ARS | Publication request: NATIONAL AND REGIONAL EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING AND COORDINATING ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAMS

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 3, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The resource base upon which the economic activity and well-being of the people of the United States depend includes its abundant and diverse natural resources and ecological systems. The combined Federal budget in 1995 for environmental and natural resource activity was approximately $500 million focused in 30 major Federal environmental monitoring and research programs. The Nation needs a strategy for environmental monitoring and research that will enable comprehensive assessments of its natural resources if we are to differentiate between actual and perceived environmental issues. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) convened the National Environmental Monitoring and Research Team to evaluate our current environmental and research programs and to synthesize that information to address policy issues related to Nation's ecosystems. An outcome of this activity was the document "Integrating the Nation's environmental monitoring and research networks and programs: A proposed framework." This activity was followed by a national workshop hosted by the NSTC. A major outcome of this workshop was the recommendation that an environmental "report card" on the health of the Nation's ecosystems be developed by the year 2001.