within youth
principles of management of and emotional and intellectual education include the following:
wildlife and their habitats. development (Kellert 2005).
A unified coalition of these
A solid definition or description
Research results indicate
of what is meant to be
entities supporting the goals, optimal learning opportunities
“literate” in natural resource
curricula, and evaluative at age-appropriate times
science must be agreed
mechanisms of the curricula, and differentiate between
upon. Once a definition has
perhaps spearheaded by the indirect, vicarious, and direct
been selected, specified, and
Coalition of Natural Resource experiences with nature, with
announced as an anchoring
Societies, would be useful. the latter becoming less and
concept, the work of program
Land-grant universities may less available to children.
development can go forward
(Roberts 2007).
Further research is needed to
evaluate the most effective
suite of experiential activities
and pedagogical approaches
that maximize understanding
of natural resource science and
management and address key
components of STEM requisites.
Classroom and laboratory time
as well as informal learning
opportunities are limited; thus,
integrated programs must be
developed and evaluated for
effectiveness in knowledge
retention, critical thinking, and
application over the long-term.

We need to understand the
potential use of technology as
a bridging tool for connecting
youth to the outdoors. We
need to develop a better
understanding of the role of
social science and use of social
indicators in youth that lead
to behavior change (Lerner
2005). Few studies exist to
examine young people’s views
towards environmental and
natural resources issues and
what motivates them to take
action. Youth perceive issues
in different terms than adults,
so it is important to know how
those issues are understood by concepts are retained over resources education. Promising
youth and gaps that may exist multiple years and used in practices in systems thinking
in those understandings. multi-faceted, integrated critical and complexity education need
Non-Caucasian participation thinking exercises. to be further developed and
in natural resources fields is Specific topics needing empirical analyzed.
disproportionately low; we need research include surveys in
to engage underrepresented
populations in STEM, natural
order to better understand
youth concerns. Longitudinal Expected Outcomes
resources and sustainability studies are needed to address
curricula in our schools. whether increased knowledge Under the status quo, natural
Curricula must be developed and awareness of natural resources education is
that recognize differences in resources issues leads to uncoordinated, minimally integrated
cultural values regarding natural behavioral change. Longitudinal within current curricula, and
resources. The effectiveness of studies are needed to address minimally if at all integrated with
these curricula in instilling an promising strategies and state teacher certification requisites.
awareness and appreciation practices for natural resources Students’ and teachers’ concepts
of natural resources must be education that are accessible to of ecological systems are often
evaluated over the long-term. school administrators, decision naïve. Schools and educators
We need evaluative mechanisms makers and educational funding are insufficiently prepared to
to assess effectiveness of K-12 bodies. Research is needed understand the critical connections
natural resource curricula. on how adult constructs such between social indicators and
Simply measuring student as “climate change” might be youth learning, engagement, and
test scores temporally will not translated into actionable items behavior change with respect
provide a true assessment of for youth. Research is needed to natural resources issues.
the effectiveness of curricula. on how adult learning and Insufficient evaluation strategies
Evaluative mechanisms must attitudes about science impact and tools limit understanding of
assess the degree to which the way youth perceive natural how students best learn and engage

as demonstrated by past research natural resources management
(e.g., Ramsey 1993). Natural decision-making. Against this
resources education standards background, the training of
with diversified learning strategies natural resources professionals
that incorporate service learning, must be multidisciplinary and
age-appropriate and culturally rigorous, polishing the critical
relevant curricula, field experience, thinking, problem-solving, and
and community engagement in communications skills needed for
learning will set the stage for active a career of adaptation to changing
learning and critical comprehension management circumstances.
of natural resources issues. Natural resources managers
Students will be better prepared need a bachelor’s degree for
for natural resources careers, and technical-level positions and a
underrepresented populations will master’s degree for professional and
have better access to these careers. leadership positions. Enrollments
in natural resources management-
related fields, while varying over
on natural resources issues. The Goal II: Strengthen time, are at about the same level
full implications of how family and natural resources as in 1980 (Sharik 2013). However,
community dimensions affect youth curricula at the higher the proportion of enrollments
perceptions, engagement, and
education level. among natural resource fields
behaviors in the context of natural
has undergone dramatic shifts,
resources education remain unclear.
with some of the more traditional
Integrating fundamental disciplines such as forestry and
concepts of natural resources
science and management within
Gap Analysis wood science/forest products
experiencing substantial declines,
K-12 science curricula is a long- and other fields, particularly
term endeavor that will involve The U.S. faces unprecedented interdisciplinary programs, showing
coordinated engagement and challenges regarding sustainability dramatic increases. The drivers
support by federal, state, local, and of our natural resources and for changes in natural resources
private entities. Implementation critical ecosystem processes, curricular enrollments over time are
of the recommendations within including issues posed by climate complex, likely involving numerous
the NR Roadmap will result in a change, energy development, and demographic, economic, and social
coordinated effort promoting a impacts of introduced and invasive factors. Further, a generational shift
fully integrated curriculum derived species. Managers must cope with is ongoing, with Baby Boomers
from empirically-based research these challenges with adaptive retiring and insufficient numbers
findings and integrated within management (i.e., by monitoring of younger natural resources
STEM requisites. Its effectiveness system outcomes, learning management professionals following
will be evaluated by long- about the system, and improving behind (McMullin 2005a, 2005b;
term assessment of learning management over time; Walters Colker 2005). In certain natural
skills, knowledge retention, and 2002, Holling 2005) while sustainably resources management fields, e.g.,
behavior characteristic of an meeting society’s needs for natural marine resources management (U.S.
environmentally sensitive citizenry. resources. Further, the American Departments of Commerce and
Such responses are indeed possible, public demands greater input into Education 2008), professionals with

appropriately targeted advanced American employers want learning situations and specifically
degrees are in short supply. At the universities to produce graduates the sciences. In science teaching,
same time, there is a surplus of who can think critically and this research has led to the
students in some areas, such as creatively and can communicate development of case study
environmental studies, conservation orally and in writing, according to teaching (Herreid 2007, Herreid
biology, and marine biology, with results of a public opinion survey et al. 2012), peer instruction
comparatively few practical skills recently released by Northeastern (Crouch and Mazur 2001), SCALE-
needed by natural resources University (Berrett 2013). A primary UP teaching (student-centered
management agencies. Guiding problem with higher education in active learning environment
students so that more of them natural resources and across the with upside-down pedagogies;
obtain a set of marketable skills sciences, however, is the dated Beichner et al. 2006), and Scientific
should be an outcome of higher teaching focus on subject matter Teaching (Handelsman et al. 2004;
education. content. Recent pedagogical Handelsman and Pfund 2007). All of
While U.S. curricula in natural developments suggest that these ‘learning-centered’ teaching
resources science and management students do not need instructors approaches are well researched
are among the best in the world, to deliver information, but rather and documented, but relatively
natural resources programs at our that students will benefit most few science teachers are aware of
public universities are struggling from curricular focus on developing them or they resist such changes
to maintain faculty lines and face critical skills for information to ‘traditional’ science teaching.
the prospect of continuing declines processing (finding, judging, and Educators in natural resources
in public funding. The ability applying information in a creative fields need to focus their efforts on
to maintain natural resources and well-reasoned fashion; Barr helping natural resource graduates
programs and curricular quality is and Tagg 1995). “Active learning” develop critical 21st-century skills
at stake. Some public universities research has addressed general (Institute for the Future [IFTF]
have dropped natural resources-
related programs; e.g., Washington
State University has dropped its
undergraduate forestry program,
but has maintained its natural
resources program, while the
University of Washington has
moved its accredited undergraduate
forestry program (B.S.) to the
graduate level (M.F.). Faculty lines
in traditional natural resources
fields are being replaced to a
great extent by faculty with more
molecular and biophysical interests,
in part because they can compete
more efficiently for federal research
grants. Changes in research funding
opportunities and information
needs of management agencies
drive change at universities.

