Development and application of ecosystem health indicators in the North American Great Lakes Basin.

摘要: Assessing the health of North American Great Lakes Basin ecosystem is a significant challenge. The themselves contain one-fifth world's fresh surface water with over 17,000 kilometres shoreline. consists 520,000 square land about 33.5 million people living there. (including St. Lawrence River) governed by two nations, eight states, provinces, and hundreds municipal local governments. A set indicators will enable community to work together within consistent framework assess monitor changes in state ecosystem. Data collected through various government non-government programs can be analyzed, interpreted, information characterized series such indicators. consensus environmental management agencies other interested stakeholders what necessary sufficient characterize health, measure progress toward goals, facilitate more efficient monitoring reporting programs. This paper present process for indicator selection or development, some examples reporting. Transactions on Ecology Environment vol 63, © 2003 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541