Abstract Best practice for environmental modelling generally aims to increase the accuracy, utility and rigour of models when used as decision-support tools. Despite the wide-spread documentation of best practice, models are frequently and easily challenged during environmental decision-making processes, at least partly because of poor implementation of best practice guidance. We postulate that there is a two-sided gap of understanding between those tasked with making environmental decisions informed by model simulations (i.e., the end users), and modellers charged with generating and interpreting model outputs for environmental decision-making processes. This gap, or disconnect, can mean that best practice is not always implemented in modelling projects. Here we describe a strategic framework that aims to facilitate the implementation of appropriate best practice guidelines to improve the defensibility of the modelling and provide a structured approach to improving communication between modellers and end users. The framework incorporates four phases: 1) initial scoping and investigation, 2) planning, 3) model implementation and evaluation, and 4) model application. At the end of each phase is a hold point that asks a critical question, such as whether modelling is the appropriate tool, or whether the model is adequate for the intended purpose. There is an emphasis on communication between end users and modellers in each phase, and feedback loops to allow for commentary from end users or peer reviewers to be addressed. The framework can be applied to any environmental domain but is sufficiently prescriptive to ensure that best practice guidance for specific domains and model applications can be identified and implemented.

中文翻译：

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弥合差距：在环境建模中实施最佳实践指南的战略框架

摘要 环境建模的最佳实践通常旨在提高模型用作决策支持工具时的准确性、实用性和严谨性。尽管有广泛的最佳实践文档，但在环境决策过程中，模型经常且容易受到挑战，至少部分是因为最佳实践指南执行不力。我们假设，负责通过模型模拟做出环境决策的人（即最终用户）与负责生成和解释环境决策过程的模型输出的建模者之间存在两方面的理解差距。这种差距或脱节可能意味着在建模项目中并不总是实施最佳实践。在这里，我们描述了一个战略框架，旨在促进适当的最佳实践指南的实施，以提高建模的可防御性，并提供一种结构化的方法来改善建模者和最终用户之间的沟通。该框架包含四个阶段：1) 初步范围界定和调查，2) 规划，3) 模型实施和评估，以及 4) 模型应用。每个阶段的最后是一个提出关键问题的保持点，例如建模是否是合适的工具，或者模型是否足以满足预期目的。每个阶段都强调最终用户和建模者之间的沟通，以及反馈循环，以允许解决来自最终用户或同行评审员的评论。