00972nas a2200121   4500008004100000245006700041210006700108260009800175520047300273100002600746700002200772856005600794       2012                        eng d00aScenarios and Decisionmaking for Complex Environmental Systems0 aScenarios and Decisionmaking for Complex Environmental Systems  aNewtown Square, PAbU.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station3 aScenarios are used for expanding the scope of imaginable outcomes considered by assessments, planning exercises, or research projects on social-ecological systems. We discuss a global case study, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and a regional
project for an urbanizing agricultural watershed. Qualitative and quantitative aspects of scenarios are complementary. Scenarios can help address several of the currently recognized challenges of sustainability science.1 aCarpenter, Stephen, R1 aRissman, Adena, R  uhttp://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs-p-107.pdf