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The concept of cost-benefit analysis in relation to the assessment of various factors causing stress on natural ecosystems is discussed. It is pointed out that if stress is considered in the context of a deviation from some homeostatic condition, we do face a number of technical and socially related questions. The technical questions are those concerning the need to define in rigorous scientific terms the meaning of ecosystem homeostasis. What is the significance, both temporally and spatially, of a deviation from such homeostasis, and of the elucidation in quantitative terms of the acceptability and nonacceptability of such a deviation. The latter, of course, puts us into our role as scientist-citizens. There we enter the realm of value judgment where we provide only one of many inputs which need to be considered by an institutional decision-maker.
Currently the writing on the subject is limited and comprises, for the most part, guidance documents and completed assessments.
The Ispra Course on Ecological Assessment of Environmental Degradation, Pollution and Recovery'' was structured according to the following topics: (a) terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem concept; (b) structure, functions and evolution of the ecosystem in relation to the natural and anthropogenic influences, and (c) concept of stress, assessment and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These general concepts were developed in a series of lectures presented by well-known experts in their specific fields, taking into account the ecological principles and environmental management. For the various aspects of the environmental problems, the state-of-the-art, the principles of restoration techniques, the results obtained by their application and the research needs to acquire a better knowledge of the ecological processes, were discussed. The lectures were illustrated by several case studies concerning forests, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, soil and the interrelations between air and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.This book contains the lectures presented at the course, reviewed by the authors, and complemented throughout with numerous figures and tables.
Includes book reviews and abstracts.
Determines the extent to which the science of ecology can contribute to design and conduct of environmental impact assessment studies and recommends ways this can be achieved. Aimed at Canadian federal and provincial agencies.