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Responses of Forest Ecosystems to Environmental Changes pp 16–30Cite as

Some Applications of the Ecosystem Approach to Environmental Problems and Resource Management

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Abstract

A new definition of ecology is proposed to overarch the schism between biotic and abiotic efforts. The ecosystem approach to ecological questions often emphasizes energy flow and nutrient flux and cycling, but incorporates much more within the concept. Ecosystem science has addressed difficult, large-scale questions such as estimates of regional weathering or atmospheric dry deposition.

“Big science” is criticized for its top-down emphasis, expense and poor linkage with management decisions. The U.S. National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) is used as an example of such big science. A new partnership between scientists and resource managers is needed. Guidelines are proposed for assessment programs in the future that deal with complex, environmental problems.

It is proposed that a broader definition of global change is needed; human-accelerated environmental change includes global climate change, ozone depletion in the stratosphere, land-use changes, toxification of the biosphere, invasion of exotic species and widespread loss of biotic diversity. The role of humans in these changes is emphasized.

Overall, the ecosystem concept has great utility for developing sound management policies for large-scale environmental problems.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The New York Botanical Garden Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA

    Gene E. Likens

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  1. Gene E. Likens
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Science Foundation, Strasbourg, France

    A. Teller

  2. Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium

    P. Mathy

  3. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Grange-over-Sands, UK

    J. N. R. Jeffers

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© 1992 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg

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Likens, G.E. (1992). Some Applications of the Ecosystem Approach to Environmental Problems and Resource Management. In: Teller, A., Mathy, P., Jeffers, J.N.R. (eds) Responses of Forest Ecosystems to Environmental Changes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2866-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2866-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85166-878-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2866-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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