POLICY OPTIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL 



ECOSYSTEMS 



Figure 3 from Magnuson et al. '^ provides a beautiful schematic for the various 

 options available when one is trying to determine what to do with a damaged 

 ecosystem. Restoration as used in this chapter and in the Magnuson et al.'^ chapter 

 means returning in a direct route toward its initial condition or state. This would 

 include both desirable and undesirable characteristics of the original condition. An 

 example of an undesirable condition in this context might be thickly overhanging 

 vegetation on a small stream which might prevent use by canoeists. Further degrada- 

 tion would continue to take the system toward a new state in a "direction" opposite 

 to its original condition. Pragmatic rehabilitation would include restoration of 

 original characteristics considered particularly desirable as well as some new desira- 

 ble characteristics which were not originally present. Enhancement would involve 

 restoration to a more socially acceptable condition than the present one, but with no 

 reference to or use of the original condition as a model. For example, strip mined 

 land in Kansas that was originally covered by prairie grassland might be converted to 

 a small lake or pond. This would be ecologically quite distinct from its original state 

 but a properly constructed lake or pond would certainly be considered by most 

 citizens more desirable than abandoned strip mined land and, therefore, the conver- 

 sion could be termed enhancement. 



The resolution of the problem seems to require: 



1 . Identification of those ecosystems that have been displaced from their original 

 conditions. 



2. Determination of whether displacement is still occurring. 



3. When continuing degradation has been observed, arresting it so that a steady 

 state is reached. 



initial 

 Condition 



Rehabilitation 



Enhancement 



Further 

 Degradation 



Figure 3. Diagram to illustrate the meaning of several policy options for 

 management of natural ecosystems. 



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