As this year’s earth stewardship theme is examined, we must ask ourselves the difficult question “How do those of us who really do exercise stewardship over parts of the planet plan and execute our responsibility?” The Symposium features presenters with real-world experience in facing the short- and long-term problems of a resource manager. Whom do you entrust with this responsibility, and what type of information do you provide to them to assist in carrying out the goals? We also include the experiences of researchers who contribute directly to the needs of management agencies. What is the relationship between the results from ecological research and the needs of the management agency? Where does ecological theory fit? How do we make use of current research findings? How may we factor in public concerns? In the development of this program, we asked prospective speakers to address at least one of the following topics, and examples of all are incorporated: 1)How research serves to develop/support agency management policy; 2)How may we determine what type of research is needed to support management initiatives?; 3)How does our agency establish policy in environmental management? (Also, how and when do we change that policy?); and 4)How may we balance economic, legislative, and public interests in development (and application) of management guidance? The lineup of presenters represents an extremely broad set of systems and roles. They include researchers focusing on aquatic and marine systems, on endangered and at-risk birds and tortoises, and management concerns ranging from statewide public lands responsibility on one hand, to a single military installation with complex environmental and mission demands on the other. We have authorities on regionally important fish, birds, and reptiles, each of whom will examine how recent research results have modified the policies and management plans for that species. Collectively, the symposium presenters will provide to the ESA membership a significant set of examples of the importance and relevance of ecological research in the planning and execution of resource management decisionmaking.