Interdisciplinary problem framing for sustainability: Challenges, a framework, case studies

Interdisciplinarity is ameans to integrate knowledge and action for people seeking sustainable natural resource science, management, and policy. We suggest that professionals who integrate via interdisciplinarity aim to create environments where human dignity is maximized and ecosystem functions are maintained. The goals of justice and environmental sustainability are recognized worldwide as overriding goals for humanity. We introduce a practical, analytic framework that can help our sustainability work. This problem-oriented, multi-method, and contextual approach is known as the policy sciences. It is used in work reported in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry. It is used at the individual and small-team level, and in diverse settings worldwide. Skilled interdisciplinary professionals use it as an explicit, analytic, and systematic approach in framing problems, mapping contexts, and inventing practical solutions for learning and adaptation. However, this framework is not widely known, in part due to complex barriers to using Interdisciplinarity and innovation. Nevertheless, the interdisciplinary approach is used in case studies available to wide audiences. In the end, we contend that interdisciplinarity offers a way to understand seemingly intractable, problematic social and ecological trends, and a way to support the twin goals of justice and sustainability.