Integrated catchment models for policy development and decision making

Abstract

Land-system change, freshwater use, biodiversity loss, and changes in biogeochemical flows affect the resilience of the Earth system as a whole. Effective communication between scientists and policy makers is critical in addressing these challenges. Simulation models can be used as integrators of knowledge and data, and play a key role in facilitating effective boundary work between science and policy. Key issues identified are the reliability of model outcomes and the acknowledgement of their uncertainty. However, the use of models provides an advantage when analysing scenarios. Integrated catchment models can provide feedback about joint interpretation of the data and conceptual understanding, resulting in the identification of data needs. The difficulties related to improving how science informs policy is one of communication and negotiation at the boundary, and models can assist in the co-production between researchers and decision makers.

From a test case to a trusted tool: Lithuania’s evolving SWAT system for water and agricultural management

“…Another work (Fu et al, 2020) examined the challenges and actions needed to support and improve water quality modelling within organizations. The study by Vervoort et al (2024) provided an overview of the integration between science and policy development facilitated by integrated watershed models. However, we have not been able to find a specific example that describes the case of an advanced water modelling tool being developed and used for many years by a single water management institution.…”