Includes bibliographical references (pages 131-148) and index.

"Environmental indicators, such as global temperatures and ozone concentrations, attract the public's attention and often make the headlines. Equally desirable for policy making are indicators of the ecological processes and conditions that yield food, fiber, building materials, and ecological "services" such as water purification, flood protection, and recreation. This important book from the National Research Council identifies national ecological indicators that can support U.S. policy making and can also be adapted to decisions at regional and local levels. Federal, state, local, and private-sector decision makers, as well as environmental scientists and practitioners, will be especially interested in this book."--Jacket.