Recommendations 



8. 



Complete the existing National System of Natural 

 Areas, with full representation of major ecosystems, to 

 provide sites for studies of naturally functioning 

 systems that can serve as ecological reference points for 

 baseline monitoring, and as controls for experimental 

 research. Utilize existing Federal lands to the maximum 

 extent possible. Classify the natural areas into a useful 

 system. 



Complete the National System of Ecological Research 

 Areas to provide sites for manipulative experiments, 

 management testing, and observations of the results of 

 human impact. Utilize existing Federal lands to the 

 maximum extent. 



Findina E There is also a need for ecological research of intensively managed and 

 heavily used urban ecosystems. This is a joint finding by this 

 Committee and the CEQ-OST Committee on Environmental Health. 

 Although neither committee studied the problem in detail, it was 

 agreed that this is an area with little knowledge but great need. 



There is a great need to determine the "carrying capacity" of the land 

 for human populations and their many demands on land. Most studies 

 are of a single use, and can identify the maximum yield or capacity 

 under optimum management for meeting a particular demand. Yet 

 meeting of one need affects all others, directly or indirectly. Evalua- 

 tion of carrying capacity should include consideration of diversity, 

 stability, and environmental quality, together with ecosystem needs to 

 meet human demands. Conservation of energy and materials requires 

 additional innovative research and implementation. Methods should 

 be evolved for reducing stress on ecosystems, while enhancing their 

 capability to meet human demands and to support wild species. 



Recommendations 9- Assign high priority to research on the ecology of inten- 



sively managed and used, man-dominated urban 

 ecosystems, so as to establish threshold values for 

 ecosystem stress. Detailed ecological research require- 

 ments and applications should be determined in a 

 separate study by appropriate experts. 



10. Investigate the techniques for developing means of 

 long-range ecological planning geared to establishing a 

 "carrying capacity" for human activities. 



Finding F There are very few broadly trained professional ecologists and partic- 

 ularly few who are capable of applying ecological knowledge to 

 environmental problems. Ecological education in universities needs to 

 be augmented and reoriented to be effective in producing broadly 

 trained professional ecologists capable of meeting national needs. 

 These people should be competent natural scientists, while also being 

 skilled in the social sciences and humanities. 