2011). The basic problem is two- problem-solving, quantitative
fold: (1) most natural resources Research Needs reasoning, critical thinking, and
and science instructors are either communication skills. While the
unaware of the research that and Priorities pedagogy required to produce
shows improved learning outcomes professionals ready to face modern
when instruction is switched from Faced with unprecedented natural resources management
‘instruction-centered’ to ‘learning- challenges regarding sustainability, challenges is the subject of research
centered’ teaching; and (2) the energy development, climate and discussion (see, for example,
reward structure in the university change, introduced and invasive CIDER 2014), greater attention
is skewed toward research species, and other natural must be paid to implementing
productivity, with little incentive for resources-related issues, support the findings of such research in
faculty to spend the time necessary for applied research is needed university education. The emergence
to convert and to teach courses more than ever. Competitive grants of online courses and curricula at
in the new modes of instruction programs targeting critical needs public and for-profit universities
(Hines et al. 2013). Good teaching that are administered by the (e.g., Oregon State University, http://
takes significantly more time than U.S. Departments of Agriculture, ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-
average or poor teaching, and time Commerce, Interior, and other degrees/undergraduate/fw/) poses
spent on teaching is not adequately agencies will shape our nation’s challenging questions regarding
rewarded. response to these challenges. their effectiveness for natural
Support for such programs must be resources fields.
maintained. Funding to improve education
Institutions of higher should be focused on: (1) helping
education, public agencies, faculty understand the crisis in
and private- sector employers graduates’ poor preparation for the
need a better understanding of 21st century professional world; (2)
factors affecting undergraduate helping existing faculty convert ‘old’
and graduate enrollments and courses to meet new needs; (3) new
career opportunities in natural faculty developing effective courses
resources-related fields, both and curricula from the start of their
now and over the long-term. Our careers; and (4) helping programs
ability to maintain a well-qualified retool faculty and redesign curricula
workforce in natural resources- to effectively meet the challenges of
related fields will depend upon the new century. The USDA Higher
filling the educational pipeline Education Challenge Grant program
while improving educational quality is a good model, as are the National
in order to produce managers Science Foundation grant programs
prepared to adapt to the evolving that led to the development of
and increasing demands upon the National Center for Case Study
our natural resources. University Teaching in Science, Scientific
education will have to achieve Teaching and the SCALE-UP model
student learning outcomes including for physics education. Virginia Tech
not only the traditional base has adopted SCALE-UP for biology
of technical knowledge, skills, and natural resources education,
and behaviors, but also inquiry, and grants supporting classroom

conversion were critical for its will have the information needed to understand experiments and
success. Most university classrooms to effectively recruit diverse, highly reasoning as well as basic facts, to
are not designed to accommodate talented, and motivated individuals comprehend articles about science,
learning-centered teaching. Once to technical and leadership and to engage in discussion about
faculty and academic programs positions. Better information on the validity of conclusions. At the
are convinced that such is the workforce needs in various sub- national level, scientific literacy
teaching style of the future, there disciplines will permit a more often is taken as the expectation
will be critical need for classroom strategic approach to student that everyone should have a
conversion funding. recruitment. University curricula working knowledge of science
and pedagogy will embody the and its role in society (Rutherford
latest developments in the field and Ahlgren 1991, American
Expected Outcomes of natural resources science and Association for the Advancement
management, training well-qualified of Science [AAAS] 1993). Roberts
entry-level professionals prepared (2007) describes broad “visions”
Under the status quo, the for a career of life-long learning of scientific literacy; vision I starts
pipeline feeding entry-level and adaptation. Universities will from a scientific perspective, and
natural resources managers into have the educational infrastructure vision II situates itself from the
the profession will not be filled and faculty expertise to engage in perspective of the citizen. The
with quality graduates, leaving active teaching and learning. The scientific literacy of the American
certain key areas (e.g., human profession will have the scientific public is limited, however, in the
dimensions of natural resources understanding and management context of public controversies over
decision-making, quantitative skills needed to effectively address science and technology policy, for
modeling of natural resources) the growing range of natural example regarding bioethics, genetic
short of qualified practitioners. resources-related issues facing the engineering, and climate change.
Natural resources curricula and United States. Further, some segments of society
approaches to pedagogy will tend to disregard scientific evidence
not advance in concert with the when it challenges their established
changing needs of the profession, Goal III: Improve the belief systems.
leading to insufficient preparation scientific literacy of the The formal development of
of entry-level professionals. Entry- Nation’s citizens. scientific literacy, especially in
level professionals will lack certain our young citizens, is the domain
key skills – such as quantitative, of schools, with important
analytic, and “soft” (e.g., contributions also from informal
interpersonal, problem-solving, and
communication) skills – valued by Gap Analysis science education (Bell et al. 2009).
However, too much of science
employers. With insufficient applied teaching and learning – including
research, managers will lack the that in natural resources-related
scientific information and analytic Scientific literacy is the knowledge subjects – is simple transmission
tools needed to sustainably meet and understanding of scientific of knowledge, a shortcoming at the
the natural resources management concepts and processes for personal course and curricular levels. There
challenges faced by American decision-making, participation is a great need in both K-12 and
society in our changing world. in civic affairs, and economic higher education for active teaching
By following the NR Roadmap’s activities (NAS 1996). A scientifically and learning of science. Science
recommendations, the profession literate person has the capacity should be presented as a process

of building theory and models using fills the gap to some degree, its natural resources-related fields in
evidence, checking it for internal problems include bias, inaccuracy particular. Proponents of scientific
consistency and coherence, and and confirmation. Because literacy often focus on what a
testing it empirically (NRC 2007). In science writing often focuses on student has learned by the time
our context, then, education must controversial topics, the public can they graduate from high school. All
promote critical thinking skills, i.e., conclude that disagreement within our young people need exposure
the ability to use this knowledge to the scientific community is greater to effective science education,
assess specific issues and evaluate than it really is, as with issues including natural resources-related
various management or societal such as climate change. Scientists science, and science literacy has
options. tend to be very conservative when been an important part of the
discussing the implications of their standards movement in education.
The media play an important role
findings, especially with journalists. Such standards, however, must
in informal and life-long education;
Science journalists find it difficult go beyond requiring knowledge
that is, citizens receive much
to communicate risk-related issues per se and include demonstrable
of their information on natural
effectively (NRC 1996). understanding of the process
resources and other science-related
through which new scientific
issues from media outlets such as
television, radio, newspapers, and Research Needs knowledge is realized. While
some inroads have been made
the internet. With budget cuts at
major newspapers and broadcast and Priorities (e.g., Minner et al. 2010), further
pedagogy research is needed to
media outlets, however, there are
determine how to more effectively
fewer working science journalists A multi-pronged strategy is needed
include active inquiry into teaching
than formerly (Brumfiel 2009). to improve the scientific literacy of
and learning at both the K-12 and
While blog-based science reporting our nation’s citizens in general and
higher education levels. Educator
professional development in K-12,
informal, and higher education
is critical. Most educators lack a
background in effective science
pedagogy. University educators
need to develop instruments to
measure scientific literacy.
The goal of science journalism
is, in an unbiased manner, to
translate detailed, technical,
often jargon-laden information
produced by scientists into a
form that non-technical audiences
can understand and appreciate.
To maintain life-long learning in
science, including natural resources-
related issues, the nation needs
to train more science journalists.
We need to encourage the offering
of science reporting specialization

