There will generally be multiple options for any particular problem. It is important to consider a wide range at the outset to ensure that no viable option is overlooked. Options must take into account the level of decision, the climate and non-climate factors identified in Stage 3, the decision-maker’s attitude to risk, and the degree of risk and uncertainty surrounding the decision. Given the iterative nature of adaptive management approaches, where decisions are revisited and evaluated in terms of past performance and in light of new information, it is also important to identify options that do not constrain future adaptive capacities.