This introduction chapter lays out the need for models to address
environmental management issues. It also discusses how human values and
patterns of resource use influence the need for tools to make appropriate
decisions on how to use the resources. It provides an overview of the
history of modeling for resource management and sets the stage for the
diversity of models and approaches that are discussed in the subsequent
chapters.
The next three chapters present examples of successful applications of
models in very different fields:
• Models of endangered species, with wolf as a case study
• Ecological modeling as a component of an ecological-risk-assessment
process with impacts of entrainment and impingement on fish populations as an example
• Large-scale regional assessments as a class of models that uses a variety
of approaches ranging from geographic information system (GIS) to
landscape to economic models to examine the impacts of decisions, with
the case study focusing on the Southern Appalachian Assessment
Each of these “success stories” addresses some common questions. How
does the modeling effort appear to be a success? What aspects make this
a success and what aspects do not? Together, these examples provide a
description of diverse ways that models can contribute to environmental
management.
The following section of the book presents five sets of paired chapters.
The first chapter in each set presents future challenges in the use of models
for environmental management, and the second chapter discusses ways to
meet the challenges. Although there is some overlap between the questions
and issues for each pair of chapters, this framework provides information
that is useful for the environmental managers as well as for those who
develop models. The five topics are:
• Barriers to the use of models in decision making—Questions here
include: What enhances or retards effective communication between
modelers and decision makers? The pair of chapters evaluates opportunities and constraints in technology, bureaucracy, language, and cultures of science versus management. The chapters consider the type of
information in models and what sort of model outputs communicate
information most pertinent to decision makers.
• Evolving approaches and technologies that will enhance the role of
ecological modeling in decision making—How can models take advantage of evolving technology to enhance the effective use of ecological
modeling in management? The pair of chapters discusses the stream of
information from data collection to models and then to managers and
how technology can be used to enhance flow. They consider the spatial
and temporal scales at which data needs are addressed and how data col1. Opportunities for Using Ecological Models for Resource Management
15
environmental management issues. It also discusses how human values and
patterns of resource use influence the need for tools to make appropriate
decisions on how to use the resources. It provides an overview of the
history of modeling for resource management and sets the stage for the
diversity of models and approaches that are discussed in the subsequent
chapters.
The next three chapters present examples of successful applications of
models in very different fields:
• Models of endangered species, with wolf as a case study
• Ecological modeling as a component of an ecological-risk-assessment
process with impacts of entrainment and impingement on fish populations as an example
• Large-scale regional assessments as a class of models that uses a variety
of approaches ranging from geographic information system (GIS) to
landscape to economic models to examine the impacts of decisions, with
the case study focusing on the Southern Appalachian Assessment
Each of these “success stories” addresses some common questions. How
does the modeling effort appear to be a success? What aspects make this
a success and what aspects do not? Together, these examples provide a
description of diverse ways that models can contribute to environmental
management.
The following section of the book presents five sets of paired chapters.
The first chapter in each set presents future challenges in the use of models
for environmental management, and the second chapter discusses ways to
meet the challenges. Although there is some overlap between the questions
and issues for each pair of chapters, this framework provides information
that is useful for the environmental managers as well as for those who
develop models. The five topics are:
• Barriers to the use of models in decision making—Questions here
include: What enhances or retards effective communication between
modelers and decision makers? The pair of chapters evaluates opportunities and constraints in technology, bureaucracy, language, and cultures of science versus management. The chapters consider the type of
information in models and what sort of model outputs communicate
information most pertinent to decision makers.
• Evolving approaches and technologies that will enhance the role of
ecological modeling in decision making—How can models take advantage of evolving technology to enhance the effective use of ecological
modeling in management? The pair of chapters discusses the stream of
information from data collection to models and then to managers and
how technology can be used to enhance flow. They consider the spatial
and temporal scales at which data needs are addressed and how data col1. Opportunities for Using Ecological Models for Resource Management
15