LB 21-220 - Knowledge networks as a tool for integrating evidenced-based decision-making in forest pest management

Background/Question/Methods:

Developing sustainable forestry practices is complex because it involves managing the natural environment and the diverse values of human society. Scientists and decision-makers are increasingly recognizing that incorporating diverse ways of knowing into environmental management is one of the best ways to tackle the problems caused by a changing climate. Managing the Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae, MPB) outbreaks in western pine forests is one such problem that requires the collaboration and input of numerous stakeholders and rightsholders, each of whom has their own values and objectives. Managing a forest pest is not as simple as producing good science, it requires an understanding of how that science (and other perspectives) inform policy decisions and how those decisions are negotiated across jurisdictions. This study aims to understand what the network structure of MPB management in Canada looks like, what knowledge is relevant and useful to decision-makers, and highlight groups that have been left out of the science-management-policy pipeline. We used semi-structured interviews with provincial decision-makers (n=13) and Social Network Analysis (SNA) to create a knowledge network map of MPB knowledge exchange in Canada.

Results/Conclusions:

In the resulting network we identified, who the provincial level decision-makers are in each province, what information is shared between individuals, and the social structures that facilitate the movement of information in the network. We found that there is active sharing of scientific information about MPB between provincial and federal governments, but there is weak information exchange with non-governmental bodies, academia, or local stakeholders. There are few key individuals whose positionality in the network ensures that information is shared, leading to potential gatekeeping of the relevant science. Beetle management plans rely heavily on scientific data and risk assessments but do not incorporate either local or Indigenous knowledges. Though acknowledged as important stakeholders, First Nations were not present in any provincial-level planning or decision-making on MPB management. The resilient future of Canada’s forests relies on joint effort among diverse stakeholders and rightsholders. By using social network analysis to identify relevant actors and knowledge, this study presents a novel way to identify and address the inter-jurisdictional barriers preventing diverse stakeholders and perspectives from being incorporated into socially-licensed and resilient pest management.