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NATURAL AREAS: 
Remnants of Past Ecosystems Preserved 
for the Future 
by JAMES S. FRALISH 
Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology 
Southern Illinois University 
@ Where do our natural areas fit in the environmental picture? 
Much of the nation’s interest currently is focused on the development 
and maintenance of a high quality environment. Evidence for such con- 
cern is found in passage of an Environmental Policy Act, creation of fed- 
eral and state environmental protection agencies, and the large number 
of strong environmental citizen organizations (Environmental Defense 
Fund, Scientists Institute for Public Information, Sierra Club, National 
Audubon Society, National Wildhfe Federation, Zero Population Growth, 
and many state organizations including the Illinois Audubon Society) 
working to improve the environment. These interest groups, along with 
state and federal agencies, will require far more ecological data and in- 
formation than are now available to properly manage or disseminate in- 
formation on ecosystem management. 
Snow (1971) summarizes the problem very concisely: 
“One of the most formidable obstacles to the development of 
ecostrategtes 1s the absence of sufficient quantitative data and 
theoretical understanding of the natural environment. Yet, 
without adequate knowledge of the structure and resiliency of 
the natural ecosystem that support life, 1t 1s hard to assess the 
impact of technological stresses. Particularly crucial 1s whether 
nature can find new points of stability under the stresses vm- 
posed by man, or whether modern technology itself must give 
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way. 
Natural areas are considered an essential part of a quality environ- 
ment. The Federal Committee on Research Natural Areas defines a nat- 
ural area as “a naturally occurring physical or biological unit where nat- 
ural conditions are maintained insofar as possible” ( Franklin, et al. 1972). 
According to a broader definition, a natural area is a part of a system with 
members of the system being samples of typical environments and/or 
communities (Moir 1972 ).Both definitions, however, consider minimum 
disturbance by man an essential feature of a natural area, which is one 
of the primary reasons for the preservation of such areas. 
