Mean = 86 Mean = 86
Implementing Implementing
Ecosystem Ecosystem Management Management
Start by defining our Start by defining our
management unit – draw a management unit – draw a
line on the map that line on the map that
represents “an ecosystem”
represents “an ecosystem”
Ecological Boundaries Ecological Boundaries
Defining an Ecosystem Defining an Ecosystem
Want whole natural systemWant whole natural system
Also community of peopleAlso community of people
Existing Management Units – no Existing Management Units – no relationship to ecological systems relationship to ecological systems
Ideal Management Unit??Ideal Management Unit??
Ecoregions Ecoregions
Recognizable region with consistent Recognizable region with consistent patterns
patterns
Relatively homogeneous Relatively homogeneous
environment and ecological environment and ecological
processes processes
Recognizable at various scalesRecognizable at various scales
Watersheds as Watersheds as
Ecoregions Ecoregions
BenefitsBenefits
Relatively well-defined (e.g., USGS Relatively well-defined (e.g., USGS system)
system)
Can be ecologically significantCan be ecologically significant
Are hierarchically relatedAre hierarchically related
Are being used for other types of Are being used for other types of management
management
UnderstandableUnderstandable
Watersheds as Watersheds as
Ecoregions Ecoregions
DrawbacksDrawbacks
Watersheds difficult to define in areas with Watersheds difficult to define in areas with karst topography, little gradient, sandy soils, karst topography, little gradient, sandy soils,
or arid climates or arid climates
Less useful for managing issues not related to Less useful for managing issues not related to water
water
Terrestrial ecosystems do not follow Terrestrial ecosystems do not follow watersheds
watersheds
Human communities don’t separate Human communities don’t separate
themselves according to watershed boundaries themselves according to watershed boundaries
Lake Champlain Basin Lake Champlain Basin
Special Designation Act of 1990 – Special Designation Act of 1990 – develop comprehensive “Pollution develop comprehensive “Pollution
Prevention, Control, and Restoration Prevention, Control, and Restoration
Plan for Lake Champlain Plan for Lake Champlain
Must consider water quality, human Must consider water quality, human health, fish and wildlife, nuisance non- health, fish and wildlife, nuisance non-
native species, wetlands, recreation, native species, wetlands, recreation,
cultural heritage resources cultural heritage resources
Appropriate Management Unit?Appropriate Management Unit?
Chesapeake Bay
Watershed
Land Cover
Fragmentation
Population Trends
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Nitrogen
Phosphorous Sediment
Potomac River Watershed
Nitrogen Phosphorous
Sediment
Other Management Units Other Management Units
Primary habitat of the largest Primary habitat of the largest carnivore in a region
carnivore in a region
Contiguous habitat that remains Contiguous habitat that remains largely unaffected by human
largely unaffected by human activities
activities
Extension of existing political Extension of existing political boundary to include bioregion boundary to include bioregion
US Fish US Fish and and
Wildlife Wildlife
Service Service
US US Fores Fores t t
Servi Servi cece
The National Hierarchy of Ecological Units
National Hierarchy of Ecological Units
National Hierarchy of Ecological Units
Planning Planning and and
analysis analysis scale
scale
Ecologica Ecologica l Units
l Units Purpose, Purpose,
objectives, and objectives, and general use
general use
General size General size range
range
Ecoregion Ecoregion GlobalGlobal
ContinentalContinental RegionalRegional
Domain Domain ------ Division Division --- --- ProvinceProvince
Broad applicability for Broad applicability for modeling and sampling, modeling and sampling, strategic planning and strategic planning and assessment, and
assessment, and
international planning international planning
Millions to tens Millions to tens thousands of thousands of
square square miles
miles Sub-region
Sub-region SectionSection
--- --- Subsection Subsection
Area-wide planning and Area-wide planning and watershed analysis
watershed analysis Thousands to Thousands to hundreds of acres hundreds of acres Landscape
Landscape Landtype Landtype association
association Area-wide planning and Area-wide planning and watershed analysis
watershed analysis Thousands to Thousands to hundreds of acres hundreds of acres Land unit.
Land unit. Landtype Landtype association association ---
---
Landtype Landtype phase.
phase.
Project and management Project and management area planning and
area planning and analysis.
analysis.
Hundreds to less Hundreds to less than ten acres.
than ten acres.
National Hierarchy of Ecological Units
Social Considerations Social Considerations
Boundaries Delineate TerritoriesBoundaries Delineate Territories
Political JurisdictionsPolitical Jurisdictions
Who’s in and who’s out?Who’s in and who’s out?
Balancing Ecological and Balancing Ecological and
Social Considerations Social Considerations
Ecological – want functional, self-Ecological – want functional, self-
maintaining natural system (mosaic of maintaining natural system (mosaic of
patches) – push to get bigger and bigger patches) – push to get bigger and bigger
Social – want identifiable community with Social – want identifiable community with similar culture, values, clear political
similar culture, values, clear political structure, limited group of stakeholders structure, limited group of stakeholders
Economic – how to accommodate multiple Economic – how to accommodate multiple economic interest – use economic hubs?
economic interest – use economic hubs?
Greater Yellowstone Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem Ecosystem
Resources in Yellowstone National Park Resources in Yellowstone National Park and surrounding land
and surrounding land
Headwaters of 3 major rivers – Yellowstone, Snake, Headwaters of 3 major rivers – Yellowstone, Snake, Green
Green
Continent’s most diverse collection of geothermal Continent’s most diverse collection of geothermal features
features
Home of elk, bison, grizzly bear, mule deer, bighorn Home of elk, bison, grizzly bear, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, wolf
sheep, moose, wolf
Forests – logging an important part of local Forests – logging an important part of local economies
economies
Active mining centerActive mining center
Water rights –damming and diversionWater rights –damming and diversion
What do we want to What do we want to
accomplish in the Greater accomplish in the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem?
Yellowstone Ecosystem?
America’s first national park – one of America’s first national park – one of the last large “intact” ecosystems in US the last large “intact” ecosystems in US
Wildlife, biodiversity protectionWildlife, biodiversity protection
Maintain geothermal resourcesMaintain geothermal resources
Healthy streams – high quality trout fisheryHealthy streams – high quality trout fishery
Also area of natural resource Also area of natural resource exploitation
exploitation
Tourism is huge – people want to visitTourism is huge – people want to visit
Need viable community economiesNeed viable community economies
Current Climate in GYE Current Climate in GYE
region region
No universal vision of what should haveNo universal vision of what should have
But – a real interest in coordination and a But – a real interest in coordination and a common approach to management
common approach to management
Greater Yellowstone Coalition – NGO Greater Yellowstone Coalition – NGO
What ecosystem What ecosystem
management unit management unit
boundaries might work?
boundaries might work?
Approximate Range of Some Large Mammal Populations in the GYE
Source: Bo Wilmer
