The challenges of using ecological science to promote the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems in a world increasingly dominated by humans are complex and require an interdisciplinary focus, as well as the study of processes bridging multiple spatial and temporal scales. Translating such complexity into recommendations that are relevant to decision makers to improve existing policy and management practices is skill that ecologists are urgently trying to master. This is particularly so in developing countries where efforts to remain competitive in increasingly globalized markets are putting considerable pressure on natural resources and environmental deterioration is often considered a necessary evil for addressing poverty and development concerns. In addition, while the Ecological Society of America has made considerable advances in its efforts to promote the use of ecological science in environmental decision making in the last few decades, the degree to which the lessons learned in the United States and Canada can be applied in developing countries with important differences in the development of ecology as a science, culture, socio-economic development, and ecosystems has not been adequately explored. This session, derived from discussions in Austin on earth stewardship, provides a series of case studies highlighting the efforts of ecologists, mainly in Latin America, to bridge the science-policy gap and promote public policies that are more effective in the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems, their biodiversity and the important ecosystem services they provide. Talks were selected that span a range of different countries, ecosystems, and ecological processes so as to encompass as much of the ecological community as possible in the evaluation of these issues. Furthermore, speakers were asked to address a number of common themes dealing with the challenges of the science-policy interface so as to highlight lessons learned and support a more coherent discussion. The session concludes with a round-table discussion where the goal is to foster a dialogue between speakers and session attendees that helps develop a series of recommendations for ecologists seeking to make their science more relevant for policy decisions in Latin America and other developing regions.