in journalism curricula. Science little relevance to common usage;
journalists may or may not have Goal IV: Communicate examples include such common
training in the scientific disciplines scientific information words as “work,” “heat,” and
on which they report, although “uncertainty.”
to the general public in
graduate-level training in science Scientific understanding of
writing is a great way to enter the
efficient and effective
natural resources is complex
field. Science journalism programs, ways. because all natural systems are
such as those at Massachusetts inter-connected and cannot be
Institute of Technology, Boston understood in isolation. Additionally,
The fundamental purposes
University, the University of many natural resource systems are
of communicating scientific
California at Santa Cruz, and other valued not only for their economic
information about natural resources
universities, generally comprise an potential, but also for less tangible
are to inform multiple audiences
intensive one-year program and an values such as beauty. These often-
so that defensible, science-based
internship. conflicting values are addressed in
decisions can be made. In a
representative democratic society, policy, which is inherently political.
the public, civil servants, and Additionally, many scientific results,
Expected Outcomes elected leaders need open and especially in the natural resources,
unbiased scientific information are often politicized. Politicization
in order to make such decisions. of science often confuses the
Under the status quo, scientific However, traditional methods public and conflates science with
literacy in natural resources will of communicating scientific policy, which makes it very difficult
remain the domain of those trained information about natural resources to communicate the underlying
in natural resources management. have not been as effective as science.
The general public and civic leaders they could be. Flood protection is Confirmation bias also makes
will remain disengaged except on an example of this failure. While effective communication difficult,
matters of controversy. Decisions federal, state, and local agencies particularly when dealing with
on how to use our nation’s natural exert substantial efforts in flood complex and politicized information.
resources often will be made on management, flood damage remains In confirmation bias, information
the basis of partial information and high as property development that confirms a currently held idea,
ideological viewpoints. continues in flood-prone locations stance, or opinion is selected,
With the heightened investment (e.g., Morss et al. 2005); Hurricane while information that counters
in science education called for Sandy’s impact on coastal New it is ignored. Confirmation bias is
in the NR Roadmap, not only the Jersey in October 2012 is a recent common to almost all information-
technically trained, but also society example. Communicating the collecting and decision-making
and its leaders will understand science of natural resources can be processes. In most cases,
natural resources science and difficult because of the complex and individuals are not aware of their
management and decision-making often subtle and abstract aspects confirmation bias (Mlodinow
within a representative democracy. of many scientific issues. Scientists 2008). Confirmation bias is a
Natural resources decision-making often communicate in jargon that basic misunderstanding of the
will prove less controversial, less requires specialized knowledge to “Scientific Method.” The scientific
contested in the nation’s courts, understand. Even more confusing, method often is explained as a
and more defensible to broad scientists often use common words way to prove truth; it is rare that
segments of the public. in very specific ways that may have the method is taught as a method

of inquiry that emphasizes the including care/harm, fairness/ making. Understanding this
falsification of hypotheses, theories, cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/ linkage will require teams of
or understanding. Misunderstanding subversion, sanctity/degradation, experts in communication,
of the scientific method leads and liberty/oppression (Haidt 2012). decision science, and natural
individuals to select information Professional journalists have resources scientists.
that confirms rather than challenges largely shaped the communication Better methods of
established views. Good science of science to the public. However, communicating uncertainty and
communication requires overcoming as noted above, over the past probability to the public are the
confirmation bias. 25 years there has been a slow second priority. Scientists and
erosion of science journalism the public usually do not share
(Brumfiel 2009). There are fewer the same understanding of
Gap Analysis magazines devoted to science for these terms. While to scientists
the general reader, and many large these terms communicate
newspapers have discontinued deeper understanding, to
Traditionally, the emphasis of daily or weekly science sections. the public these terms
scientific communications has As traditional print journalism are interpreted as lack of
focused on a “deficit of knowledge” has become less important understanding.
model, which assumes that in communicating scientific Related to communication of
individuals just need information, information, other communication uncertainty and probability is
and then the right decision would platforms have developed rapidly. the development of methods
follow. This model is based on at New media platforms, such as to lessen the influence of
least two tenuous assumptions, blogs, YouTube, and other evolving confirmation bias in order to
that knowledge of facts leads to communication platforms, impact communicate natural resources
understanding and that decisions the communication of scientific scientific information effectively.
are made only on the “facts.” information. The democratization Research is needed on how to
A better understanding on how of information may lead to more communicate effectively and
individuals make decisions about confirmation bias. efficiently using new media
natural resources is needed in platforms, particularly to
order to increase the effectiveness integrate teams of scientists
of scientific communications. Research Needs and experts in technological
Such understanding will increase
the effectiveness and efficiency
and Priorities aspects of new media with
communication experts.
of communicating scientific The reward structures within
information because the Research is needed into how to scientific agencies and
fundamental goal of communication communicate scientific information universities need to be revised
of scientific information is to about natural resources in so that communicating scientific
support better decisions. Decision- ways that support individual information to decision-makers
making research has shown decision-making: is appropriately valued. A
that most decisions are made broader range of federal grants
primarily using intuition with facts The highest research should require a comprehensive
selected after deciding to support priority is to understand the plan for communicating the
the decision. Intuitive decisions linkage between effective results of natural resources
are made on six foundations, communication of scientific research to decision makers.
which usually are not articulated, information and decision- Grants should include a

significant component related of many new communication more common. Implementing
to communicating research platforms, we can expect the the recommendations of the NR
results to a non-scientific communication of scientific Roadmap will assist in effective and
audience in understandable information to become more efficient communication of scientific
and useful terms. Experts in fragmented. This fragmentation information, supporting its proper
communication, extension/ will lead to an increased tendency role in decision making.
outreach, decision science, and for confirmation bias in scientific
other social scientists should be communications. Many in decision-
part of the proposal team from making roles will remain confused Goal V: Promote the
the beginning, and involved concerning the proper role of sustainability of natural
at a level that makes a real probability and scientific uncertainty resources.
difference, not as an after- in decision-making processes. The
thought or “add-on.” Extension application of science in decision-
specialists at land-grant making will thus tend to be overly
universities can and do play optimistic or all but ignored.
a key role in communicating
research findings to the public.
Following NR Roadmap Gap Analysis
recommendations, there will
be increased effectiveness
Expected Outcomes in communicating scientific

information to the public and
The landscape for natural resources
management is rapidly changing,
decision-makers. With many new with unprecedented challenges
A democratic society requires the and developing communication arising. Human demand for finite
exchange of sound and unbiased platforms becoming available, natural resources is increasing
information. Under the status fragmentation of scientific with increasing human population,
quo, with the rapid development communication is becoming growing worldwide affluence, and
increasing per-capita use of natural
resources. Novel climate conditions
are changing the productive
potential of many ecosystems, in
the face of decreasing availability
of clean fresh water. Introduced
species are changing farmland,
forest, rangeland, and aquatic
ecosystems.
Natural resources education
long has relied on traditional
management disciplines,
integrating over a century of
experience. However, sustaining
natural resources in the face of
unprecedented need through
an unknown future will require
different strategies and well-
prepared leaders. It is our

