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Current socio-environmental issues challenge ecologists to contribute to their resolution through public policy. There are many possible forms of contributing to public policy besides providing information. A conceptual model proposes four roles, namely Pure Scientist, Science Arbiter, Issue Advocate and Broker of Alternatives. These roles differ in their view of science and whether they offer options to decision makers. In this work, we explored through a survey approach the self-perception of Argentine ecologists about their role concerning environmental public policies. We characterized the socio-professional profile of the ecologists according to different dimensions. Additionally, we explored the satisfaction level with the roles adopted and explored the exogenous and endogenous factors necessary to adopt the desired ones. Our results showed that the most common roles among argentine ecologists are Pure Scientists and Brokers of Alternatives. Surveyed ecologists showed intermediate satisfaction levels with the role they assume and half of them would like to assume another role, in most cases that of Broker of Alternatives. One of the main reasons that determine their satisfaction level is the possibility of linking their work with decision making. The most common causes for dissatisfaction mentioned are exogenous factors such as the restrictions within their workplace, available time and other actors' attitude towards the idea of collaborating. The argentine scientific system has an unsatisfied demand for a change concerning the engagement of ecologists with environmental public policy. We suggest that these changes should be addressed given the urgent environmental problems. [Display omitted] • Ecologists might exert a diversity of roles at the science-policy interface. • We surveyed Argentine ecologists about their self-perception in the form of engagement in public policy. • Most ecologists identify with roles of pure scientists and broker of alternatives • Satisfaction with the professional performance is lower for pure scientists. • We recommend facilitating the adoption of roles that depart from the linear model of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of land allocation to crops and extensive livestock production in the Argentine Pampas using compromise programming. Two economic indicators (gross margin, direct costs) and five environmental indicators (organic carbon input to soil, nutrient balances, agrochemicals impact and soil erosion) are considered. The tradeoff between economic and environmental objectives is assessed and the preferred land allocation schemes determined by the multicriteria model are compared to the current land use in the region of Pergamino, North of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Results indicate that it is important to consider not only the environmental-economic tradeoff in farming, but also the conflict across different environmental criteria in order to determine whether it is reasonable to stimulate activities which improve some environmental indicators at the expense of getting less desirable values in others. For instance, an increase of productivity in agriculture enhances soil organic carbon content but it may increase the risk of contamination with agrochemicals and nutrients. Results are consistent with the notion that extensive crop-livestock production systems are more balanced than continuous crop farming. According to model results, optimal land assignment is a combination of crop and livestock activities (62 and 38% of land, respectively) which is associated with lower agrochemical use, greater organic carbon input to soil, better soil protection from erosion and more efficient nutrient cycling. This land assignment presents a decrease of 20% in the economic gross margin compared to the continuous agriculture scheme that maximizes the economic result. The comparison between current land use and the optimal land assignment based on model results show that farmers assign a smaller fraction of land to extensive livestock production (2–4%), than in the most balanced compromise solution (38%). Results also suggest that it would be appropriate to encourage farmers to reduce the area of land assigned to full-season soybeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) is a multivariate technique that involves transformations of data matrices to provide optimal comparability. We propose GPA to quantify the concordance among sets of variables that characterize natural, human and productive subsystems. When the land use fits in with the physical support of agricultural production, people''s well-being should be evident in a high concordance between the land use and the social conditions. In a situation of instability each set of variables operates in diverse directions resulting in lower resilience and sustainability. Two GPA were performed, between physical support and land use data sets (concordance=67.4%), and between land use and social conditions data sets (concordance=65.3%). The interplay between the pair of concordance values constitutes a bi-dimensional index which serves as an ecological indicator. Based on bootstrap confidence interval, the 49 counties of the Pampa Ecoregion, Argentina, were classified in medium, high or low concordance. The lack of concordance is an indicator of imbalances which may contribute to guide environmental management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]