Decision Making for Sustainable Use and Development - Coastal Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable Use and Development - page 329

Problem Definition—Identify Driving Forces
Goal of Sustainable Management
(WHY)

System Definition
Watershed Components,
Constituents, Interrelationships
(WHAT)

Scientific Data and
Tools,
Including Model
Indicators,
Monitoring, Ecological and
Socio-Economic Impact,
Assessments, etc.

Scientific Data and
Tools Including Model
Indicators,
Monitoring, Ecological and
Socio-Economic Impact
Assessments, etc.

Development of Action Plan/Process
(HOW)

Identify
Stakeholders,
Establish Effective
Infrastructure

Identify
Information
Needed

Identify
Mechanisms
Needed

IMPLEMENTATION

Function
WHAT

Structure
WHO

Process
HOW

Customized Implementation
for Each
Stakeholder/Tool/Need

Scientific Data and
Tools,
Including Model
Indicators, Monitoring,
Ecological and
Socio-Economic Impact
Assessments, etc.

Scientific Data and
Tools,
Including Model
Indicators, Monitoring,
Ecological and
Socio-Economic Impact
Assessments, etc.

Integrates Ecological and
Scientific Data into Cultural,
Social, Economic, and
Political Systems

Informed Decisions and
Desired Outcomes,
Improved Lagoon Quality,
Informed and Involved Constituencies

Evaluation of Products and
Process

FIGURE 8.1 Lagoon management decision-making process.

Such a DSS should include a wide range of ecological and socio-economic data
along with the appropriate tools to collect, analyze, and evaluate this complex of
information ( Figure 8.2) . This chapter provides examples and lists of the basic
components of a DSS to assist in the decision-making process. This process
attempts to answer the basic questions that are commonly asked in the course of
lagoon management.