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Indicators, Metric and Tools for Informing the Science and Vision of Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Citation:
Harwell, M. AND Jan Kurtz. Indicators, Metric and Tools for Informing the Science and Vision of Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration. Presented at 5th National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration, Chicago, IL, July 29 - August 02, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
Describe Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council's plan for restoring Gulf Coast ecosystem
Description:
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council will oversee restoration efforts the under the recently passed RESTORE Act in response to the historic Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Council will develop a Comprehensive Restoration Plan using best available science to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystem, habitats and economy of the Gulf Coast. Clearly the Council’s Plan, based on a strategy previously developed by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (GCERTF), will include both restoration science and issues of economic recovery associated with restoring vial gulf communities. In this poster, we examine the linkages between the GCERTF’s Strategy, Council Plans and recent scientific advances conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development which include indicators, metrics and tools that may be useful for measuring restoration performance. The natural resources of the Gulf’s coastal and marine habitats and the services they provide are essential to the regional economy and provide 17% of the Nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). Restoration of these natural resources, goods and services will be pivotal to recovery of this ecosystem and the regional economy