Table 1.

Overview of the foresight science framework consisting of six steps and selected example tools and applications from conservation science literature

Foresight science framework steps		Tool	Definition	Example from ecology, conservation science, or related
	Setting the Scope: Creating a foundational understanding of the critical issues, key actors, and social, economic, ecological limits of the question	Stakeholder analysis	Identifies key actors in an issue, who may be the most affected by decisions, for consideration of in decision-making aspects of the project	Brown et al. (2016)
	Collecting Inputs: Gather information from a wide variety of sources, examine current, past and potential future trends, and identify early indicators of change	Horizon scanning	The gathering, identifying, and examination of emerging trends, issues, and indicators of change	Neve et al. (2018)
	Analyzing Signals: Understand the dynamics and drivers of the system being studied to identify problems and develop solutions	Trend Impact Analysis	Tracking and extrapolating of future trends, guided by expert input, based off the historical data of a given issue	Gädeke et al. (2017)
	Interpreting Signals: Understand collected information and sources of uncertainty to consider alternative futures and their potential consequences	Scenario Planning	Identify, create, and explore possible future conditions of a system, and illustrate key events, decisions, and consequences in them	Calvo Robledo et al. (2020)
	Determining How To Act: Synthesize information to identify concrete actions which will develop indicators of change and promote a desired future outcome	Backcasting	Highlights a desirable future outcome and moves step-by-step backwards into the present while determining key steps and barriers that might be encountered along the way	Brunner et al. (2016)
	Implementing Outcomes: Implementation of selected action plans and the subsequent monitoring and modification of strategies	Adaptive Management	Track environmental change and inform desired states for directed management by constantly monitoring outcomes and reevaluating the needs of the project	Morris et al. (2020)