Summary Report for the Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management Course Needs Assessment

摘要

Coastal management is a complex process of balancing social, economic, ecological, and institutional concerns in decision making. Ecosystem-based management (EBM) provides a framework for integrating these decision elements, a mechanism for dealing with scientific uncertainties, and a process for managing stakeholder conflicts. EBM skills will benefit coastal professionals and other coastal stakeholders, especially those with regulatory and planning responsibilities, by providing a foundation of common principles and applications. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center is developing an EBM training course designed to expand the skill sets of coastal resource management professionals and improve their effectiveness in implementing EBM within their jurisdictions. The Center conducted an on-line survey of its customers to gauge the current knowledge base and application of EBM, as well as to guide the development of the course structure and content.