Contribution of R&D to Socio-economic Outcomes

1. Contribution of R&D to Socio-economic Outcomes Presented at 2011 AEA Conference, RT&D Technical Interest Group George Teather Performance Management Network Inc. george.teather@pmn.net Beth MacNeil Canada Forest Service beth.macneil@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca Ajoy Bista Canada Forest Service ajoy.bista@nrc-rncan.gc.ca

2. Background / Challenge • Evaluation traditionally used to support accountability, resource allocation, program improvement • Increasing need to demonstrate contribution of gov’t R&D programs to achievement of departmental objectives • Canada Forest Service/ Natural Resources Canada is responding to that challenge • Use evaluation methodologies to tell “performance story” showing R&D influence on immediate and intermediate policies and longer term socio-economic outcomes • Target is NRCan senior management, central agencies and Parliament

3. Methodology • Case study approach • focus on specific forest management programs (wildland fire, forest pest) • Indepth analysis employing multiple evaluation methodologies • Logic model • framework for examining pathway between research and achievement of outcomes • problem/R&D response/partners / recipients/ influence on behaviour (policies, programs, regulations )/ impacts on forest health, public safety • Performance story • clear narrative describing contribution of R&D to achievement of program, departmental objectives and long term socioeconomic impacts

4. Initiation and Diffusion of Science Research Impacts Situation Analysis (SA) Research investment (INV) Research activity (RA) That produces results Application of CFS knowledge that influences decision making…. (IDM) That affect public and private management of Canada’s forest resources and their use (FM) (FI) That contribute to the state of environmental sustainability, stewardship, economic competitiveness, safety and security (ENV, ECON, SS) Academic Networks NRCan / CFS Policies/Programs Resource allocation Intervention programs Practices / advice Research Capacity Competencies Infrastructure Canada Government forest resource management legislative and regulatory framework,  policies and practices that reflect CFS science knowledge and information (FM) Industry forest management, renewal and harvesting practices that reflect CFS science knowledge and information (FM) Other Government Departments (Fed / Prov) Policies/Programs Resource allocation Regulation Practices / advice Environment Improved state of environmental sustainability and stewardship Economy / Prosperity Improved state of economic competitiveness Safety (Security) Improved state of safety and security International Policies Regulations Agreements • State of Canada’s Forests and Forest Sector • Environment • Economy Research Results (RR) International Uptake of Canadian forest management practices by other countries (FI) Level of Canadian content in international forest resource management regulations, reports and practices (FI) Acceptance among international community that Canadian forest resources are being managed in a sustainable manner Continued and increased international acceptance of Canadian forest products (FI) Consultation / Collaboration / Engagement (CCE) Knowledge Pool (KP) Research Investment (RI) Municipal / Community Planning Advice Canadian Forestry Research Applied Emerging Exploratory Non-Government Organizations Policy/Advocacy/ Program Industry Planting Harvesting, Value -added Marketing Forest Networks Assumptions / Conditions The context of the process: What is the issue being researched and translated? What issues and stages of knowledge translation is currently the focus? Who are the key actors? What are characteristics of the setting? What is the ‘supplier’ and ‘receptor’ environment? • The definitions of how the knowledge translation process is framed by the actors themselves • The decision-making processes that exist • The critical events that take place External Factors What social, economical, environmental, political, cultural, technological or other factors effect these results?

5. Wildland Fire - Problem • 8000 wildland fires/yr avg • Consume 2 million hectares of forest and woodland (over twice annual harvest) • Impacts on • forest health • economic value • human safety and health • property • Contribution to GHG emissions

6. Wildland Fire R&D Response • Research focus on wildland fire behaviour, fire risk and mitigation, particularly at urban-wildland interface • Developed Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) as part of Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) • Contributed to development of Fire Smart - decision support tool to minimize wildland fire losses • Advice and recommendations to federal, provincial and municipal decision makers

7. Partners / Stakeholders/Beneficiaries • Canada is a federation, with provinces responsible for forest resources • CFS fire research group collaborates with provincial gov’t agencies, universities and other Canadian and international agencies • Key strategy • maximum use of scarce resources • ensures relevancy of research • increases awareness of research results among provincial gov’t agencies responsible for forest management and fire control • Benefits from research in other countries

8. Influence of CFS Fire Research • CFFDRS, CWFIS, FireSmart and other fire models used by: • Provincial gov’ts in development and implementation of wildland forest fire, emergency preparedness and land use policies • Municipalities in development of land use and zoning policies and regulations • Forest industry in development of sustainable forest management and harvesting practices • Federal gov’t /NRCan in calculation of carbon/GHG emissions and analysis of climate change effects • Many other countries, US states as basis for wildland fire preparedness

