Background/Question/Methods This year’s conference theme focuses on creating a sustainable society through the application of ecological knowledge.  Despite a wealth of available ecological knowledge, there remains a disconnect between knowledge and application.  One reason is that the information is single-focused, widely dispersed, not easily accessible, and not generally written to provide specific recommendations for design and management.  For some ecosystem services, this information is conflicting, inconclusive or as yet nonexistent.  In addition, resource management guides developed from this information generally focus on only one resource concern; encouraging single-issue solutions and potentially leading to missed opportunities and overlooked negative impacts on other resources.  Recognizing this challenge, the USDA National Agroforestry Center embarked on a research project to pull together information on the ecological, economic, and social impacts of conservation buffers.
Results/Conclusions Using a research synthesis methodology, data from over 1400 peer-reviewed publications were analyzed, evaluated, synthesized, and distilled into guidelines for planning and designing multifunctional conservation buffers.  Over 80 illustrated guidelines covering seven resource categories are presented in Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways.  These guidelines provide direction and sound advice within the bounds of documented science and are presented as rules-of-thumb for improving air and water quality, enhancing habitat, protecting soil, providing recreation opportunities, enhancing economic productivity, and beautifying the landscape.  With this comprehensive guide, users can assess the potential benefits and trade-offs a buffer might have on different resource concerns and then design buffers that can better provide multiple objectives while minimizing potential conflicts.  The content is crafted to be understandable by many audiences in order to facilitate communication among ecologists, natural resource managers, landowners, and developers. The guide was peer-reviewed and field-tested by over 100 scientists and resource professionals  to assess its scientific validity and utility.  It is now available free to order or download through the website www.bufferguidelines.net which also provides a complete bibliography for each of the guidelines. Initial feedback indicates this tool should aid in connecting knowledge to application.