Integration and tradeoffs

Managing for sagebrush ecosystems that are resilient to disturbance and resistant to invasive plants often requires managers to make tough decisions in the face of considerable complexity and uncertainty. The deci¬sion making environment is often characterized by multiple management objectives, limited manage¬ment authorities and capabilities, dynamic ecosystems and plant communities, and uncertain responses to management actions. Resource decision makers must be able to determine appropriate objectives based on desired management outcomes and sort through the different management considerations involved in obtaining those desired outcomes. Decision makers must also be able to evaluate the tradeoffs associated with diverse and often competing management considerations and determine the long-term positive or negative effects of particular management actions on the resource.