challenge to educate future leaders, stewardship strategies; these science) from the natural resources
managers, and decision-makers models must be improved by management disciplines, thereby
such that they are dynamic, assimilating current data and separating “basic” from “applied”
critical thinkers who can recognize monitoring to test and refine research and teaching. Faculty and
important changes that are models. Working knowledge students select the basic or applied
occurring, describe key problems, and ability to apply quantitative scientific cultures on the basis
assess needs, and develop and models will be critical for future of relatively arbitrary criteria and
apply new tools in collaboration leaders. affinities, often leading to limited
with experts from multiple While best stewardship interaction across institutional
disciplines. Professionals with such practices potentially can be barriers, with two or more
abilities should be educated in what defined by natural resources institutional units for economics,
public health sector academics label science, it is application within ecology, watershed hydrology,
“integration and implementation the human context of social and other critical areas. Reward
science” (Bammer 2003, 2013). science and humanities that structures for faculty tend to
determines policy and practice. prioritize grants and publications in
the basic disciplines, and outreach
Needs and Priorities Communication and
collaboration skills are
or management-relevant products in
needed to realize solutions the applied disciplines.
Educating tomorrow’s leaders in to complex natural resources Institutional structures and
natural resources stewardship issues that involve engaging curricula with fewer barriers
will require cultural change in our stakeholders. Stakeholders between scientific advances and
institutions, as well as change need to understand scientific natural resources management will
in the curricular underpinnings information and uncertainties, provide us with current knowledge
for undergraduate and graduate and leaders need to be able to and flexible thinking needed for
students: understand and engage groups wisest stewardship. We envision
with highly divergent values public higher education institutions
Natural resources management
systems. with new structures—perhaps
must be integrated with the
A cross-APLU study might including centers and institutes
natural sciences. Approaches
recommend alternative —that stimulate and reward
to solving complex issues in
exploratory structures to interdisciplinary engagement by
natural resources stewardship
enhance interdisciplinary faculty and students. In addition
must necessarily engage
engagement across university to integrating natural resources
knowledge about the cutting
campuses and lead to more sciences with management, these
edge in science, including
innovation in educating our interdisciplinary structures will
genetic engineering, atmospheric
future natural resources prove strong centers for research
dynamics, biological control,
stewards. and education related to the skills
fire physics, and many other
necessary for tomorrow’s leaders,
disciplines, not as a separate
including quantitative modeling,
set of courses, but as issues
integrated into applied natural Expected Outcomes communication, and collaboration.
resources courses.
Quantitative simulation models Under the status quo, higher Goal VI: Promote
represent the best tool for education institutional structures diversity in the natural
predicting future conditions often separate natural resources resources profession.
and assessing alternative sciences (biology and social

findings have important implications
Gap Analysis for academic institutions and those

who employ their graduates, and for
Expected Outcomes
how society views and values the
natural resources professions. The
Recent Census Bureau data indicate Under the current trajectory, women
under-representation of women and
that Agriculture and Natural and minorities will be more poorly
minorities in the natural resources
Resources as a field ranks second represented in the natural resources
professions creates special
only to Engineering in the lowest professions than in most other
challenges for managing natural
percentage of women potentially professions, and our ability to make
resources well into the future,
in the workforce, and at the very gains in the value that society
and raises the question of what
bottom in percentage of minorities places on these professions will be
strategies should to be employed
(i.e., under-represented racial limited. Moreover, the availability
to bring their numbers more into
and ethnic groups) compared to of women and minorities in various
alignment with those within society
14 other major disciplines (Sharik natural resources disciplines will
as a whole.
2013). Within Agriculture and vary greatly and will not be well
Natural Resources, Forestry ranks aligned with workforce needs.
at the bottom among 10 sub-
disciplines. These findings are
Research Needs Alternatively, by following NR
Roadmap recommendations, we will
mirrored by the undergraduate and Priorities gain enhanced understanding of
student body in the U.S., where the factors that cause women and
women and minorities in natural minorities not to choose natural
resource fields, although increasing, We need to better understand resources careers, and will be
are only about two-thirds and the factors that lead to women able to focus on these factors in
one-third, respectively, of their and minorities choosing natural order to increase their enrollment
numbers in the overall student resources curricula and ensuing in natural resources degree
population across all fields of careers in numbers far below programs and their numbers in
study. Undergraduate enrollments their proportion in the population, the professional workforce. These
in natural resources academic such that the natural resources efforts will also allow us to better
programs are currently at about professions are not representative understand differences among
the same level they were three of society as a whole. We also minority groups in their attractions
decades ago, but the proportion of need to better understand factors to various natural resources careers
students among disciplines within contributing to the imbalance and to better advise students
natural resources has shifted in enrollments of women and on the greatest opportunities for
dramatically to where enrollment minorities among various natural employment.
in interdisciplinary programs resources disciplines, and how
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Appendix A: Glossary for Science, Education, and Outreach
Acidification — the process by which water bodies, such Diversity — the inclusion of different types of people
as rivers and lakes, and other natural features (as people of different races, cultures or sexual
become affected by excess acid can also be orientation) in a group or organization.
described as acidification.
Ecosystem — a community of living organisms (plants,
Adaptation — the act or process of adapting to new animals and microbes) in conjunction with the
environmental, social or cultural conditions, or the nonliving components of their environment (such
state of being adapted (i.e., adaptation to climate as the atmosphere, water and mineral soil),
change). interacting as a system.
Adaptive management — a structured, iterative process Ecosystem function — the interactions between
of robust decision making in the face of uncertainty, organisms and the physical environment via
with an aim to reducing uncertainty over time via processes, such as nutrient cycling, energy flow,
system monitoring. soil development, and water budgeting.
Agriculture — the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi, Ecosystem services — the important benefits for
and other life forms for food, fiber, biofuel, drugs human beings or life systems that arise from
and other products used to sustain and enhance healthily functioning ecosystems, such as
human life. the production of oxygen, soil genesis, water
detoxification and pollination.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) — those practices
determined to be the most efficient, practical, Ecosystem structure — attributes related to the
and cost-effective measures identified to guide a physical state of an ecosystem; examples include
particular activity or to address a particular problem. species population density, species richness or
evenness, and standing crop biomass.
Biodiversity — the number, variety, and genetic variation
of different organisms found within a specified Environmental justice — the fair treatment and
geographic region. meaningful involvement of all people regardless
of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with
Bioenergy — renewable energy made available from
respect to the development, implementation and
materials derived from biological sources.
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations,
Biomass — biological material derived from living, or and policies.
recently living organisms.
Habitat — the area or environment where an organism
Biome — a major ecological community of organisms or ecological community normally lives or occurs.
adapted to a particular climatic or environmental
Hydrofracking or hydraulic fracturing — the use of
condition in a large geographic area.
pressurized solutions to cause fracturing around
Carbon sequestration — is the process of capture and horizontal boreholes to increase the flow of
long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide natural gas or petroleum to an extraction well.
(CO2).
Invasive species — non-native species that adversely
Climate change — a significant and lasting change in affect the habitats and bioregions they
the statistical distribution of weather patterns over invade economically, environmentally, and/or
periods ranging from decades to millions of years. ecologically.

Life cycle analysis or assessment — is a technique to Restoration — the practice of renewing and restoring
assess environmental impacts associated with all degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems
the stages of a product’s life from-cradle-to-grave and habitats in the environment by active human
(i.e., from raw material extraction through materials intervention and action.
processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair
Scientific literacy — the knowledge and understanding
and maintenance, and disposal or recycling).
of scientific concepts and processes required for
Mesocosm — an experimental tool that brings personal decision making, participation in civic and
ecologically relevant components of the natural cultural affairs, and economic productivity.
environment under controlled conditions.
Socioecology — the study of critical resources (natural,
Metapopulation — a group of spatially separated socioeconomic, and cultural) whose flow and use is
populations of the same species which interact at regulated by a combination of ecological and social
some level through dispersal and gene flow. systems
Natural resources — naturally occurring materials or Species — the largest group of organisms capable of
ecosystem components such as soil, water, forest, interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
rangelands, marine, etc, that can be used by
humans. Stewardship — the activity or job of protecting and being
responsible for something.
Net primary production — the rate at which all the
plants in an ecosystem produce net chemical Stressor — an activity, event, or other stimulus that
energy; it is equal to the difference between the causes stress on an organism, population or
rate at which the plants in an ecosystem produce ecosystem.
chemical energy and the rate at which they use Sustainability — the potential for long-term maintenance
some of that energy during respiration. of well being, which has ecological, economic,
Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) — the zone in which political and cultural dimensions.
oxygen saturation in seawater in the ocean is at its Scientific literacy — written, numerical, and digital
lowest. literacy as they pertain to understanding science, its
Phenological responses — changes in timing of biological methodology, observations, and theories.
events or cycles (i.e., breeding, flowering, migration)
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) — a value of the
as a result of environmental change.
maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of
Renewable energy — energy that comes from resources water can receive while still meeting water quality
which are continually replenished on a human standards.
timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves
Watershed — the area of land where all of the water
and geothermal heat.
that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same
Resilience — the ability to recover from a perturbation, place.
disaster or catastrophe.
Resistance — the ability of an ecosystem to maintain
function when disturbed or undergoing
environmental change.

