A petition to form and by-laws for a Long-Term Studies Section were accepted by the ESA Council at their August meeting in Columbus, Ohio. This was followed by an organizational meeting attended by about 40 individuals. There was considerable discussion about the desirability of interfacing the Section and its activities with management agencies, such as the National Park Service, Forest Service, and The Nature Conservancy.
The objectives of this Section will be to encourage research on long-term processes in ecological science, facilitate communication of the results, and enhance public understanding of the relevance of long-term ecological data to identification and resolution of societal problems. Establishment of the Section will be voted on by ESA members at the annual meeting at Davis, California, in August, 1988.
Individuals interested in long-term research and establishment of the Section are encouraged to attend this meeting.
Assuming a positive vote, the first official meeting of the Section would be held later that week to elect the officers and discuss proposed Section activities.
Individuals desiring more information on the proposed Section should contact J. Franklin, College of Forest Resources AR-10, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.