ESA Vision 1ESA Vision 1Informing Decisions with Ecological KnowledgeInforming Decisions with Ecological Knowledge

Bernadette RabelBernadette RabelJennifer PrellJennifer Prell

Lindsey DymondLindsey DymondTom TonkinTom Tonkin

Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University

1 October 2004

Why should society know about Why should society know about ecology?ecology?

What can happen today can effect What can happen today can effect population and ecosystems in the future.population and ecosystems in the future.

The science can and should play a greatly The science can and should play a greatly expanded role in ensuring a future in expanded role in ensuring a future in which natural systems and the humans which natural systems and the humans they include coexist on a more sustainable they include coexist on a more sustainable planet.planet.

Society does not realize that as a human Society does not realize that as a human race we have virtually altered all of the race we have virtually altered all of the Earth’s ecological systems.Earth’s ecological systems.

Two main areas for informing Two main areas for informing decisions with ecological decisions with ecological

knowledgeknowledge A. Integrate advances in ecological A. Integrate advances in ecological

knowledge into policy and management knowledge into policy and management decisions that affect ecological decisions that affect ecological sustainabilitysustainability

B. Promote a thoughtful public today and B. Promote a thoughtful public today and educate future generations so that the educate future generations so that the public can use the best ecological public can use the best ecological knowledge when making individual knowledge when making individual choices about sustainabilitychoices about sustainability

A. Integrate advances in ecological knowledge into A. Integrate advances in ecological knowledge into policy and management decision that affect policy and management decision that affect

ecological sustainabilityecological sustainability The users of ecological knowledge often do not The users of ecological knowledge often do not

understand the full range of information or understand the full range of information or conceptual insights that ecologists might provide.conceptual insights that ecologists might provide.

Ecology is relatively new discipline, and still Ecology is relatively new discipline, and still suffers in some circles from not being recognized suffers in some circles from not being recognized as a “real” science.as a “real” science.

Over the years,ecologists have created a huge Over the years,ecologists have created a huge knowledge base, that they do not know how to knowledge base, that they do not know how to advertise its availabilityadvertise its availability

Information that is presented is not Information that is presented is not comprehendible to nonscientists. comprehendible to nonscientists.

Action 1: Action 1: Establish an international networkEstablish an international network of Centers for the Ecological Implementation of of Centers for the Ecological Implementation of

Solutions (CEIS)Solutions (CEIS)

Ecologists should cultivate relationships with Ecologists should cultivate relationships with more thoughtful reporters and editors because more thoughtful reporters and editors because others lack interest. others lack interest.

By linking groups of scientists together with By linking groups of scientists together with management and decision makers to help figure management and decision makers to help figure out shared problems such as forest management, out shared problems such as forest management, agriculture, or wetland restoration.agriculture, or wetland restoration.

The goal is to improve integration of ecological The goal is to improve integration of ecological knowledge and to inform the direction of knowledge and to inform the direction of ecological researchecological research

Action 2Action 2: Build on programs that serve as : Build on programs that serve as “honest brokers” of information and use rapid “honest brokers” of information and use rapid

response teams to assist decision makersresponse teams to assist decision makers

ESA could initiate partnerships to develop a ESA could initiate partnerships to develop a program based in Washington D.C so this way program based in Washington D.C so this way ecologists could have an impact on input and ecologists could have an impact on input and testimony on legislation.testimony on legislation.

The intent would be to assess and emphasize the The intent would be to assess and emphasize the quality of ecological science underpinning the quality of ecological science underpinning the legislation.legislation.

Having ESA members in Washington would allow Having ESA members in Washington would allow elected officials to call on the team to rapidly elected officials to call on the team to rapidly provide high quality independent ecological input provide high quality independent ecological input and testimony for legislation.and testimony for legislation.

Action 3: Action 3: Increase the number of ecologists Increase the number of ecologists within the government agencies who make within the government agencies who make

decisions of others related to ecological decisions of others related to ecological sustainabilitysustainability

Ecologists employed in positions that require Ecologists employed in positions that require frequent interaction with the public will have frequent interaction with the public will have opportunities to educate the public on issues of opportunities to educate the public on issues of ecological sustainability.ecological sustainability.