Appendix B: Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap
for Natural Resources Contributors
NR Roadmap Advisory Board Challenge Area Teams

Wendy Fink (Association of Public and Land-grant Grand Challenge 1—Sustainability
Universities), Chair
Science Leaders
W. Daniel Edge (Oregon State University), Co-Chair
Rick Cruse (Iowa State University), Chair
John P. Hayes (Colorado State University)
Dalia Abbas (Tennessee State University)
Doug Parker (University of California)
Karl Gesch (Iowa State University)
Hal Salwasser (Oregon State University)
Chuck Kowaleski (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
David Stooksbury (University of Georgia)
Urs Kreuter (Texas A&M)
John Tanaka (University of Wyoming)
Ken LaValley (University of New Hampshire)
Reagan Waskom (Colorado State University)
Chris Lepczyk (University of Hawaii)
Tim White (University of Florida)
Hal Salwasser (Oregon State University)
Technical Coordinators Victoria Scott (Iowa State University)
Wendy Fink (Association of Public and Land-grant Michael Willig (University of Connecticut)
Universities) Peer Reviewers
W. Daniel Edge (Oregon State University)
Bill Fox (Texas A&M)
Delphi Survey John Wiener (University of Colorado)
Travis Parks (Cornell University) Grand Challenge 2—Water
Science Leaders
Comprehensive Reviews (all chapters)
Doug Parker (University of California), Chair
Keith Belli (University of Tennessee)
James Anderson (West Virginia University)
Leslie Burger (Mississippi State University)
Rhett Jackson (University of Georgia)
Ali Fares (Prairie View A&M University)
Brian Miller (University of Illinois)
George Hopper (Mississippi State University)
Amanda Rosenberger (University of Missouri)
Rob Swihart (Purdue University)
John Tracy (University of Idaho) Peer Reviewers
Matt Cohen (University of Florida)
Introduction Barry Noon (Colorado State University)
Wendy Fink (Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities)

Grand Challenge 3—Climate Change Grand Challenge 5—Energy
Science Leaders Science Leaders
John Nielsen-Gammon (Texas A&M), Chair Rubin Shmulsky (Mississippi State University), Chair
Sarah Karpanty (Virginia Tech University) George Boehlert (Oregon State University)
William Lauenroth (University of Wyoming) W. Daniel Edge (Oregon State University)
Tim Martin (University of Florida) Wendy Fink (Association of Public and Land-grant
Jens Nejstgaard (Skidaway Institute of Oceanography) Universities)
Kevin Strychar (Grand Valley State University) Peer Reviewers
Pete Teel (Texas A&M) Janaki Alavalapati (Virginia Tech University)
LuAnne Thompson (University of Washington) Daniel B. Hayes (Michigan State University)
Reagan Waskom (Colorado State University) Todd Katzner (West Virginia University)
Junjie Wu (Oregon State University) Don Roth (University of Wyoming)
Peer Reviewers John Tracy (University of Idaho)
James T. Anderson (West Virginia University) Jim Turner (Association of Public and Land-grant
Ivan Fernandez (University of Maine) Universities)
David Whitehurst (Virginia Department of Game and Grand Challenge 6—Education

Inland Fisheries) Science Leaders
Grand Challenge 4—Agriculture Eric Hallerman (Virginia Tech University), Chair
Science Leader Tom Blewett (University of Wisconsin)
Wendy Fink (Association of Public and Land-grant Ingrid Burke (University of Wyoming)
Universities) Bruce Leopold (Mississippi State University)
Terry Sharik (Michigan Tech University)
David Stooksbury (University of Georgia)
Peer Reviewers
Wayne Hubert (University of Wyoming)
Martin Smith (University of California)
Jim Allen (Northern Arizona University)
Brian Murphy (Virginia Tech University)
Dean Stauffer (Virginia Tech University)

Sustainability Challenge
Appendix C. Crosswalk for priority areas in the NR Roadmap with
priorities identified in the ESCOP Science Roadmap for Agriculture
Research Needs and Priorities*
Couple Human-Natural Systems Soils and Freshwater Forestlands
Understand and apply more widely the concept Emphasize technological innovation. Precision Integrate forest management practices with over-
of socioecology: human and natural systems technologies (e.g., micro-irrigation) can en- all environmental sustainability and ecosystem
are linked and should thus be studied as one hance the sustainability of how humans use services protection goals. Currently this is only
broad human-natural system. water and soil. guaranteed by using non-mandatory guidelines
which require regular development and upgrades
to meet more intensive resource use.
Increase environmental justice. Determine the capacity of soil and water to Increase understanding of the integrated effects
meet current and future demands for agricul- of forest management and harvesting practices on
tural and forest products. soil, water and biodiversity protection needs.
More thoroughly apply Life Cycle Analysis to Evaluate the effectiveness of policies and Increase awareness towards reducing wood
major materials and natural resources. incentives that promote soil and water extraction from sensitive sites due to long term ef-
conservation. fects on reduced productivity.
Identify and account for external costs not in- Increase the spatial and temporal precision Develop realistic economic assessments of the
ternalized in prices. of climate simulations in order to improve long-term effect of current use rates on resource
outcomes prediction under future climate and ecosystem productivity.
scenarios (e.g., water availability; forest,
rangeland, and crop response to drought per-
sistence; and soil erosion).
Improve agricultural and fisheries production Predict and evaluate how a growing and ur- Promote alternative practices that are less envi-
through more efficient use of land, water, en- banizing human populace with an increasing ronmentally taxing.
ergy, and chemicals. standard of living will affect how soils are man-
aged and how water is allocated.
Simultaneously increase the generation of re- Apply systems-level analytics to understand Promote understanding of the reasonable scale
newable energy while reducing the impacts feedbacks between humans, soil, and wa- and utilization rates of resources to reduce nega-
of infrastructure (e.g., wind farms, wells, pipe- ter and identify key leverage points for policy tive environmental effects.
lines) on fisheries and wildlife. makers to optimize the efficiency of public and
private conservation expenditures.
Evaluate how food production, freshwater Promote/manage forests for sustainable use of
availability, and natural landscapes can sus- non-forest timber products.
tainably coexist while facing a growing human
population.
Evaluate how different policy and economic

scenarios might alter the future availability, util-
ity, and resilience of natural resources.
* Items in Green come from ESCOP A Science Roadmap for Food and Agriculture (APLU 2010); items in Blue come from the NR Roadmap; items in Purple are overlapping.
Items in Orange indicate the original wording of overlapping agricultural priorities.

