Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Protecting biodiversity and natural ecosystems while meeting the needs and aspirations of growing human populations has emerged as a major international challenge.

Research issues include:

• Biophysical and biological controls on the distribution of life
• The impact of various management methods
• The interactions among species including the role of exotics
• The role of species as indicators of environmental health
• The effects of landscape fragmentation of biodiversity and ecosystems
• Ecological modeling, reclamation, and recovery

Social science research is critical to the design and implementation of policies to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. Research issues in this domain include the impacts of anthropogenic drivers such as population growth, economic policies, settlement policies and property rights, and the economic and cultural values of ecosystems.