Description
Book SynopsisOne of the critical issues of our time is the dwindling capacity of the planet to provide life support for a large and growing human population. Based on a symposium on ecosystem health, Managing for Healthy Ecosystems identifies key issues that must be resolved if there is to be progress in this complex area, such as:
Evolving methods for regional ecosystem health assessment employing complex adaptive systems coupled with adaptive technologies to permit accurate determination of changes in regional and global environments
Issues and methods for assessing, monitoring, and managing diversity and its impact on human health in the context of climate change, agroecosystems, restoration of forests, politics, culture, and tradition.
Leading thinkers in the field provide a coherent synthesis and a benchmark for the practice of this emerging field worldwide. The more than 100 peer-reviewed papers are grouped into three major parts. The first, "Emerging Concepts," explores the diverse meanings of ecosystem health within ecological, socio-economic, and human health perspectives, and the linkages to related concepts such as ecological integrity, sustainable development, and ecological footprints. The second part, "Issues and Methods," introduces methods for assessing and monitoring ecosystem health, including strategies for gaining political and stakeholder input and support for science-based ecosystem management. The final part, "Case Studies," reports experiences of interdisciplinary teams grappling with specific issues in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.Table of ContentsEMERGING CONCEPTS. Setting the Stage. Perspectives on Ecosystem Health. Building Policies and Linkages. Setting Goals and Objectives in Managing for Healthy Ecosystems. Finding Indicators. Monitoring, Learning, and Adjusting. ISSUES AND METHODS. Managing for Biodiversity. Assessing and Monitoring Biodiversity. Climate Change and Ecosystem Health. Exotic Species: Eradication Revisited. Landscape Health Assessment. Communities, Politics, Culture, and Tradition. Agriculture and Human Health. Mining Impacts. Forest Health Monitoring and Restoration. Agroecosystems. Grazing Animals and Rangelands. CASE STUDIES. The Colorado River Delta Ecosystem, US-Mexico. Canadian Prairie Ecosystem. Aquatic Ecosystems: Lake Tahoe and Clear Lake, California. Aquatic Ecosystems: Florida, New York, and Maryland. The Langat Basin of Malaysia. Pollution: MTBE.
