About EBM Tools

There are a wide variety of types of EBM tools.  The list belows describes the functionality of a variety of tools.  Not all tools within a specific tool type have all the functionality listed, however.

DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS- These tools are designed to facilitate common decisions for specific sectors or processes.  Types of Decision Support Tools in the EBM Tools Database include:

  • Conservation and Restoration Site Selection Tools- These tools can identify and/or prioritize optimal sites for conservation and restoration using goals or criteria determined by the user.


  • Coastal Zone Management Tools- These tools are designed specifically for coastal zone management issues and often incorporate data or simple models specific to coastal processes.


  • Fisheries Management Tools- These tools help determine levels and types of fishing that are ecologically and/or economically sustainable.


  • Hazard Assessment and Resiliency Planning Tools- These tools can help communities assess vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards, determine ways to reduce vulnerability, and prepare for possible emergencies.


  • Land Use Planning Tools- Among other things, these tools can help determine what land uses are compatible with environmental goals (such as habitat or species protection, quality) and the impact of changes in land use on terrestrial and aquatic environments.


MODELING AND ANALYSIS TOOLS- These tools are designed to conduct scientific analyses of a varierty of processes.  There are numerous models that have been developed for specific regions, species, or ecosystems and are not included in database. These tools could be extremely useful to EBM projects. The best way to find out about these tools is to consult researchers at local universities or organizations.  Types of Modeling and Analysis Tools in the EBM Tools Database include:

  • Model Development Tools- These tools help develop models of ecological or socioeconomic processes.


  • Geographic Information Systems


  • Watershed Models- These models simulate watershed processes and the influence of watershed changes (generally due to changes in land use) on freshwater and coastal ecosystems.


  • Estuarine and Marine Ecosystem Models- These models simulate interactions between species and benthic and pelagic habitat in estuarine and marine environments.  [For information on a wider range of marine ecosystem models, we recommend the EUR-OCEANS Model Shopping Tool (MoST).  Learn more about MoST.]


  • Oceanographic and Dispersal Models- These models simulate current flows and/or the dispersal of organisms and pollutants in the marine environment.


  • Habitat suitability and species distribution models- These models estimate the habitat requirements or suitability of a given habitat for a species.


  • Socioeconomic models- These models simulate economic and social processes, often in response to potential management actions.

DATA COLLECTION, PROCESSING, AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS- These tools help collect, process, and manage geophysical, biological, and socioeconomic data.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH TOOLS- These tools help engage stakeholders in decision making processes; faciliate communication between managers, scientists, and stakeholders; and educate stakeholders about ecological or management processes.

CONCEPTUAL MODELING TOOLS- These tools help develop conceptual models of the ecosystem, human interaction with natural ecosystems, and/or management processes.

VISUALIZATION TOOLS- These tools help scientists, managers, and stakeholders visualize the current state of resources and potential future states resulting from different management actions.  Many of the other types of tools include visualization capabilities.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS- These tools help manage projects including budgeting, scheduling, and reporting.

MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS- These tools help with monitoring and assessment functions such as selection sample sites.

Search for tools in the EBM Tools Database.

 

 

Tools that are NOT in the EBM Tools Database- There are thousands of tools out there. We have tried to limit the database to the ones that will be most useful for implementing EBM in coastal and marine environments. Some tools that we left out of the database are:

  • Tools that are not actively maintained or supported.


  • Tools that are primarily for for-profit businesses rather than resource management.


  • Tools that deal solely with terrestrial environments with no consideration of influences on aquatic environments.  For a full range of land use planning tools, visit the PlaceMatters tools database.


  • Tools that only model water flows or lower trophic levels, aspects of coastal and marine ecosystems which are not generally actively managed. Exceptions include coastal erosion, oil spill, and larval transport models designed to be used by managers.


  • Tools that are highly specialized for particular regions, species, ecosystem, or project unless the concept appears to have widespread applicability for other projects.


  • Fisheries stock assessment models that do not deal with species' interactions.


  • Tools that are primarily databases or non-analytical mapping tools for specific projects unless the concept appears to have widespread applicability for other projects.