Stakeholder Involvement in Indicator Selection: Case Studies and Levels of Participation

Governmental agencies, Tribal Nations, scientists, managers, and the public are interested in assessing the health of ecosystems and their component parts, including humans. Assessing and monitoring human and ecosystem health requires the use of a suite of bioindicators that are biologically, methodologically, and societally relevant, and can be used effectively over time to assess trends and provide early warning. Often the latter consideration is ignored, or at best assumed. This paper examines the role of stakeholders in indicator selection specifically, and suggests that societal relevance should include participation and collaboration with a full range of Tribal Nations and stakeholders, as well as federal and state agencies. The inclusion of a full range of Tribal Nations and stakeholders can result in the development of bioindicators useful for ecosystem health assessment, human effects and interventions, human health assessment, evaluating the efficacy of remediation, and evaluating sustainability...