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Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University 1 October 2004

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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Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University 1 October 2004

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  1. ESA Vision 1Informing Decisions with Ecological KnowledgeBernadette RabelJennifer PrellLindsey DymondTom Tonkin Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University 1 October 2004

  2. Why should society know about ecology? • 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.

  3. Two main areas for informing decisions with ecological knowledge • 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

  4. A. Integrate advances in ecological knowledge into policy and management decision that affect ecological sustainability • 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 comprehendible to nonscientists.

  5. Action 1: Establish an international networkof Centers for the Ecological Implementation of Solutions (CEIS) • 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

  6. Action 2: Build on programs that serve as “honest brokers” of information and use rapid response teams to assist decision makers • 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.

  7. Action 3: Increase the number of ecologists within the government agencies who make decisions of others related to ecological sustainability • 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.

  8. B. Foster a thoughtful public today and educate generations of tomorrow so that the best ecological knowledge informs individual choices about sustainability • 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

  9. Action 4:Develop a major public information campaign to bring issues of ecological sustainability before the public • 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

  10. Action 5:Work with diverse public, nonprofit, and religious organizations to better integrate ecological knowledge into relevant outreach and public campaigns • 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

  11. Action 6: Establish internationally coordinated ecology education programs • 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 education- with 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.

  12. 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 • 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.

  13. Why we should care • Deforestation • Global Warming • Running out of natural resources • Water Contamination • Air Pollution

  14. Deforestation • 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

  15. Natural Resources • 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

  16. Global warming • 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 sea-level 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 

  17. Water Contamination • 1.5 billion people lack clean drinking water worldwide • 5 million deaths per year can be attributed to waterborne diseases

  18. Air Pollution • Smog • Acid Rain

  19. How this affects N.E PA/ Wilkes • Wetlands • Mine site restoration • American Heritage Rivers

  20. Wetlands

  21. Mine site

  22. American Heritage Rivers

  23. Summary • 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.

  24. 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.

  25. References • http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/scho-ecol/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/fossil_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

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