We have yet to define an ecosystem management that the public will accept. Hessburg et al 1993, Agee 1993. We truly do have a paradox. I think there is also another perception alive and well in our society that should be explored that relates to the magnitude of human intervention. These same folks would argue that the fact that man was involved is irrelavlent.
Fire is s good example.
On the other hand as fossil fuels replaced wood fuels, and crop yields increased due to modern technologies, much of that eastern cropland was abandoned and reverted back to forests. Wildlife has returned as well, even though we have twice the people as in 1920. On your point on the options for ecosystem restoration listed on page 9, you make a good point that none will likely be desirable. If we really want to do that, we owe it to the public to explain what it means, and what condition or state we will bring the ecosystem back to. I'm not sure we've really thought through all of the implications of what is rapidly becoming an ecosystem management buzz-word.