How Bridging Approaches Further Relationships, Governance, and Ecosystem Services Research and Practice

Kathleen C. Williams (), Leah M. Sharpe, Sebastian Paczuski, Keahna Margeson and Matthew C. Harwell
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Kathleen C. Williams: Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, USEPA Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Leah M. Sharpe: Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, USEPA Office of Research and Development, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA
Sebastian Paczuski: Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Keahna Margeson: Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Matthew C. Harwell: Pacific Ecological Systems Division, USEPA Office of Research and Development, Newport, OR 97365, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-23

Abstract: Understanding environmental governance empowers researchers and practitioners alike to work towards solutions that improve both environmental and human well-being outcomes. Collaborative, iterative approaches to governance use bridging approaches such as translational ecology, boundary work, and ecosystem services. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development worked with a variety of collaborators to implement six multi-year coordinated case study research projects. The research projects were designed to support agency collaborators spanning different geographies, ecosystems, and environmental management decision contexts, and to demonstrate that different tools, approaches, and ecosystem service foci can enhance coastal and other water resource sustainability. To better understand the iterative and collaborative nature of the cases and collaborations, researchers conducted an analysis of the comparative case studies based on Williams’ (2018) and Ostrom’s (1994, 2009) frameworks. The team identified (1) who participated in the processes; (2) what the programs and goals were; (3) where programs worked and their resources; and (4) the resulting outcomes. We demonstrate that stakeholder participation and outcomes look different within different projects, and we conclude that relationships, focus on place, and common goals produce the most impactful results.

Keywords: boundary work; ecosystem services; environmental governance; geographic context; stakeholders; translational ecology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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