Fellowships and internships could be designed Fellowships and internships could be designed specifically to place promising early career specifically to place promising early career ecologists on congressional staffs and in federal ecologists on congressional staffs and in federal agencies. agencies.

Agency functions that conduct research should Agency functions that conduct research should have an ecological component in helping have an ecological component in helping agencies develop position descriptions and agencies develop position descriptions and advertise openings across the ESA membership.advertise openings across the ESA membership.

B. B. Foster a thoughtful public today and educate Foster a thoughtful public today and educate generations of tomorrow so that the best generations of tomorrow so that the best

ecological knowledge informs individual choices ecological knowledge informs individual choices about sustainabilityabout sustainability

The campaign would seek to increase The campaign would seek to increase awareness about ecological sustainability awareness about ecological sustainability and explain the sustainability issues and explain the sustainability issues affecting the quality of people’s lives and affecting the quality of people’s lives and those of future generationsthose of future generations

People will also learn that the concerns People will also learn that the concerns about sustainability include much more about sustainability include much more than the charismatic “mega issues” such than the charismatic “mega issues” such as climate change and species extinctionas climate change and species extinction

The next fifty years will be a period of The next fifty years will be a period of great change in ecosystems worldwidegreat change in ecosystems worldwide

Action 4:Action 4:Develop a major public information Develop a major public information

campaign to bring issues of ecological sustainability before campaign to bring issues of ecological sustainability before the publicthe public

Parts of the campaign issues of broad public Parts of the campaign issues of broad public concern and help audiences understand the concern and help audiences understand the scientific basis for solving problems of ecological scientific basis for solving problems of ecological sustainabilitysustainability

National awareness of what ecological National awareness of what ecological sustainability is and how each citizen is sustainability is and how each citizen is connected will require a coordinated and connected will require a coordinated and prolonged campaign of internet, TV, and radioprolonged campaign of internet, TV, and radio

Ex: commercials during the super bowl, Ex: commercials during the super bowl, newspaper or news on the radio and TV, pop-upsnewspaper or news on the radio and TV, pop-ups

Action 5:Action 5:Work with diverse public, nonprofit, Work with diverse public, nonprofit, and religious organizations to better integrate and religious organizations to better integrate

ecological knowledge into relevant outreach and ecological knowledge into relevant outreach and public campaignspublic campaigns

The ESA can encourage the integration of The ESA can encourage the integration of contemporary and rigorous ecological knowledge contemporary and rigorous ecological knowledge into this movement by providing speakers on into this movement by providing speakers on ecological issues of local and national ecological issues of local and national significance.significance.

The ESA could facilitate the involvement of The ESA could facilitate the involvement of ecologists by building working relationships ecologists by building working relationships between the ESA governing board and then between the ESA governing board and then “matchmaking” between each organization’s “matchmaking” between each organization’s needs and expertise from across the ESAneeds and expertise from across the ESA

Action 6: Action 6: Establish internationally coordinated Establish internationally coordinated ecology education programsecology education programs

Develop and deliver professional developmental programs Develop and deliver professional developmental programs for K-12 educators related to ecological sustainabilityfor K-12 educators related to ecological sustainability

Expand the TIEE, FIRST, or similar undergraduate faculty Expand the TIEE, FIRST, or similar undergraduate faculty support and enhancement programs for ecology education- support and enhancement programs for ecology education- with a special focus on ecological sustainabilitywith a special focus on ecological sustainability

Analyze and participate in curriculum standards and Analyze and participate in curriculum standards and textbook development for ecology in K-12 and undergrad textbook development for ecology in K-12 and undergrad educationeducation

Increase diversity among ecology educators nationally and Increase diversity among ecology educators nationally and internationallyinternationally

Establish a Web-based e-library that provides up-to-date Establish a Web-based e-library that provides up-to-date access to advances in research and education on ecological access to advances in research and education on ecological sustainability.sustainability.

Action 7: Action 7: Work with the United Nations to declare Work with the United Nations to declare

an “International Decade of Ecology Education” as part of an “International Decade of Ecology Education” as part of the Decade of Education for sustainable developmentthe Decade of Education for sustainable development

Organize and implement a series of Ecology Organize and implement a series of Ecology Education Conferences, bringing together Education Conferences, bringing together professional science and education societies to professional science and education societies to identify advances, gaps, and frontiers in identify advances, gaps, and frontiers in education related to ecological sustainabilityeducation related to ecological sustainability

Publish and widely disseminate proceedings from Publish and widely disseminate proceedings from the education conferences.the education conferences.

