The Role of Research in Evidence-Based Decision-Making

The foundation to understanding the role of research is to consider why it is important to apply research to decisions involving policy, priorities, and practices, and how to take the research findings into account when making decisions or plans for park management.

In this primer the term ‘research’ will include research data, information from universities, research institutions, government research, organizational research, and peer-reviewed journal articles.  The common element is that the research be deemed relevant and trustworthy in source or content.

What is the Role of Research in Park Management?

Research is important to all aspects of park management.  It is fundamental in:

• Making decisions for creating or updating policy, practice, programs, and management
• Increasing understanding of how our environment functions and changes, and our role as humans in that system
• Generating new knowledge and beginning conversations by presenting ideas and theories
• Building and sustaining relationships based on those research conversations
• Facilitating interdisciplinary learning and work regarding our natural resources and park areas
• Defining the parameters of choice, risk, and opportunity

It is important that we recognize the value in conducting and disseminating the various areas of research

• Research about impact (e.g. restoration, species management, invasive species, climate change, fire, etc.)
• Research about changing needs and adaptation
• Research about how people use the park (volume, cycles, tourism, etc.)
• Research about leadership for people who manage parks

We need “More and better quality information to support sound management actions and related conservation outcomes is necessary” (Lemiex, et al., 2017, p. 2).

Why does it matter?

Why should we care about how research is regarded in Parks Canada? 

• We should care because our natural areas and parks, including the wildlife that live there, could be impacted by the quality of decisions made about their use and care.
• We should care because the cost of the consequences will eventually find their way to our pockets.