Decision analysis as a process for linking human values to wetland restoration

Session: Linking Human Well-being, Quality of Life, and Ecosystem Services to Conservation Efforts (1)

David Martin, U.S. EPA, [email protected]

Abstract

Ecological restoration has traditionally been planned by evaluating ecosystem conditions, biodiversity, and production of ecosystem services. Decision analysis is an engagement process for analyzing decisions that links science to human values. I will present the general decision analysis process using a collaborative case study in the Woonasquatucket River watershed, Rhode Island. Scientists at the U.S. EPA partnered with a watershed organization to prioritize dozens of candidate wetland restoration sites in terms of social equity and ecosystem service benefits, including potential flood protection, scenic landscapes, education, recreation, bird watching. We developed 24 indicators based on several site and landscape characteristics. We applied conceptual modeling and spatial analysis to estimate indicator values for each candidate restoration site. Lastly, we developed two decision support tools to quantitatively aggregate the indicator values and help the organization prioritize the restoration sites to fund restoration in the watershed. Results indicate that restoration sites in urban areas can provide greater benefits to people than sites in less developed areas. This research provides an alternative way of planning for wetland restoration to that of traditional planning studies. I close by emphasizing the need for research into monitoring the social benefits of ecological restoration.