The USA's national science priorities are in flux. Support for
publicly funded science is being examined and debated. Elected
officials are listening to citizens who speak up. Please speak out
in support for coastal and estuarine research.
The summer and fall of 2004 are a time of repositioning and
opportunity for coasts and estuaries. The European Commission is
creating a EU-wide science research council. Elsewhere managers and
scientists seek a balance between human and environmental needs. At
question in the USA are the political will and public support
essential to conduct the excellent research and management that have
made the USA a leader in coastal and estuarine research and
management.
…join the leaders of the Federation in educating our
fellow citizens and advocating for science, science-informed
public policy and science funding
Five articles in this Newsletter present aspects of coastal
policies and actions. ERF President Linda Schaffner elucidates the
current funding crisis for US science and provides readers with her
perspective on our Federation's involvement with national policy
issues. Linda's compelling views on our collective and individual
responsibilities invite you to join the leaders of the Federation in
educating our fellow citizens and advocating for science,
science-informed public policy and science funding.
Past President Dennis Allen describes recent actions by the
Federation's leaders that provided timely comments to the US
Governors regarding the US Commission on Ocean Policy's
recommendations to the President. Enactment of the Commission's
recommendations would profoundly change the organization of US
coastal science agencies.
There has been much to praise. Many US federal agencies' research
programs have been well conceived and conducted. The US
Environmental Protection Agency, the US Geological Survey, the
National Science Foundation and many strong programs within the
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) make
substantial investments to support coastal and estuarine science and
lead by example in using science to inform environmental policy and
management. The programs discussed in Rob Magnien's article
illustrate the benefits of federal support for such world-class
science. The emphasis that these programs place on
multi-disciplinary, ecosystem scale, predictive research provides
essential knowledge about coasts and estuaries.
Illustrating the benefits of such programs in a specific locale
Vic Kennedy's article summarizes the comprehensive changes to water
quality and living resources that occurred in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed in the past 4,000 years. These changes are typical of the
alterations to natural systems that have occurred in coasts and
estuaries planet-wide. Well-conducted research allows us to
understand such changes. This story of the decline of the
Chesapeake's living resources demonstrates the need for information
to help us understand fundamental natural relationships and guide
our efforts to sustain both the ecosystems and human activities that
depend on them.
In an article on proposed revisions to the Endangered Species
Act, Johanna Polsenberg describes contributions the Act makes to
protect essential habitats. Johanna offers opinions on current
threats to this Act.
Please help us build public support for estuarine and coastal
research. The role of the citizen scientist is changing; we must
find effective ways to communicate the wonder and value of science
and to advocate for programs that support scientific research.
Oh, you'd love to help--if you only had time? Consider this,
without your support for a strong federal commitment to coastal and
estuarine research we may all have lots of unwanted free time on our
hands.
Coasts, estuaries and all of the creatures including humans that
depend upon them need you to take an active role now.
Joy Bartholomew
Editor in Chief, ERF Newsletter
jbarth@erf.org
