The Core Group examined the existing capacities for effectively accomplishing the primary objectives summarized on page 2. This was a difficult issue because it is clearly not the intention of the group to support any additional bureaucratic layers or to supplant the discretion of local authorities or individual organizations developing and/or using new scientific information. However, we believe that if land managers and planners are to obtain the maximum potential value from existing and future scientific research, some additional means of enhancing communication and cooperation between and among both researchers and managers/planners is desirable.

In light of this, the Core Group considered some possible options to enhance our collective ability to achieve the stated objectives. A set of recommendations and additional steps were developed that could help fulfill the potential that research and information exchange offers to implementation of the NCCP program. We believe, in fact, that these recommendations could be applicable to the generic issue of effective communication between the ecological researchers and the land managers/land planners. There is no simple solution; however, the group of researchers and managers/planners involved in this effort discovered some useful common ground in the course of our discussions.

Status and Opportunities:

Existing mechanisms for addressing ecological information needs related to the NCCP currently have the following characteristics:

• Ad hoc organization
• Variable research budget
• No formal coordination of research or management
• No formal leadership
• A bottom-up approach
• Jurisdictional subdivisions
• Insufficient funding for processes, assessments, synthesis, or communication
• An emerging set of guidelines that is diffuse and inconsistent.

The strengths of NCCP research coordination, as currently operated, include the attention that top-level policy makers and experienced managers have given to the program. Although the structure is informal, there has been good cooperation and commitment, to the extent possible, from the involved parties. The program also has broad public support at the regional and state levels. The Core Group believes it is important to maintain strong coordination between policymakers and the research initiative.

The lack of a formal structure of the research initiative, however, presents a number of challenges. The people involved in implementing the program are too busy with other responsibilities to invest adequate time into the research and information dissemination efforts intended to assist the NCCP program. The lack of a well-defined process for sharing information limits the effectiveness and impact of the program and its many valuable contributions. The program is also making the transition from reserve design to management, and is still in the process of evolving into that new role.

The opportunities presented by the NCCP are:

• To develop a unified research agenda
• To enhance communication between land managers and researchers
• To meld scientific/management/policy objectives
• To coordinate effective adaptive management implementation with research feedback on a regional basis
• To create a model for similar programs elsewhere

Communication Needs

The NCCP program involves an intricate system of cooperation between several types of organizations and individuals, including researchers, research managers, land managers, planners, policy makers, and the general public. Figure 3 illustrates the need for communication within and among these groups. The bullets within each box list the type of information that should be communicated within a given community. Beside each arrow is the type of information to be communicated from one group to another.

Recommendations

The Core Group recommends the establishment or designation of a research coordinator to oversee or facilitate the coordination and communication of research and information dissemination activities related to the NCCP program. This should be situated within an institution with direct access (in both directions) to managers and other consumers of the needed information. The Core Group does not believe it is in a position to determine where or how this function should be established. This will be a decision to be lead by the resource and land management agencies in cooperation with planning partners. However, the group recommends that the research coordinator function should meet the following criteria:

• Act as an efficient central clearinghouse for technical information, rather than an additional bureaucratic layer
• Have research AND land management expertise
• Offer adequate time commitment of program officer-level director and administrative support
• Have adequate budget and resources from one or more sources (preferably a mix of public and private sector funders) to carry out facilitation functions
• Coordinate and link research ideas and funding from a variety of sources

The Core Group recommended that the individual or group responsible for coordination should have the following roles and responsibilities:

• Assess, synthesize, and communicate information from research results to managers and other users
• Keep and coordinate databases
• Identify ongoing management needs and research to address those needs
• Staff the Science Research Committee of the NCCP
• Maintain communication between sectors and communities and to the public (e.g., through Web pages, newsletters, conferences, and other fora)
• Promote the continuity of long-term research funding
• Assist with recovery plans and activities.