ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1, an argument was made that many environmental and resource management situations are characterized by complexity and uncertainty. Indeed, many environmental and resource problems have been characterized as “wicked”, “messes” or “metaproblems”, to reflect the high degree of complexity involved. Furthermore, the presence of risk, uncertainty and ignorance ensures that solutions will usually be developed on the basis of incomplete knowledge and understanding of natural and social systems. And yet, life cannot stop until complete understanding is available. If decisions were only to be made after complete understanding were achieved, few decisions would ever be taken. We must be willing to take decisions, accepting that we will make errors. However, acknowledging the presence of complexity and uncertainty may allow us to approach decision making somewhat differently than in the past. It may also lead us to focus and structure our planning and decision-making organizations differently.
