LTER representation at the May 1992 U.S. Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Human Dominated Systems Directorate workshop on sustainability included several scientists from Virginia Coast Reserve (VCR) LTER site. Also in attendance was James Gosz, Sevilleta LTER, in his role as Director of the Sustainable Biosphere Initiative Project Office. The Directorate focuses on ecological systems that are significantly affected by human activities, with a central theme of ecological sustainability. The workshop was part of a program to explore issues in the context of environmental problems within three U.S. Biosphere Reserves: the Everglades and surrounding areas of south Florida, the New Jersey Pinelands, and the Virginia Coastal Reserve.
The VCR working group (Bruce Hayden, Joseph Zieman, Mark Brinson, John Porter, Barry Truitt) developed a hierarchical scheme for relating ecosystem types, ecological attributes, and sustainability goals that will be explored for possible application to other case studies. A follow-up workshop to include representatives from the social science community is planned for the spring of 1993.
For further information: 1993 workshop chair, Mark Harwell, 305-361-4157. For information on the Human Dominated Systems Directorate: 703-235-2946 or 2947.