Ebook: Conservation of Great Plains Ecosystems: Current Science, Future Options

A multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach is employed to identify principal ecosystems and natural resources in the U.S. Great Plains that are at risk and that should receive priority for protection. The authors are drawn from a variety of disciplines and approaches, their ideas being presented as a pooling or harvest, rather than as a consensus. The 25 chapters provide background and in-depth discussion of multiple issues/problems related to Great Plains stewardship for future generations. The status and trends of major resources of the Great Plains within an historical, ecological and management framework are categorized according to common goals across the disciplines and can be used to make recommendations for public policy, research and development, and institutions. The challenge for residents of the Great Plains is to merge multiple ecosystem concepts to improve the environment and to improve economic vitality.

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A multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach is employed to identify principal ecosystems and natural resources in the U.S. Great Plains that are at risk and that should receive priority for protection. The authors are drawn from a variety of disciplines and approaches, their ideas being presented as a pooling or harvest, rather than as a consensus. The 25 chapters provide background and in-depth discussion of multiple issues/problems related to Great Plains stewardship for future generations. The status and trends of major resources of the Great Plains within an historical, ecological and management framework are categorized according to common goals across the disciplines and can be used to make recommendations for public policy, research and development, and institutions. The challenge for residents of the Great Plains is to merge multiple ecosystem concepts to improve the environment and to improve economic vitality.

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A multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach is employed to identify principal ecosystems and natural resources in the U.S. Great Plains that are at risk and that should receive priority for protection. The authors are drawn from a variety of disciplines and approaches, their ideas being presented as a pooling or harvest, rather than as a consensus. The 25 chapters provide background and in-depth discussion of multiple issues/problems related to Great Plains stewardship for future generations. The status and trends of major resources of the Great Plains within an historical, ecological and management framework are categorized according to common goals across the disciplines and can be used to make recommendations for public policy, research and development, and institutions. The challenge for residents of the Great Plains is to merge multiple ecosystem concepts to improve the environment and to improve economic vitality.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
History, Environment, and the Future of the Great Plains....Pages 3-9
Ecosystems of the Great Plains: Scales, Kinds, and Distributions....Pages 11-32
Valuing Ecosystems and Biodiversity....Pages 33-46
Front Matter....Pages 47-47
Population Dynamics and Their Implications for the Ecosystems of the Great Plains....Pages 49-62
Economic Prospects for the Great Plains....Pages 63-81
Sustaining the Great Plains Ecosystem: Integrating People, Economics, and the Landscape....Pages 83-95
Sustainable Rural Economic Development in the Great Plains....Pages 97-106
Public Infrastructure: Highways....Pages 107-118
Front Matter....Pages 119-119
Conserving the Biotic Integrity of the Great Plains....Pages 121-133
Climate and Vegetation in Central North America: Natural Patterns and Human Alterations....Pages 135-148
Great Plains Climates and Biota: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 149-159
Air Quality, Climate Change, and Their Possible Impacts on the Terrestrial Ecosystems of the North American Great Plains....Pages 161-182
Front Matter....Pages 183-183
Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Great Plains Landscapes....Pages 185-198
Rangeland Ecosystems in the Great Plains: Status and Management....Pages 199-209
Conservation Forestry for Sustainable Great Plains Ecosystems....Pages 211-227
Front Matter....Pages 229-229
Total Resource Management Plan for Addressing Groundwater Concerns....Pages 231-251
Surface Water: A Critical Resource of the Great Plains....Pages 253-273
The Missouri River: A Formula for Ecosystem Change....Pages 275-297
Front Matter....Pages 299-299
Energy and Mineral Resources of the Great Plains....Pages 301-322
Front Matter....Pages 323-323
Productivity of Great Plains Soils: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 325-342
Front Matter....Pages 323-323
Agricultural Systems and Technologies of the Great Plains....Pages 343-364
Livestock and the Environment: Emerging Issues for the Great Plains....Pages 365-390
Front Matter....Pages 391-391
Regulatory and Nonregulatory Approaches to Ecosystem Conservation: Institutions and Funding Mechanisms....Pages 393-402
We Get What We Organize For: Linking Central Bureaucracies to Local Organizations....Pages 403-409
Conclusions and Recommendations....Pages 411-414
Back Matter....Pages 415-435

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A multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach is employed to identify principal ecosystems and natural resources in the U.S. Great Plains that are at risk and that should receive priority for protection. The authors are drawn from a variety of disciplines and approaches, their ideas being presented as a pooling or harvest, rather than as a consensus. The 25 chapters provide background and in-depth discussion of multiple issues/problems related to Great Plains stewardship for future generations. The status and trends of major resources of the Great Plains within an historical, ecological and management framework are categorized according to common goals across the disciplines and can be used to make recommendations for public policy, research and development, and institutions. The challenge for residents of the Great Plains is to merge multiple ecosystem concepts to improve the environment and to improve economic vitality.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
History, Environment, and the Future of the Great Plains....Pages 3-9
Ecosystems of the Great Plains: Scales, Kinds, and Distributions....Pages 11-32
Valuing Ecosystems and Biodiversity....Pages 33-46
Front Matter....Pages 47-47
Population Dynamics and Their Implications for the Ecosystems of the Great Plains....Pages 49-62
Economic Prospects for the Great Plains....Pages 63-81
Sustaining the Great Plains Ecosystem: Integrating People, Economics, and the Landscape....Pages 83-95
Sustainable Rural Economic Development in the Great Plains....Pages 97-106
Public Infrastructure: Highways....Pages 107-118
Front Matter....Pages 119-119
Conserving the Biotic Integrity of the Great Plains....Pages 121-133
Climate and Vegetation in Central North America: Natural Patterns and Human Alterations....Pages 135-148
Great Plains Climates and Biota: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 149-159
Air Quality, Climate Change, and Their Possible Impacts on the Terrestrial Ecosystems of the North American Great Plains....Pages 161-182
Front Matter....Pages 183-183
Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Great Plains Landscapes....Pages 185-198
Rangeland Ecosystems in the Great Plains: Status and Management....Pages 199-209
Conservation Forestry for Sustainable Great Plains Ecosystems....Pages 211-227
Front Matter....Pages 229-229
Total Resource Management Plan for Addressing Groundwater Concerns....Pages 231-251
Surface Water: A Critical Resource of the Great Plains....Pages 253-273
The Missouri River: A Formula for Ecosystem Change....Pages 275-297
Front Matter....Pages 299-299
Energy and Mineral Resources of the Great Plains....Pages 301-322
Front Matter....Pages 323-323
Productivity of Great Plains Soils: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 325-342
Front Matter....Pages 323-323
Agricultural Systems and Technologies of the Great Plains....Pages 343-364
Livestock and the Environment: Emerging Issues for the Great Plains....Pages 365-390
Front Matter....Pages 391-391
Regulatory and Nonregulatory Approaches to Ecosystem Conservation: Institutions and Funding Mechanisms....Pages 393-402
We Get What We Organize For: Linking Central Bureaucracies to Local Organizations....Pages 403-409
Conclusions and Recommendations....Pages 411-414
Back Matter....Pages 415-435
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