Science Evaluation Framework
The Leopold Institute has been working with on-the-ground mangers for over a decade to develop a comprehensive and systematic framework for evaluating proposals for scientific activities inside wilderness. From a wilderness perspective, science activities may be innocuous, or they may cause concern because of their short- and long-term impacts to the qualities of wilderness character. The evaluation framework seeks to fully evaluate both the benefits and impacts of the science so a transparent decision can be made whether to allow or deny the project. The framework that was published in 2010 (see publication below) is currently being completely revised and updated to make it more streamlined and simple to use, and to fully mesh it with the Minimum Requirements Analysis/Minimum Requirements Decision Guide.
See the following publications for more information:
- 2003. The challenge of doing science in wilderness: historical, legal, and policy context.
- 2005. Balancing the benefits and impacts of science in Alaska’s wilderness.
- 2010. An interagency framework to evaluate proposals for scientific activities in wilderness.
- 2011. Wildlife scientists and wilderness managers finding common ground with noninvasive and nonintrusive sampling of wildlife.