Development of Sustainable Management
Rangelands Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Practices
Emphasize and promote an integrated sys- Understand the status and trends of re- Reduce the use of nonrenewable inputs in agri-
tems approach to research and outreach to source abundance and distribution through cultural production.
improve policy formulation that supports the accurate, timely assessments.
long-term sustainable management of dynamic
rangeland ecosystems.
Expand spatial and temporal scales of re- Understand interspecies and habitat-species Assess the capacity of agricultural and other
search to address heterogeneous biophysical relationships to support forecasting of re- managed systems to deliver ecosystem ser-
factors and response lags to management source stability and sustainability. vice, including trade-offs and synergies among
practices that influence rangeland productivity ecosystem services.
and ecosystem services.
Promote trans-disciplinary research to address Understand human-use patterns that influ- Enhance internal ecosystem services that sup-
crosscutting social and biophysical factors ence resource stability and sustainability. port production outcomes that reduce chemical
that influence the dynamics of rangelands and inputs.
tradeoffs resulting from changing demands for
potentially competing ecosystem services.
Emphasize and promote integrative social sci- Advance the environmental sustainability of Assess food animal production in relation to
ence research that addresses science-based ocean energy technologies. ecosystem services.
data interpretation and experience-based user
knowledge.
Document and assess contributions of man- Develop sustainable fishing practices and Develop innovative waste management
agement decisions to short- and long-term technologies. technologies.
outcomes of conservation programs.
Develop protocols and programs that generate Understand resiliency and adaptation to a Pursue systems-oriented and science-based
systematic and standardized evidence-based changing climate. policy and regulation for agricultural and other
assessments of conservation investments in managed systems.
rangelands.
Develop integrated research and outreach pro- Understand the interactions between coast-
grams that bridge rangelands, pastures and al and marine operations/use and the
hayfields. environment.

Water Challenge
Appendix C (cont'd.)
Improve understanding of mech- Improve understanding of Improve technology to pro- Assess how the inter-
anistic linkages between land risks and impacts to water cess and allocate water that section of Social (or
uses, extractive consumption of supplies from extractive ensures sustainable, high Develop understanding of how existing Human) and Natural (or
water resources, and watershed uses, carbon sequestration quality water for human uses and future policies and land uses impact Environmental) Systems
resistance and resilience to bet- technologies, and extrac- and maintenance of ecosys- water security, quantity, and quality over impact water security,
ter inform policy tive technologies tem services regional and national scales quantity and quality
Quantify nutrients loads and im- Quantify current agriculture Develop techniques and Engage communities early, and in mean- Increase use of hydro-
pacts on watersheds. Identify use and overdraft. processes for removing phar- ingful ways, in decision and policy making economics to understand
methods to reduce loads while maceuticals from wastewater. processes at the watershed level, giving and predict how new tech-
maintaining healthy economies. them a voice and ensuring that the results nologies and policies will
are implementable and effective ultimately affect the condi-
tion of the targeted water
resource systems.
Identify water quality thresholds Quantify the impacts of in- Develop technology that allows Identify water impacts and poten- Increase economic under-
related to biological and human creased irrigation due to real-time monitoring and man- tial solutions resulting from existing standing of management
health. drought and changing climate agement of water systems. energy policy (i.e., production of biofuels, alternatives for wetland and
in agricultural areas and de- hydrofracking,etc.). aquatic systems.
fine sustainable use limits.
Determine the undeveloped foot- Improve understanding of Identify spatially-explicit land- Identify regional and national water impacts Enhance use of benefit/
prints needed in watersheds to introduced chemicals and scape and groundwater and potential solutions of existing agri- cost analysis and policies
sustain biodiversity, water quality, byproducts resulting from features that provide mech- culture policies and subsidies (i.e., water to increase understanding
or water quantity. hydrofracking. anisms of resistance and allocation laws, farm bill incentives, etc.). of public opinion (and de-
resilience to natural and man- terminants of) concerning
caused hazards, particularly economic-environmental
in disaster-prone areas (e.g., trade-offs in watersheds.
coastal habitats, areas of high-
seismic activity, etc.).
Identify land use variables (in- Improve understanding of the Increase precision of ground- Define water impacts resulting from re- Increase social science
dicators) impacting watershed presence of introduced chem- water data and models to better gional and national residential and urban research that identifies
biodiversity and associated thresh- icals and byproducts resulting manage lands that recharge development patterns and identify potential decision-making processes
olds beyond which watersheds are from carbon injection in deep aquifers and prevent ground- alternatives and solutions. that are necessary for wa-
impacted or degraded. water wells. water quality degradation from tershed solutions.
agricultural and other sources.
Define components of natural Apply geospatial approaches Examine water impacts resulting from ex- Increase understanding of
regimes to maintain ecosystem such as modeling and remote isting transportation patterns and policies how educational, incentive,
services, and develop regime- sensing technologies to better (impervious surface, sprawl, habitat loss, or regulatory tools change
based standards for water quality model water quality and quan- etc.) and analyze effects of potential solu- the behavior of the individ-
and quantity that maintain eco- tify future water supply and tions (mass transit, high speed rail, cluster ual and institutional users
system function and biological demand at a regional and na- development, etc). of water resources.
diversity, from headwater streams tional scale.
to estuaries.
Improve understanding of sub- Use satellite and advanced Analyze inter- and intra-basin policy alterna- Develop a holistic un-
surface flow and groundwater and information technologies to pre- tives required to balance water supply with derstanding of our water
surface water interactions crucial dict potential water conflict at demand and ensure resilience of supply in resources in a systems
for biological communities and all scales and inform policy and the face of disaster and climate change. context.
provide mechanisms for resilience management.
to drought, climate warming, and
disturbance.
Define achievable restoration tar- Analyze the importance of scale for
gets for urban and agricultural watershed management and BMPs imple-
streams. mentation to maximize cost effectiveness
and ecological lift.
Assess the optimal places to focus future
crop production and livestock grazing within
sustainable water use limits.
Assess regional and national water pric-
ing, policy, conservation, and management
structures needed to balance water demand
with sustainable supply

Wastewater reuse and

Water use efficiency and Groundwater management and use of marginal water for
productivity protection agriculture Agricultural water quality Water institutions and policy
Develop crop and livestock sys- Develop new management and Develop cropping systems and Develop new approaches to Develop river basin-scale
tems requiring less water per institutional arrangements to irrigation strategies using im- reduce nutrients, pathogens, institutional and planning ap-
unit of output. sustain groundwater systems, paired and recycled water while pesticides, salt, and emerging proaches that integrate land
including real-time data networks protecting soil health and quality. contaminants in agricultural runoff use, water, and environmental
and decision support systems and sediments. and urban interests for robust
to optimize use of surface and management solutions.
groundwater.
Develop systems with increased Develop watershed management Address institutional barriers Determine socioeconomic barriers Investigate policy needs to sus-
resilience to flooding, drought systems that more effectively to the use of non-conventional to adoption of new water quality tain agricultural water supplies
and interruptions in supply. capture water during intense pre- waters. practices and develop innova- and increase institutional and
cipitation events and store it for tive approaches to encourage and administrative flexibility.
use during droughts. sustain adoption.
Develop institutional arrange- Assess public health issues relat- Develop methods for onsite treat-
ments facilitating water sharing ed to pathogens and heavy metal ment of tile drainage water.
across sectors. contamination.
Develop water pricing and other Explore marginal water treatment Explore new methods to reduce
market-based approaches. technologies to reduce energy water quality impacts from ani-
requirements for treatment. mal waste.
Investigate use of brackish wa-

ter to supplement freshwater
resources.
Consider new approaches to re-

duce costs for desalination.
Develop salt-tolerant crops.

