Conserving ecosystems locally: A role for ecologists in land-use planning

Integration of ecological principles into private land-use planning is critical to preservation of biodiversity and functional ecosystems in the United States. Ecologists need to play an active role in shaping land-use decisions to meet those goals. Four areas of action for ecologists arc (1) educating members of the staff, planning board, and governing body involved in land-use decisions; (2) serving on a planning commission or governing body; (3) commenting at public hearings; and (4)participating in citizen review panels for land-use laws and policies. The most effective measures will be those that integrate ecological principles into arguments based on the existing standards for comprehensive planning and subdivision review.