The relationship of ecosystem management to NEPA and its goals

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Environmental Management

OSTI ID:20080397

Phillips, C G; Randolph, J

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) was intended to promote a systematic, comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to planning and decision making, including the integration of the natural and social sciences and the design arts. NEPA critics have cited three key shortcomings in its implementation: (1) a lack of engagement with the NEPA process early in the planning process through interdisciplinary collaboration; (2) a lack of rigorous science and the incorporation of ecological principles and techniques; and (3) a lack of emphasis on the Act's substantive goals and objectives. In recent years and independent of NEPA, a policy of ecosystem management has been developed, which represents a fundamental change from a fragmented, incremental planning and management approach to a holistic, comprehensive, interdisciplinary land and resource management effort. The authors postulate that by incorporating ecosystem management principles in their planning and decisionmaking, federal agencies can address the shortcomings in NEPA implementation and move closes to NEPA's intent. A case analysis of EISs prepared by the USDA Forest Service before and after adopting an ecosystem management approach supports their hypothesis.

• Research Organization: Morgan State Univ., Baltimore, MD (US)
• OSTI ID: 20080397
• Journal Information: Environmental Management, Journal Name: Environmental Management Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 26; ISSN EMNGDC; ISSN 0364-152X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
DECISION MAKING
ECOSYSTEMS
IMPLEMENTATION
PLANNING
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
US NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT