Crober, A. "The Ecosystem Approach To Ecosystem Management", Senior Honours Thesis, Department of Geography, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo (Supervisor Prof. James J. Kay).

Government agencies have adopted an ecosystem approach to ecosystem management as the mandated form for managing ecological systems. This review paper will provide a detailed summary of the ecosystem management debate. The first section will discuss the development of the ecosystem approach, and address the key questions and issues surrounding the ecosystem management debate. The second section focuses on the important principles and themes that should be part of a successful ecosystem management strategy.

There is no precise definition of ecosystem management. In time there will be a need for a precise definition as this will assist managers and policy makers and everyone involved in ecosystem management. However, as ecosystem management is evolving, it should be left to being defined by its for now. That said, it must be acknowledged that ecosystem management be based on the ecosystem approach, an approach based on complex systems theory. Its principles are based on hierarchy theory, self-organization, chaos and catastrophe theories, and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. When thought of in this manner ecosystem management does truly represent a paradigm shift in the management of ecological systems. Ecosystem science should form the basis of ecosystem management, however the role of the social sciences needs to be expanded.

For ecosystem management to be successful the analysis of the ecosystem must be done within the context of an adaptive management process. Further institutional changes are needed if ecosystem management is to succeed. These include organizational change, interagency cooperation and changing the way ecosystem science and management are taught.

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