Citation:

PETROSILLO, I., G. ZURLINI, W. G. KEPNER, AND F. MUELLER. PROCEEDINGS FROM A NATO/CCMS PILOT STUDY MEETING AT LECCE, ITALY: LINKAGES AMONG LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY . Petrosillo, I.,G. Zurlini, W. Kepner, Muller, F. (ed.), Ecosys Beiträge zur Ökosystemforschung. Springer Science and Business Media B.V;Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V., , Germany, , 1-4, (2005).

Impact/Purpose:

The primary objectives of this research are to:

Develop methodologies so that landscape indicator values generated from different sensors on different dates (but in the same areas) are comparable; differences in metric values result from landscape changes and not differences in the sensors;

Quantify relationships between landscape metrics generated from wall-to-wall spatial data and (1) specific parameters related to water resource conditions in different environmental settings across the US, including but not limited to nutrients, sediment, and benthic communities, and (2) multi-species habitat suitability;

Develop and validate multivariate models based on quantification studies;

Develop GIS/model assessment protocols and tools to characterize risk of nutrient and sediment TMDL exceedence;

Complete an initial draft (potentially web based) of a national landscape condition assessment.

This research directly supports long-term goals established in ORDs multiyear plans related to GPRA Goal 2 (Water) and GPRA Goal 4 (Healthy Communities and Ecosystems), although funding for this task comes from Goal 4. Relative to the GRPA Goal 2 multiyear plan, this research is intended to "provide tools to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic systems and the sources of associated stressors." Relative to the Goal 4 Multiyear Plan this research is intended to (1) provide states and tribes with an ability to assess the condition of waterbodies in a scientifically defensible and representative way, while allowing for aggregation and assessment of trends at multiple scales, (2) assist Federal, State and Local managers in diagnosing the probable cause and forecasting future conditions in a scientifically defensible manner to protect and restore ecosystems, and (3) provide Federal, State and Local managers with a scientifically defensible way to assess current and future ecological conditions, and probable causes of impairments, and a way to evaluate alternative future management scenarios.

Description:

From 5-9 September 2004 the international working group of the NATO/CCMS Pilot Study on the "Use of Landscape Sciences for Environmental Assessment" met in Lecce, Italy. The results of this meeting are documented and the scientific presentations and results are published in EcoSys (a University of Kiel [Germany] scientific journal; ISSN:0940-7782). The NATO Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) was created in 1969 by the North Atlantic Council for the purpose of addressing problems affecting the environment of the member nations and the quality of life of their citizens. A key goal of the NATO/CCMS is to utilize a science framework to promote international cooperation. To meet the challenges associated with evaluating environmental problems related to land use at multiple spatial scales the CCMS initiated a pilot study on the Use of Landscape Sciences for Environmental Assessment in March 2001. Specifically, the pilot study has been developed to explore the potential of quantifying and assessing environmental condition, processes of land degradation, and subsequent impacts on natural and human resources (including security) by combining the advanced technologies of remote sensing, geographic information systems, spatial statistics, and process models with landscape ecology theory. The research is focused on the interaction between landscape patterns and ecological processes and their relation to environmental security. Environmental assessment is defined as a process by which scientific evidence and technological information are analyzed for the purpose of evaluating present condition or forecasting the outcomes of alternative future courses of action. The assessments are directed toward specific ecological resources and socially relevant endpoints such as watershed condition (water quality, quantity, and vulnerability to flooding), landscape resilience (ability to sustain ecological goods and services when subjected to conditions of anthropogenic and natural stress), and biodiversity (wildlife habitat).The research and implementation agendas are being accomplished through the completion of multiple national studies throughout Europe and the United States which emphasize thematic areas related to landscape characterization, land cover change detection, landscape indicators, landscape assessment, and landscape theory and models. The Pilot Study participants meet annually to report their findings and share their results. The information is consolidated into published proceedings and is made publicly available via the NATO/CCMS Pilot Studies website (see http://www.nato.int/ccms/pilot-studies/lsea/ lsea-index.htm).

Although this work was reviewed by EPA and pproved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy. Mention of trade names and commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Record Details: