Evolution of Indicators of Ecosystem Health

摘要: The history of environmental indicators in many fundamental aspects is deeply embedded the and prehistory human culture. A remark attributed to Plato suggests that some thousands years ago there was an understanding activity (modifications agricultural drainage systems) impacted local climate had adverse impacts on fruit tree harvest. This observation (or variant it) among earliest recorded remarks indicators. Yet good reason suspect throughout prehistoric culture, has been, necessity, a keen sensitivity changes natural systems vast migrations peoples were large part response changing environments. Of course early on, these environments by-and-large owing combination activities but perhaps dominated by causes, for example, much like present day droughts Sahel (Adams, 1990). Today causes are still dominant as agent change ecosystems, although increasingly balance shifting major source stress.