9. Outcomes • Wildland fire research products embedded in Provincial, federal policies and regulations • Contributes to Canadian record of never having had a fatality from forest fires • Contribution to international obligations to report on Canadian GHG emissions • CFFDRS recognized as international standard for fire preparedness, contributes to fire preparedness and mitigation policies and practices in several othercountries, US states

10. Socio-economic Outcomes • The performance story clearly shows the influence of CFS fire research on federal, provincial and municipal policies and regulations, contributing to important national policy objectives and socio-economic outcomes • Economic prosperity through protection of forest resources, sustainable forest management practices • Public safety and protection of property through improved wildland fire preparedness and response policies and programs • Improved environment, reduction in carbon/GHG emissions

11. CFS Logic Model of Wildland Fire Research Contribution to Forest Sector Outcomes Initiation and Diffusion of Science Research Impacts Situation Analysis (SA) Research Investment (INV) Research activity That produces results Application of CFS knowledge that influences decision making…. (IDM) That affect public and private management of Canada’s forest resources and their use (FM) (FI) That contribute to the state of environmental sustainability, stewardship, economic competitiveness, safety and security (ENV,ECON, SS) Academic Networks Canadian Forest Service / NRCan Emergency preparedness and response programs Wildland fire policies Climate change programs Fire effect on carbon / GHG models Canada (FM) Contribution of Wildland Fire research models, information and advice (CWFIS, CFFDRS, WFBPM and National Wildland Fire Strategy) to emergency preparedness and response programs, forest resource policies and practices Contribution of Wildland Fire research to Canadian Carbon/GHG and climate change analysis and reports and international reporting commitments Contribution of Wildland Fire research to Canadian forest management and harvesting practices Canadian Forestry Research Wildland Fire Portfolio management Applied Emerging Exploratory Environment Improved state of environmental sustainability and stewardship Economy / Prosperity Improved state of economic competitiveness (reduced commercial resource loss) Safety (Security) Improved state of safety re: fire risk • State of Canada’s Forests and Forest Sector • Over 8000 wildfires per annum • 2.1 million hectares lost per year, more than 2 times annual harvest • Encroachment by communities • Climate change efforts Environment Canada / DFAIT Carbon / GHG reporting Provincial / Territories Emergency preparedness and response programs Wildlife fire policies Research Results (RR) Consultation / Collaboration / Engaged (CCE) Knowledge Pool (KP) Municipality / Community Planning, zoning advice Research Investment (RI) International (FI) Contribution of Wildland Fire research to international fire emergency preparedness and mitigation policies and practices Uptake of Wildland Fire management practices by other countries Contribution of Wildland Fire research to international carbon / GHG models and reports Research Capacity Infrastructure Competencies International Emergency preparedness and response programs Wildlife fire policies Industry Forest management and harvesting practices Insurance practices Forest Networks • Assumptions / Conditions • Consistent resources commitment to efforts • Common priorities and threat understanding among key partners • Supplier-receptor relationships and capacity is appropriate • Reach of key decision makers • External Factors • The Federal-Provincial authorities over the forest natural resource means strong provincial jurisdiction and control over on-going management • Sector economic constraints may effect management practices CFFDRS – Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, CWFIS – Canadian Wildfire Information System, WFBPM – Wildfire Behaviour Prediction Model

12. Forest Pest Research • Challenge • native and foreign invasive species attack and kill wildland and urban trees (mountain pine beetle, emerald ash borer, plum pox virus) • loss of merchantable timber, increased fire threat, urban environment effects • Similar approach to show contribution of R&D to socio-economic outcomes • Collaborative research • Close relationship with provinces, municipalities • Influence on policies, practices, as intermediary to longer term outcomes

13. Information Requirements • Development of performance story makes use of the logic model approach and collection of credible evidence • Challenge • Resources / activities • Partners/stakeholders • Direct influence -change in policies and programs • Analysis of long term outcomes • Evidence from files, reports, interviews/surveys, expert opinion

14. Summary • Narrative “performance story” uses logic model approach, evaluation methodologies to describe influence of CFS research on solving national challenge and achievement of socio-economic outcomes • Story describes CFS research strategy in addressing challenge, pathway from research to long term outcomes • Research challenge • Relevance • Effective partnerships with key users of research data • Influence of research models and decision tools on policies and practices • Contribution to socio-economic objectives