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.

Farmers’ choice of livestock species is a key management decision that affects grassland vegetation structure and associated biodiversity values. Agricultural lands may be better managed for both biodiversity and ecosystem services when analyzed as a “farming system”, or a collection of similarly managed farms – such as those that work with domestic sheep in Portugal. In the April issue of Frontiers, Santos et al. describe how the adoption of such a holistic approach may facilitate conducting applied ecological research and comparing the environmental impacts of various agricultural policies.

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

News

Regional Habitat Differences Identified for Threatened Piping Plovers on Atlantic Coast

Piping plovers, charismatic shorebirds that nest and feed on many Atlantic Coast beaches, rely on different kinds of coastal habitats in different regions along the Atlantic Coast, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Read Post
ORNL-led team recognized for impactful sustainability research

A 2017 study from ORNL that shows the far-reaching impacts of U.S. cities’ energy consumption on regional ecosystems has received the 2021 Sustainability Science Award from ESA.

Read Post
UF scientists help wildlife parks mobilize against poaching

A team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Florida has developed new decision-making tools to help park managers put a dent in the multibillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade while staying within their budgets.

Read Post
UW’s Joshua Lawler named fellow of Ecological Society of America

Joshua Lawler, a University of Washington professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, has been named a 2021 fellow of ESA.

Read Post

View All News