The first part of the report contains the six principal findings on 

 national needs for improving ecological understanding and its application. 

 From an analysis of these have emerged the 12 recommendations of the Ad 

 Hoc Committee specific actions. Included in this part also is the charge to 

 the Committee by the FCST and CEQ. 



The second part is a discussion of basic concepts in ecology and a brief 

 highlighting of human progress and problems in relationship to ecosystems 

 and resources. 



Finally there is a categorization of present Federal agency involvement 

 in ecological research. This listing allows an estimate of much of the scope 

 and detail of what Federal ecologists have considered important. It reflects 

 as well as the considerable history of basic and applied effort directed by 

 Federal agencies toward the need for knowledge and problem solving in 

 response to issues raised in the second part of the report. 



The report was reviewed by member and observer agencies of the 

 Federal Council for Science and Technology and discussed at plenary ses- 

 sion. The FCST approved publication of the report, although several agen- 

 cies expressed reservations about the first recommendation, to establish a 

 National Ecological Service. The report is being published as originally 

 developed by the Ad Hoc Committee, and its recommendations will be 

 carefully considered within the Federal establishment. Suggestions are 

 welcome from any part of the public or private sectors related to the 

 recommendations of this report or to the need for any further analysis of 

 ecological research and issues as follow-up to this pioneering effort. 



VIII 



