Adaptive management and the philosophy of environmental policy.

摘要

IN the United States, environmental policy is a complex and fragmented undertaking that grows out of a specific philosophy of government. In particular, the progressive institutions introduced in the early 20th century were based on a political model in which legislative action established the broad goals and values that should guide policy decisions. Under this model, the tasks of management and regulation should be transferred to administrative agencies charged with the pursuit of prescribed goals through the application of objective technical expertise (Norgaard 1994). Delegating regulatory power to these agencies is of course necessary in a complex world where legislative bodies lack the structures and capabilities necessary to manage the myriad details of regulation and enforcement. Moreover, the focus on objectivity places limits on the discretion of regulators and, therefore, the capture of administrative agencies by special interest groups. Nonetheless, the progressive model of government has distinct limitations in the analysis and design of environmental policies. Bryan Norton's book Sustainahility: A Philosophy of Adaptive Ecosystem Management provides a diagnosis of the problems and a compelling agenda for restructuring and change.