Integrating Social Science in Puget Sound Restoration

Social science is central to effective ecosystem restoration. It can enhance stakeholder-driven management practices; excavate assumptions about management strategies; and improve understanding of failures and successes from restoration efforts. In the Puget Sound of Washington State, social science is beginning to play a larger role in ecosystem recovery. In this paper, we use a governance-oriented science-policy framework to assess the ways in which social science has gained structural support in the Puget Sound. We then compare this analysis to responses from client users of Puget Sound restoration science to identify the extent to which they perceive governance support for social science integration. We found that the Puget Sound region has substantively enhanced the governance structure for integrating social science in restoration and partner agencies have improved their ability to engage in meaningful dialogue around social science needs. Nevertheless, existing top-down planning processes dominated by natural science perspectives often hinder its application.

Automated summary

Social science plays a critical role in ecosystem restoration by enhancing stakeholder-driven management practices, excavating assumptions, and improving understanding of outcomes. In the Puget Sound region, there has been substantial progress in integrating social science into restoration efforts through a governance-oriented approach, despite challenges posed by top-down planning dominated by natural science perspectives.