Rethinking the science-policy relationship: Boundary organisations and the Motueka Integrated Catchment Management Programme

Abstract

A crucial challenge for environmental management is the translation of scientific knowledge into productive useful policy and on-ground action. Considering how the domains of science and policy operate in isolation, bridging the science-policy divide is no simple task. An emerging and interesting framework for bridging the gap between science and policy is the use of boundary organisations. This research examines how boundary organisations might bridge this gap through improving communication and collaboration between researchers, policymakers, stakeholders, iwi and members of the public. The Motueka Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) programme was used to analyse how the programme managed the science-policy interface within a catchment management setting. It was concluded that while the Motueka ICM programme did effectively operate as a boundary organisation and produce numerous positive environmental, social and scientific outcomes, it only had limited success in bridging the science-policy divide at a local scale. The programme’s inability to produce a higher volume of policy outcomes has highlighted issues within both the concepts of ICM and boundary organisations.