A Guidebook for Integrated Ecological Assessments

Ecosystem management requires a planning and decision-making process that places land use in its appropriate ecological context. Because ecological assessments must be conducted at various spatial scales and across jurisdictional boundaries, approaches to assessment must be compatible and consistent with each other. A Guidebook for Integrated Ecological Assessment analyzes methods and provides standards and protocols for assessment and the integration of data.

From the reviews:

"A guidebook for integrated ecological assessments ... provides a useful and well-organized collection of contributions that may help standardize ecological assessment procedures. ... the chapters are very well written ... the figures and tables efficiently illustrate main points in the chapter. The references and suggested reading sections at the end of each chapter provide a wealth of informative resources ... . This book would be a very useful resource for those participating in, organizing, or just interested in ecological assessment." (Audrey L. Mayer, Ecology, Vol. 82 (12), 2001)

"Ecological assessments are a critical component of land management planning and regulatory decision-making. ... the main intent of this book is to describe topics with particular importance to strategic integrated ecological assessments at a regional or sub-regional scale. ... the book provides both theoretical and practical advice for future ecological assessments given specific land-use planning objectives." (Giancarlo Barbiroli, International Journal of Environment and Pollution, Vol. 18 (1), 2002)

"This compendium includes some practical information on data acquisition, including sampling design and analysis, the use of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems. ... All of these processes are brought together in a series of case studies at the close of the book ... providing apt illustrations of the application of the ideas outlined." (Bulletin of the British Ecological Society, Vol. 33 (1), 2002)