-3- 



values only as a requirement for maintaining the areas in a healthy 

 and esthetically pleasing condition. Clearly, there are many legiti- 

 mate uses and values of natural areas, from camping to insect observa- 

 tion and from boat-landings to bird sanctuaries, but some areas need 

 to be set aside in their natural condition and left alone. If we are 

 to preserve the Bay's tremendous ability to produce fish, shellfish, 

 waterfowl and other important life; to break down human sewage wastes; 

 and to carry out its many other functions, then we also have to pre- 

 serve a significant number of breeding grounds, freshwater and salt- 

 water marshes, and other areas of ecological significance. In short, 

 in order to maintain the valuable natural yields of the Bay, we need 

 to assure the maintenance of the Bay's natural integrity. 



Not all of the Bay can be preserved, however. Growth of 

 industrial and residential areas will continue, as will the expansion 

 of recreational uses of the land and water. Faced with the reality 

 that only limited preservation is possible, the ecologists' responsi- 

 bility became apparent: to point out areas which should receive the 

 highest priority in preservation efforts. Thus, as thoroughly surveyed 

 as the Bay had been, there remained an urgent need to determine its 

 ecologically most important plants, animals, bio.tic communities and 

 natural areas. It is urgent that such areas be evaluated and priorities 

 set for procurement and preservation. 



Recognizing this need, The Nature Conservancy and the Chesapeake 

 Bay Foundation established a grant of $15,000 for an ecological survey 

 of the Bay region. In July, 1972, the Ecology Program in the 



