Designing a research programme to promote river basin management

Growing perceptions that ecological research is failing to meet the needs of resource managers has prompted a review of the structure and management of research programmes. In this paper we identify principles, frameworks and approaches to guide the restructuring of research programmes. Their application is discussed in relation to the restructured research programme on the rivers flowing through the Kruger National Park. A preliminary evaluation after one year of operation of this programme indicated beneficial changes in research and in stakeholder and client attitudes to research.