Transcript ESA Vision 1

ESA Vision 1
Informing Decisions with Ecological Knowledge
Bernadette Rabel
Jennifer Prell
Lindsey Dymond
Tom Tonkin
Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University
1 October 2004
Why should society know about
ecology?
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What can happen today can effect
population and ecosystems in the future.
The science can and should play a greatly
expanded role in ensuring a future in
which natural systems and the humans
they include coexist on a more sustainable
planet.
Society does not realize that as a human
race we have virtually altered all of the
Earth’s ecological systems.
Two main areas for informing
decisions with ecological
knowledge
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A. Integrate advances in ecological
knowledge into policy and management
decisions that affect ecological
sustainability
B. Promote a thoughtful public today and
educate future generations so that the
public can use the best ecological
knowledge when making individual choices
about sustainability
A. Integrate advances in ecological knowledge into
policy and management decision that affect
ecological sustainability
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The users of ecological knowledge often
do not understand the full range of
information or conceptual insights that
ecologists might provide.
Ecology is relatively new discipline, and
still suffers in some circles from not being
recognized as a “real” science.
Over the years,ecologists have created a
huge knowledge base, that they do not
know how to advertise its availability
Information that is presented is not
Action 1: Establish an international network
of Centers for the Ecological Implementation of
Solutions (CEIS)
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Ecologists should cultivate relationships with
more thoughtful reporters and editors because
others lack interest.
By linking groups of scientists together with
management and decision makers to help figure
out shared problems such as forest management,
agriculture, or wetland restoration.
The goal is to improve integration of ecological
knowledge and to inform the direction of
ecological research
Action 2: Build on programs that serve as
“honest brokers” of information and use rapid
response teams to assist decision makers
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ESA could initiate partnerships to develop a
program based in Washington D.C so this way
ecologists could have an impact on input and
testimony on legislation.
The intent would be to assess and emphasize the
quality of ecological science underpinning the
legislation.
Having ESA members in Washington would allow
elected officials to call on the team to rapidly
provide high quality independent ecological input
and testimony for legislation.
Action 3: Increase the number of ecologists
within the government agencies who make
decisions of others related to ecological
sustainability
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Ecologists employed in positions that require
frequent interaction with the public will have
opportunities to educate the public on issues of
ecological sustainability.
Fellowships and internships could be designed
specifically to place promising early career
ecologists on congressional staffs and in federal
agencies.
Agency functions that conduct research should
have an ecological component in helping agencies
develop position descriptions and advertise
openings across the ESA membership.
B. Foster a thoughtful public today and educate
generations of tomorrow so that the best
ecological knowledge informs individual choices
about sustainability
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The campaign would seek to increase
awareness about ecological sustainability
and explain the sustainability issues
affecting the quality of people’s lives and
those of future generations
People will also learn that the concerns
about sustainability include much more
than the charismatic “mega issues” such
as climate change and species extinction
The next fifty years will be a period of
great change in ecosystems worldwide
Action 4:Develop a major public information
campaign to bring issues of ecological sustainability before
the public
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Parts of the campaign issues of broad public
concern and help audiences understand the
scientific basis for solving problems of ecological
sustainability
National awareness of what ecological
sustainability is and how each citizen is
connected will require a coordinated and
prolonged campaign of internet, TV, and radio
Ex: commercials during the super bowl,
newspaper or news on the radio and TV, pop-ups
Action 5:Work with diverse public, nonprofit,
and religious organizations to better integrate
ecological knowledge into relevant outreach and
public campaigns
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The ESA can encourage the integration of
contemporary and rigorous ecological knowledge
into this movement by providing speakers on
ecological issues of local and national
significance.
The ESA could facilitate the involvement of
ecologists by building working relationships
between the ESA governing board and then
“matchmaking” between each organization’s
needs and expertise from across the ESA
Action 6: Establish internationally coordinated
ecology education programs
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Develop and deliver professional developmental programs
for K-12 educators related to ecological sustainability
Expand the TIEE, FIRST, or similar undergraduate faculty
support and enhancement programs for ecology educationwith a special focus on ecological sustainability
Analyze and participate in curriculum standards and
textbook development for ecology in K-12 and undergrad
education
Increase diversity among ecology educators nationally and
internationally
Establish a Web-based e-library that provides up-to-date
access to advances in research and education on ecological
sustainability.
Action 7: Work with the United Nations to declare
an “International Decade of Ecology Education” as part of
the Decade of Education for sustainable development
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Organize and implement a series of Ecology
Education Conferences, bringing together
professional science and education societies to
identify advances, gaps, and frontiers in
education related to ecological sustainability
Publish and widely disseminate proceedings from
the education conferences.
Why we should care
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Deforestation
Global Warming
Running out of natural resources
Water Contamination
Air Pollution
Deforestation
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Carbon Cycle
From 1850 to 1990, 122 billion tons
of carbon released due to
deforestation
Less capacity to hold water and
transpire it back to the atmosphere
Biodiversity
Natural Resources
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Fossil Fuels are non-renewable
Fossil fuels are used to fuel cars, make
plastic… even used to recycle.
Burning fossil fuels is hazardous to
humans’ health and to the environment.
Releases 6 billion metric tons of carbon
into air every year
Global warming
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largely the result of emissions of carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases from
human activities including industrial
processes, fossil fuel combustion, and
changes in land use, such as deforestation
warming will also cause additional sealevel rise that will gradually inundate
coastal areas, changes in precipitation
patterns, increased risk of droughts and
floods, threats to biodiversity, and a
number of potential challenges for public
health
Water Contamination
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1.5 billion people lack clean drinking
water worldwide
5 million deaths per year can be
attributed to waterborne diseases
Air Pollution
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Smog
Acid Rain
How this affects N.E PA/ Wilkes
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Wetlands
Mine site restoration
American Heritage Rivers
Wetlands
Mine site
American Heritage Rivers
Summary
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We must move ecology ahead since it is
an important role in our existing world and
our future.
If vision is successful, ecologists assist in
policy decisions and business decisions.
our population will better understand our
dependence on ecological services.
Scientists could work together to create
more useful information systems and
research tools.
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The vision is obtainable, but actions
need to be taken now!
The right information must get into
the hands of the right people and at
the right time in a form they can
understand.
The tasks in the vision will not move
forward unless there is structure that
will take us from data, to outreach, to
application.
References
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http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/schoecol/env/resto_e.htm
http://www.dailyitem.com/archive/2004/0920/local/stories
/10local.htm
ESA vision www.ESA.org/ecovisions
http://hawky.net/photo/4th_of_july_2001/canoeing/tn/the
_wetlands.jpg.html
http://www.bydesign.com/fossilfuels/links/html/f
ossil_fuel/fossil_fuel_green.html
Krantz, D. and Kifferstein, B. Water Pollution and
Society
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues In Science.
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/ELSI.html