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US EPA Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research: A Pacific Northwest Demonstration Study
Citation:
MCKANE, R. B. US EPA Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research: A Pacific Northwest Demonstration Study. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/F-12/005, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
communication product aimed at EPA clients, cooperators and stakeholders
Description:
This 2-page fact sheet is a communication product aimed at EPA clients, cooperators and stakeholders. It describes ecosystem services research being conducted in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) by the EPA Western Ecology Division, in association with EPA’s Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) research program. The PNW is a region of diverse and highly valued natural resources that provide a variety of ecosystem services that are vital to society’s well-being. These services include provisioning of clean water, food and fiber, climate regulation, among many others. However, these services are limited and often taken for granted as being free, and are certain to be impacted by population growth, land use change, climate change, and other stressors. Indeed, the historical pattern of resource use in the PNW has often been one of boom and bust, with unsustainable management practices leading to severe downturns in major industries, such as the once thriving salmon fishery and forest products industries. The PNW demonstration study is developing comprehensive models and decision support tools designed to help communities meet present needs without compromising the ability of society and the environment to meet the economic, social and environmental needs of future generations. The fact sheet is designed to provide an accessible description of this research, with the ultimate aim of fostering a participatory planning approach that integrates researchers, stakeholders and decision makers in the process of identifying decision choices for attaining sustainable and desirable communities.