Climate Change Challenge
Improved Economic
Assessments of Climate
Observation and Management, Risk, Crop, Livestock, Weed, Change Impacts and
Experimental Approaches Simulations and Modeling and Uncertainty Climate Science and Pest Models Adaptation
Identify signals of climate Develop mechanistic eco- Identify uncertainties of Development of climate Improve and evalu- Quantify costs and ben-
change that inform short-, system models comparable future climate parameters change scenarios relevant at ate existing models for efits of adaptation at the
intermediate-, and long- to statistical models, suitable as a function of spatial local to regional scales and use in climate change farm level and for spe-
term predictions, forecasting for ecosystem manage- scale, given uncertainties time horizons that include and weather variability cialty crops, livestock and
and early warning involving ment planning under climatic in mode accuracy, future factors ranging from unique studies; for addressing grain crop production
whole-system structure and futures. anthropogenic forcing, physical features not cap- carbon, nitrogen, and systems.
function. natural variability, and at- tured by climate models, such water changes in re-
tributable past changes. as lake influences, to regional sponse to climate; and
projections of changes in land for assessing resource
use, environmental policies, or needs and efficiencies.
economics.
Define effects of predicted Improve climate-based mod- Identify and estimate Improve and develop physi- Develop and test new Assess economic impacts
climate change on nature-hu- els for areas where we are location-specific climate cal and empirical downscaling crop models for pe- and costs of adaptation
man interactions. expecting the most rapid drivers and their uncer- techniques tailored to agri- rennial fruit crops, for entire foods systems.
global impacts ( e.g., melt- tainties under a range of culturally relevant variables vegetables, and other
ing tundra). future scenarios. (e.g.,. leaf wetness, livestock “specialty” food crops,
heat stress, and drought and wood products; and bio-
freeze risk). fuel crops.
Define interactions and ef- Improve climate-based mod- Define the impacts of Develop methods to spatially Develop and test new Integrate economic with
fects of climate and habitat els for key insects, diseases, uncertainty and irrevers- interpolate climate data. livestock models fo- environmental and so-
changes to population, meta- and disease vector dynam- ibility associated with cused on heat stress cial impacts of climate
population, and community ics, and potential human, climate change and im- and greenhouse gas change and adaptation
dynamics and change at animal and plant health pacts on management mitigation in livestock (e.g., valuation of ecosys-
ecosystem boundaries, along impacts. strategies and public facilities. tem services, impacts on
habitat gradients, and within policies for mitigating farm structure, and rural
ocean current systems, at lo- impacts. livelihoods, social equity
cal to regional scales. and justice, etc.).
Develop practical tech- Improve methods for quanti- Develop improved com- Develop sophisticated real- Develop and test new
nologies for measuring, fying carbon pools and fluxes munication language and time weather-based systems insect, pathogen and
analyzing, and assessing suitable for incorporation into education from the sci- for monitoring and forecasting weed models to project
environmental responses to ongoing inventory programs entists/researcher to the stress periods, pest and weed future range shifts, pop-
climate change, especially on such as for fisheries, for- decision maker/politician, pressure, and extreme events. ulation dynamics, and
full ecosystem levels. estry, etc. and public at-large. epidemiology.
Develop real-time early Improve models for Define best-practice

warning systems that use predicting changing tools and processes for
confluences of modeling hydrologic regime impacts quantifying and assessing
technologies in predicting on natural and managed risk under typical natural
changes and are informative ecosystems (e.g,. forest resource management
to governments, agencies, health and yield under scenarios, and for better
and the public at large. scenarios with increased managing under future
evapotranspiration). conditions.
Prioritize resources for Coordinate climate and Understanding ecosystem

research to previously ecosystem research and change and degradation:
understudied areas where data for improved modeling individual behavior and
changes appear to be the of weather variability and community resilience
most rapid and may have the extreme cyclical events
largest global and economic (wildfire, insect and disease;
impacts (e.g., high latitudes). cyclonic storms; etc.).

Greenhouse Gas
Conceptualizing and Mitigation and Soil
Modeling Complex Adaptive Strategies and Carbon Sequestration
Decision Science Systems Management and Monitoring Communication Policy Analysis
Risk perception, in- Characterizing and ana- Develop adaptive strategies for live- Systems and BMPs to Identification of gaps Economic impacts of mitiga-
vestment decision lyzing climate uncertainty stock, including managing weather reduce greenhouse gas in knowledge, so- tion policies on agriculture and
making under uncer- and impacts on system extremes; accounting for costs and emissions for crops, ani- cioeconomic biases, the food sector, including costs
tainty, and the role of productivity; demand constraints of renovation or relo- mals and animal waste and other factors of energy and other inputs,
temporal discounting. for water, nutrients, and cation of facilities; information on systems, and food process- constraining effective environmental impacts, and re-
other resources; and the breeds more tolerant to stress- ing and other food system communication to gional and social equity.
environment. es; managing waste; and biofuel activities beyond the farm target audiences.
production. gate.
The role of Spatial and temporal Develop new, more tolerant crop Systems and practices to Evaluate framing of Evaluate policy mechanisms,
participatory pro- dynamics of production varieties through convention- offset emissions by seques- issues for optimum including tax incentives, en-
cesses in scenario systems. al breeding, molecular-assisted tering carbon in trees and communication ef- vironmental and land use
development. breeding, and genetic engineering. soil and also methods to fectiveness for target regulation, agricultural sub-
University emphasis on crops not quantify offsets, including audiences. sidy and trade policies,
currently being addressed by com- measurement uncertainty. insurance policies and disaster
mercial seed companies. assistance, soil and water con-
servation policies, and energy
policies including those involv-
ing carbon trading and biofuel
production.
Test and design de- Systems characterization, Develop new, rapid breeding tech- Greenhouse gas and car- Use new technolo-
cision support tools including a comprehen- nologies to quickly respond to bon accounting tools for gies and social
for adaptation and sive coverage of farm emergent vulnerabilities to previ- farmers and food system networking for com-
mitigation measures sizes and types, com- ously nonthreatening diseases and users. munication with
appropriate for dif- modity transportation pests. target audiences.
ferent producers and and storage systems,
consumers. and food processing and
distribution.
Develop improved water man- Policy mechanism de-

agement systems and irrigation sign for greenhouse gas
scheduling technology. mitigation.
Develop adaptive strategies for

weed and pest control, such as im-
proved regional monitoring and IPM
communication regarding weed and
pest range shifts; enhance real-time
weather-based systems for weed
and pest control; develop non-
chemical options for new pests; and
develop rapid-response action plans
to control invasive species.
Develop adaptive strategies for

storage and transport system (e.g.,
redesign and relocation of infrastruc-
ture, and assess impacts of rises in
sea levels on port facilities).
Develop adaptive strategies for food

processing and marketing systems

Energy Challenge
Improve Understanding of Costs and
Benefits of Energy Development and Use
and Public Perceptions Related to Energy
to Better Inform Policy and Advance
Environmentally and Economically Friendly Identify New and Alternative Renewable Minimize Impacts of Increasing Energy
Renewable Energy Resources Demands on Natural Resources
Conduct full life-cycle analyses of costs and Identify and test new biofuel products from Develop uniform indicators of environmental
benefits of different energy sources at local waste streams of land management activities. effects of energy development and use.
through national scales.
Quantify trade-offs among land/sea-use al- Identify and test new or more efficient ener- Quantify biodiversity impacts of energy devel-
ternatives (i.e., fisheries, forestry, grazing) gy extraction methods from existing biofuel opment and use (e.g., slash and coarse woody
in areas that may be developed for energy products. debris removal for biofuels; fish passage and
production. hydrological changes at hydropower facilities;
etc.).
Quantify public perceptions regarding energy Develop marine renewable energy sources. Quantify behavioral changes and mortality
development and land/sea-use alternatives. of organisms associated with energy devel-
opment and use (e.g., bird mortality at wind
turbines; marine mammal and fish attraction or
avoidance of tidal energy facilities; relationship
of animal movements to electromagnetic field
changes; etc.).
Conduct economic analyses regarding present Identify and develop markets for renewable Identify sources and quantify water and air pol-
and future energy production costs compared energy. Many such markets require process, lution associated with energy production.
to the projected costs of renewable energy. transportation, or combustion modifications.
Quantify water demand for steam production

and cooling of geothermal, biofuels, solar and
traditional energy sources (coal, natural gas,
nuclear).
Understand public’s perceptions of alternative

energy sources and barriers to adoption of en-
ergy conservation practices.

Maintain Available Energy and Increase

Efficiency to Reduce Ecological Footprint Education Energy Security and the Bioeconomy
Increase water-use efficiency in steam produc- Develop K-12 science programs to en- Devise agricultural systems that utilize inputs
tion and cooling systems. gage youth in renewable energy and support efficiently and create fewer waste products.
teachers that explain the social, political and
environmental challenges associated with fos-
sil fuels and the challenges and opportunities
for transitioning to renewable sources.
Increase efficiency and use of existing energy Promote college and post-graduate programs Assess the environmental, sociological, and
sources/infrastructure (e.g., hydrofracking for that develop a capable and diverse workforce economic sustainability of biofuel and coprod-
natural gas production). through mentored research internships and uct production at local and regional levels.
fellowships. Energy development and produc-
tion will require well-trained scientists from
diverse STEM-related disciplines. The need
for graduate degrees in this sector necessi-
tates increased funding for internships and
fellowships.
Increase fuel conversion efficiency for biofuels. Promote renewable energy outreach programs Develop technologies to improve production-
through the university land-grant system that processing efficiency of regionally appropriate
enable the public to better understand the sus- biomass into bioproducts (including biofuels).
tainability and environmental impacts of their
energy choices and increase energy conserva-
tion practices.
Expand biofuel research with respect to non-

arable land, algae, pest issues that limit biofuel
crop yields, and emissions of alternative fuels.
Restructure economic and policy incentives for

growth of the next generation domestic biofu-
els industry.

Education Challenge
Include Natural Resources in K-12

Education by Incorporation into STEM Strengthen Natural Resources Curricula at Improve the Scientific Literacy of the
Curriculum and Activities. the Higher Education Level Nation’s Citizens
Evaluative mechanisms to assess effective- Federal agencies must maintain support for Include in K-12 standards a demonstration
ness of K-12 natural resource curricula that applied research. of the process through which new scientific
assess the degree to which concepts are knowledge is realized.
retained over multiple years and used in multi-
faceted, integrated critical thinking exercises.
Evaluate the most effective suite of experien- Understand the factors affecting undergrad- Conduct pedagogy research to determine what
tial activities that maximize understanding of uate and graduate enrollments and career is needed to more effectively include active
natural resource science and management opportunities in natural resources-related inquiry into teaching and learning at both the
and address key components of STEM req- fields. K-12 and higher education levels.
uisites, and develop and evaluate integrated
programs for effectiveness in knowledge reten-
tion, critical thinking, and application over the
long-term.
Understand the potential use of technology as Expand university training to include both tradi- Train more science journalists.
a bridging tool for connecting youth to the out- tional base of technical knowledge, skills, and
doors, and develop a better understanding of behaviors, and problem-solving, quantitative
the role of social science and use of social in- reasoning, critical thinking, and communica-
dicators in youth that lead to behavior change. tion skills.
Engage underrepresented populations in Continue research on pedagogy to produce

STEM, natural resources and sustainability professionals ready to face modern natural re-
curricula in our schools and develop curricula sources management challenges.
recognizing differences in cultural and racial
values regarding natural resource use, and
evaluate the effectiveness of these curricula
over the long-term.
Specific topics needing empirical research

include: surveys to better understand what
youth are concerned about; longitudinal stud-
ies to determine if increased knowledge and
awareness leads to behavioral change, and
to address promising strategies and practices
for natural resources education that are ac-
cessible to school administrators, decision
makers and funders; understanding how adult
constructs such as “climate change” might be
translated into actionable items for youth; un-
derstanding how adult learning and fears about
science impact the way youth perceive natu-
ral resources education; and developing and
analyzing practices in systems thinking and
complexity education..

Communicate Scientific Information to the

General Public in Efficient and Effective Promote Diversity in the Natural Resources
Ways Promote Natural Resource Stewardship Profession
Fund research to understand the linkage be- Integrate natural resources management Understand the factors that lead to women and
tween ways that decisions are made and ways with natural sciences and engage knowledge minorities choosing natural resources curricula
that scientific information is communicated about the cutting edge science (e.g., genetic and careers in numbers far below their propor-
and broaden strategies for science communi- engineering, atmospheric dynamics, biologi- tion in the population.
cations, which will require teams of experts in cal control, fire physics, etc.), not as separate
communication, decision science, and natural courses, but as issues integrated into applied
resources scientists. natural resources courses.
Develop better methods of communicating un- Integrate quantitative modeling with monitoring Understand the factors contributing to the im-
certainty and probability to the public because and data assimilation and increase future lead- balance in enrollment of women and minorities
these terms are interpreted as meaning a lack ers’ ability to work with quantitative models. among various natural resources disciplines,
of understanding. and how this imbalance may affect the avail-
ability of highly qualified professionals in the
workforce.
Develop methods to lessen the influence of Integrate natural science with social sciences
conformational bias in order to effectively com- and humanities within the human context that
municate uncertainty and probability in natural determines policy and practice.
resources.
Understand how to communicate effectively Develop communication and collaboration

and efficiently using new media platforms, and skills that enable leaders to understand and
integrate teams of scientists and experts in engage groups with highly divergent values
technological aspects of new media with com- systems.
munication experts.
Revised reward structures within scientific A cross-APLU study might recommend al-
agencies and universities so that communicat- ternative exploratory structures to enhance
ing scientific information to decision makers is interdisciplinary engagement across university
appropriately valued. Federal grants should re- campuses and lead to more innovation in edu-
quire a comprehensive plan for communication cating our future natural resources stewards.
of the results of natural resources research to
decision makers and communicating research
results to non-scientific audiences at a level
that makes a real difference, not as an after-
thought or “add-on.”

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May 2014

Science, Education and Outreach

Science, Education and Outreach

Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Board on Natural

For more information about this publication, contact:

8 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

The NR Roadmap Process

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 9

10 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

The Six Grand Challenges

Grand Challenge 1: Sustainability

The sustainability of natural resources must be evaluated not only by environmental

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 11

Grand Challenge 2: Water

Water issues are becoming increasingly complex and require multi-disciplinary

12 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

Grand Challenge 3: Climate Change

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 13

Grand Challenge 5: Energy

Grand Challenge 6: Education

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 15

We need to conserve and manage natural landscapes and maintain

Human society has developed activity) to human well-being;

Framing the Issue within the context of coupled

16 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 17

Climate regulation, water retention

Services In Situ Use

18 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 19

20 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 21

22 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 23

24 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 25

collected at appropriate Future investments for research,

26 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 27

We must restore, protect and conserve watersheds for biodiversity,

Framing the Issue total global water resources, which

28 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 29

30 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 31

32 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 33

34 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 35

36 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 37

We need to understand the impacts of climate change on our environment,

are known to have taken place in not only temperature change

38 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 39

40 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 41

42 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 43

Simulations and Modeling

44 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources

APLU Boards on Natural Resources and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate — 45

46 — Science, Education and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources