You are here:
Protecting Our Life Support Systems: An Inventory of US Federal Research on Ecosystem Services
Citation:
Cox, L., A. Almeter, AND K. Saterson. Protecting Our Life Support Systems: An Inventory of US Federal Research on Ecosystem Services. Ecosystem Services. Elsevier Online, New York, NY, 5:163-169, (2013).
Impact/Purpose:
This paper describes the breadth and focus of ecosystem services research at federal agencies identified through a web-based inventory. The paper discusses the progress, gaps, and opportunities revealed and will increase awareness of current efforts, enhance opportunities for the public and private sector to collaborate on ecosystem services work, identify high priority research areas, and help avoid duplication.
Description:
In the United States, a broad range of federal resource management and environmental agencies are conducting research related to ecosystem services, and government agencies at all levels are increasingly interested in measuring the outcomes of proposed decision and policy options in terms of ecosystem service benefits. Federal agencies may appreciate an overview of trends in ecosystem services research and increased awareness of each other‘s research efforts. In 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Ecosystem Services Research Program recognized and responded to this need by creating a web-based inventory of federal ecosystem services research programs. This characterization describes the breadth and focus of ecosystem services programs and projects identified at nine federal agencies that were ongoing or completed between April 2010 and May 2012: Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Transportation (DOT), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and USEPA. This paper discusses the progress, gaps, and opportunities revealed and will increase awareness of current efforts, enhance opportunities for the public and private sector to collaborate on ecosystem services work, identify high priority research areas, and help avoid duplication.