A framework for environmental management applied to an analysis of the New York State Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7252217

Catto, G G

This investigation reveals factors affecting decisions on environment, and provides some understanding of the decision process. The framework provides a vocabulary that assists communication about environmental policy and management. The framework is used to explore allegations against the Wetlands Act. The study reveals that the role of environmental managers in the Act was limited by their general absence from the policy process. Their contribution was not based on ecological science, but rather on popularized ecology. Environmental managers tend to confuse facts and values in the policy process and are uneasy with value balancing that occurs in policy making. No policy analysis was undertaken to establish the fact on wetlands. In order to improve environmental policy, environmental managers ought to base their input into society's decision process on ecological science and make clear the limits of their knowledge. They should be trained in ecology. Environmental managers also need a greater exposure to social sciences and the policy arena, and to be trained in policy analysis. A curriculum for training environmental managers in line with recommendations is outlined.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7252217
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- (1990-)
540300 -- Environment
Aquatic-- (1990-)
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FEDERAL REGION II
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LEGISLATION
MANAGEMENT
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
PERSONNEL
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
RECOMMENDATIONS
STATE GOVERNMENT
TRAINING
USA
WETLANDS