EMI Research and Assessment Program

Ecosystem management requires a deeper understanding of ecological and social processes, spatial patterns, decision-making mechanisms and approaches in order to motivate individual and organizational change. We need to build the long-term research capacity that enables us to develop this understanding and create the tools needed for others to manage ecosystems effectively. We also need to learn from the experiences of places and programs that have been and are presently attempting to manage using an ecosystem management approach.

Strategies

In order to develop the necessary knowledge base and tools for better management, new modes of integrative and interdisciplinary research are required. To foster such research, EMI is employing three strategies:

• research at multiple scales,

• development of interdisciplinary research, and

• graduate student research to test ideas for clients.

Research Themes

EMI has conceptualized and organized SNRE's ecosystem management-related research into 5 research themes:

• Collaboration & Decision-Making

• Ecological Restoration

• Spatial Analysis & Ecosystem Classification

• Ecosystem Structure & Function

• Landscape Ecology: Planning & Design

Featured Research Projects

In an effort to highlight cutting-edge research into ecosystem management, a new research project will be featured on the website on a quarterly basis.

• Current project: Trends in Easement Language and the Status of Current Monitoring on Working Forest Conservation Easements

• Featured Research Project Archives

Research Accomplishments

Since its inauguration in April of 2000, the EMI research program has realized several accomplishments including:

• Creating a searchable internet database of ecosystem management cases

• Using federal McIntire-Stennis forestry research funds to seed research projects; all with a connection to core themes of ecosystem management, many involving interdisciplinary research approaches.

• Continuing evaluation research into on-the-ground ecosystem management efforts, to evaluate their success and evolution and to draw lessons for other efforts.

• Funding past Master's Projects and securing funding for current projects.

• Securing funding from the National Science Foundation to develop a new interdisciplinary project on biocomplexity, focusing on land use/land cover changes.