Conservation of Great Plains Ecosystems: Current Science, Future Options
Author: S. R. Johnson, Aziz Bouzaher
Published by Springer Netherlands
ISBN: 978-94-010-4196-6
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-0439-5

Table of Contents:

History, Environment, and the Future of the Great Plains
Ecosystems of the Great Plains: Scales, Kinds, and Distributions
Valuing Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Population Dynamics and Their Implications for the Ecosystems of the Great Plains
Economic Prospects for the Great Plains
Sustaining the Great Plains Ecosystem: Integrating People, Economics, and the Landscape
Sustainable Rural Economic Development in the Great Plains
Public Infrastructure: Highways
Conserving the Biotic Integrity of the Great Plains
Climate and Vegetation in Central North America: Natural Patterns and Human Alterations
Great Plains Climates and Biota: Past, Present, and Future
Air Quality, Climate Change, and Their Possible Impacts on the Terrestrial Ecosystems of the North American Great Plains
Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Great Plains Landscapes
Rangeland Ecosystems in the Great Plains: Status and Management
Conservation Forestry for Sustainable Great Plains Ecosystems
Total Resource Management Plan for Addressing Groundwater Concerns
Surface Water: A Critical Resource of the Great Plains
The Missouri River: A Formula for Ecosystem Change
Energy and Mineral Resources of the Great Plains
Productivity of Great Plains Soils: Past, Present, and Future

A multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach is employed to identify principal ecosystems and natural resources in the U.S. Great Plains that are at risk and that should receive priority for protection. The authors are drawn from a variety of disciplines and approaches, their ideas being presented as a pooling or harvest, rather than as a consensus. The 25 chapters provide background and in-depth discussion of multiple issues/problems related to Great Plains stewardship for future generations. The status and trends of major resources of the Great Plains within an historical, ecological and management framework are categorized according to common goals across the disciplines and can be used to make recommendations for public policy, research and development, and institutions. The challenge for residents of the Great Plains is to merge multiple ecosystem concepts to improve the environment and to improve economic vitality
Defining and Valuing Ecosystems of the Great Plains -- 1. History, Environment, and the Future of the Great Plains -- 2. Ecosystems of the Great Plains: Scales, Kinds, and Distributions -- 3. Valuing Ecosystems and Biodiversity -- Community and Economic Resources -- 4. Population Dynamics and Their Implications for the Ecosystems of the Great Plains -- 5. Economic Prospects for the Great Plains -- 6. Sustaining the Great Plains Ecosystem: Integrating People, Economics, and the Landscape -- 7. Sustainable Rural Economic Development in the Great Plains -- 8. Public Infrastructure: Highways -- Climate and Biological Resources -- 9. Conserving the Biotic Integrity of the Great Plains -- 10. Climate and Vegetation in Central North America: Natural Patterns and Human Alterations -- 11. Great Plains Climates and Biota: Past, Present, and Future -- 12. Air Quality, Climate Change, and Their Possible Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the North American Great Plains -- Land Resources -- 13. Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Great Plains Landscapes -- 14. Rangeland Ecosystems in the Great Plains: Status and Management -- 15. Conservation Forestry for Sustainable Great Plains Ecosystems -- Water Resources -- 16. Total Resource Management Plan for Addressing Groundwater Concerns -- 17. Surface Water: A Critical Resource of the Great Plains -- 18. The Missouri River: A Formula for Ecosystem Change -- Energy and Mineral Resources -- 19. Energy and Mineral Resources of the Great Plains -- Agriculture in the Great Plains -- 20. Productivity of Great Plains Soils: Past, Present, and Future -- 21. Agricultural Systems and Technologies of the Great Plains -- 22. Livestock and the Environment: Emerging Issues for the Great Plains -- Environmental Management Initiatives -- 23. Regulatory and Nonregulatory Approaches to Ecosystem Conservation: Institutions and Funding Mechanisms -- 24. We Get What We Organize For: Linking Central Bureaucracies to Local Organizations -- 25. Conclusions and Recommendations -- List of Contributors