Why we should careWhy we should care

DeforestationDeforestation Global WarmingGlobal Warming Running out of natural resourcesRunning out of natural resources Water ContaminationWater Contamination Air PollutionAir Pollution

DeforestationDeforestation

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle From 1850 to 1990, 122 billion tons From 1850 to 1990, 122 billion tons

of carbon released due to of carbon released due to deforestationdeforestation

Less capacity to hold water and Less capacity to hold water and transpire it back to the atmospheretranspire it back to the atmosphere

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Fossil Fuels are non-renewableFossil Fuels are non-renewable Fossil fuels are used to fuel cars, make Fossil fuels are used to fuel cars, make

plastic… even used to recycle.plastic… even used to recycle. Burning fossil fuels is hazardous to Burning fossil fuels is hazardous to

humans’ health and to the environment.humans’ health and to the environment. Releases 6 billion metric tons of carbon Releases 6 billion metric tons of carbon

into air every yearinto air every year

Global warmingGlobal warming

largely the result of emissions of carbon largely the result of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities including industrial human activities including industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and processes, fossil fuel combustion, and changes in land use, such as deforestationchanges in land use, such as deforestation

warming will also cause additional sea-level warming will also cause additional sea-level rise that will gradually inundate coastal areas, rise that will gradually inundate coastal areas, changes in precipitation patterns, increased changes in precipitation patterns, increased risk of droughts and floods, threats to risk of droughts and floods, threats to biodiversity, and a number of potential biodiversity, and a number of potential challenges for public health  challenges for public health 

Water ContaminationWater Contamination

1.5 billion people lack clean drinking 1.5 billion people lack clean drinking water worldwidewater worldwide

5 million deaths per year can be 5 million deaths per year can be attributed to waterborne diseases attributed to waterborne diseases

Air PollutionAir Pollution

SmogSmog Acid RainAcid Rain

How this affects N.E PA/ WilkesHow this affects N.E PA/ Wilkes

WetlandsWetlands Mine site restorationMine site restoration American Heritage RiversAmerican Heritage Rivers

WetlandsWetlands

Mine siteMine site

American Heritage RiversAmerican Heritage Rivers

SummarySummary

We must move ecology ahead since it is We must move ecology ahead since it is an important role in our existing world and an important role in our existing world and our future.our future.

If vision is successful, ecologists assist in If vision is successful, ecologists assist in policy decisions and business decisions.policy decisions and business decisions.

our population will better understand our our population will better understand our dependence on ecological services.dependence on ecological services.

Scientists could work together to create Scientists could work together to create more useful information systems and more useful information systems and research tools.research tools.

• The vision is obtainable, but actions The vision is obtainable, but actions need to be taken now!need to be taken now!

• The right information must get into The right information must get into the hands of the right people and at the hands of the right people and at the right time in a form they can the right time in a form they can understand.understand.

• The tasks in the vision will not move The tasks in the vision will not move forward unless there is structure that forward unless there is structure that will take us from data, to outreach, to will take us from data, to outreach, to application.application.

ReferencesReferences http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/scho-ecol/env/resto_http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/scho-ecol/env/resto_

e.htme.htm http://www.dailyitem.com/archive/2004/0920/local/stories/1http://www.dailyitem.com/archive/2004/0920/local/stories/1

0local.htm0local.htm ESA vision www.ESA.org/ecovisionsESA vision www.ESA.org/ecovisions http://hawky.net/photo/4th_of_july_2001/canoeing/tn/the_whttp://hawky.net/photo/4th_of_july_2001/canoeing/tn/the_w

etlands.jpg.htmletlands.jpg.html http://www.bydesign.com/fossilfuels/links/html/foshttp://www.bydesign.com/fossilfuels/links/html/fos

sil_fuel/fossil_fuel_green.htmlsil_fuel/fossil_fuel_green.html Krantz, D. and Kifferstein, B. Water Pollution and Krantz, D. and Kifferstein, B. Water Pollution and

SocietySociety Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues In Science. Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues In Science.

http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/ELSI.htmlhttp://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/ELSI.html