Ecological science and sustainability for the 21st century

Margaret A. Palmer; Emily S. Bernhardt; Elizabeth A. Chornesky; Scott L. Collins; Andrew P. Dobson; Clifford S. Duke; Barry Gold; Robert B. Jacobson; Sharon E. Kingsland; Rhonda H. Kranz; Michael J. Mappin; M. Luisa Martinez; Fiorenza Micheli; Jennifer L. Morse; Michael L. Pace; Mercedes Pascual; Stephen S. Palumbi; O. J. Reichman; Alan R. Townsend; Monica G. Turner

doi:10.1890/1540-9295(2005)003[0004:ESASFT]2.0.CO;2

Ecological science and sustainability for the 21st century

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

By: Margaret A. Palmer, Emily S. Bernhardt, Elizabeth A. Chornesky, Scott L. Collins, Andrew P. Dobson, Clifford S. Duke, Barry Gold, Robert B. Jacobson, Sharon E. Kingsland, Rhonda H. Kranz, Michael J. Mappin, M. Luisa Martinez, Fiorenza Micheli, Jennifer L. Morse, Michael L. Pace, Mercedes Pascual, Stephen S. Palumbi, O. J. Reichman, Alan R. Townsend, and Monica G. Turner

https://doi.org/10.1890/1540-9295(2005)003[0004:ESASFT]2.0.CO;2

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Abstract

Ecological science has contributed greatly to our understanding of the natural world and the impact of humans on that world. Now, we need to refocus the discipline towards research that ensures a future in which natural systems and the humans they include coexist on a more sustainable planet. Acknowledging that managed ecosystems and intensive exploitation of resources define our future, ecologists must play a greatly expanded role in communicating their research and influencing policy and decisions that affect the environment. To accomplish this, they will have to forge partnerships at scales and in forms they have not traditionally used. These alliances must act within three visionary areas: enhancing the extent to which decisions are ecologically informed; advancing innovative ecological research directed at the sustainability of the planet; and stimulating cultural changes within the science itself, thereby building a forward-looking and international ecology. We recommend: (1) a research initiative to enhance research project development, facilitate large-scale experiments and data collection, and link science to solutions; (2) procedures that will improve interactions among researchers, managers, and decision makers; and (3) efforts to build public understanding of the links between ecosystem services and humans.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Ecological science and sustainability for the 21st century
Series title	Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
DOI	10.1890/1540-9295(2005)003[0004:ESASFT]2.0.CO;2
Volume	3
Issue	1
Year Published	2005
Language	English
Publisher	Ecological Society of America
Contributing office(s)	Columbia Environmental Research Center
Description	8 p.
First page	4
Last page	11
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page