Ecological Society of America

Policy > ESA Positions Archive



The Ecological Society of America informs national policy issues with ecological science through position statements and papers as well as letters from the Society President. 

Letters from ESA President

Case-by-case responses by the Society’s President on current issues relevant to ecological science or to the ecological community.

• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (September 27, 2010)
• Independent scientific research assessments of the Gulf (September 15, 2010)
• Living and Non-living Natural Science Collections: Irreplaceable International Resources (September 2010)
• Water Principles Letter (March 29, 2010)
• SCB and ESA letter on Notice of Intent for Forest Management (February 12, 2010)
• OSTP on Public Access Policy (January 21, 2010)
• ESA National Oceans Policy Public Comment (October 16, 2009)
• Scientific Organizations Reaffirm Consensus on Climate Change (October 2009)
• ESA Science Collections Letter (August 2009)
• ESA Joint letter on Tropical Forests and Climate Change (Sept 2009)
• Thank you Letter to the Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Jan 2009)
• Letter to the Obama administration (Jan 2009)
• Endangered Species Act Regulation Changes Regarding Scientific Review Process (Sept 2008)
• 2008 ESA Letter on Endangered Species Act Regulation Changes Regarding Scientific Review Process
• 2008 ESA Letter on Save America's Forests
• Letter to Congressional Leadership re NSF budget (2007)
• Letter on Ocean Research and Competitiveness from Science Societies (2006)
• BESC Letter on NSF Appropriations (2006)
• ESA Letter on Competitiveness (2006)
• ESA/AIBS Letter on NSF Appropriations (2006)
• BESC Letter on American Competitiveness Initiative (2006)
• Letter: Comments on EPA proposed rule on stream mitigation (2006)
• Letter to Sen. DeWine: Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (2006)
  An identical letter was sent to Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) who co-introduced the bill.
• Letter to Rep. Ehlers: Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (2006)
  An identical letter was sent to Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) who co-introduced the bill.
• 2006 Amicus Brief of Scientific Societies in Carabell v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (contact PAO for copy)
• 2005 Comments on NMFS Columbia River Basin Salmon Draft Biological Opinion
• 2005 Comments on Forest Service NFMA Planning Rule
• 2005 ESA Testimony for DOE FY 2006 Budget
• 2005 ESA Testimony for NOAA, NASA, and NSF FY 2006 Budgets
• 2005 ESA Testimony for EPA, USFS, and USGS FY 2006 Budgets
• 2004 ESA Letter on Utah Disclaimer of Interest and Roadless Areas
• 2004 Comments on Proposed Changes to Roadless Rule (Oct. 20)
• 2004 EPA Testimony for EPA Fiscal Year 2005 Budget
• 2004 Testimony for NOAA 2005 Budget 
• 2004 Testimony for Fiscal Year 2005 for the U.S. Geological Survey
• 2004 Testimony on the National Science Foundation
• 2004 Comments on NMFS Proposed Policy for Hatchery Raised Salmon
• 2003 ESA Comments on Proposed Clean Water Act Regulations
• The Ecological Society of America Comments on H.R. 1662, the “Sound Science for Endangered species Act Planning Act” (2003)
• 2003 ESA Letter on Endangered Species Act Regulation Changes Regarding Foreign Endangered Species
• 2003 NFMA Planning Rule Comments
• 2003 ESA Letter on RS 2477 – Roadless Areas Rulemaking
• 2003 ESA Letter on Proposed DOD Environmental Laws Exemptions
• 2003 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
• 2002 Infrastructure Report
• 2002 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
• 2001 ESA letter on USGS & Freshwater Resources
• 2000 ESA Letter on USDA NRI Competitive Grants Program

Policy Statements

Two-four page statements of the Society’s position on critical national or international issues; provide ecology-based policy recommendations. Reviewed by ESA’s Public Affairs Committee and approved by ESA’s Governing Board.

• Statement on Biofuel Sustainability (Jan 2008)
• Statement on No Child Left Indoors (April 2007)
• Position Statement on Scientific Peer Review (2004)
• 2006 Letter from Scientific Societies on National Science Foundation Strategic Plan
• Position Statement on Scientific Peer Review (2004)
• Evolution statement
• Endorsement of AAAS Evolution Statement
• What is Science statement
• Forest Fire Management statement (2003)
• The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Statement (2002)

Policy Papers

These technically detailed papers capture current ecological knowledge about a particular topic, and provide policy recommendations.   The papers are peer-reviewed by outside reviewers and ESA’s Public Affairs Committee, and approved by ESA’s Governing Board.

• Statement of Scientific Societies on the Endangered Species Act (2006)
• 2006 Policy paper: Biological Invasions: Recommendations for U.S. Policy and Management
• 2004 Policy paper: Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs) and the Environment: Current status and recommendations
• Policy paper: Meeting Ecological and Societal Needs for Freshwater (2002)
• Policy paper: Ecological Principles and Guidelines for Managing the Use of Lands (2000)
• The Report of the Ecological Society of America Committee on the Scientific Basis for Ecosystem Management (1996)
• Strengthening the Use of Science in Achieving the Goals of the Endangered Species Act, An Assessment by the Ecological Society of America (1996)

ESA Policy Contacts:

Nadine Lymn, Director of Public Affairs 202.833.8773, ext. 205
Piper Corp, Science Policy Analyst 202.833.8773, ext. 224