We concur with the report's praise of the National Science Foundation's track record as the leader in supporting environmental research and support the National Science Board's statement that NSF is poised to respond to the emerging and complex environmental needs of the next century. To meet those challenges, the National Science Foundation needs a substantial increase in funding for research, education, and assessment. It further requires bold new initiatives that are interdisciplinary if we are to assure that the nation's scientists are to solve increasing environmental challenges. The Task Force report is in broad agreement with ESA's research agenda for the next decade. The Society's advocacy for environmental research is prompted by a growing demand for interdisciplinary knowledge and a need to forecast global change.
Humanity now exploits half of earth's productivity and renewable, available freshwater.
Marine fisheries are fully exploited or overexploited. People are eliminating plant and animal species, the basic components of our life support system, at a far greater rate than at any previous time in the history of humankind. Wise stewardship of our life support system requires sound assessments of the current status and reliable forecasts of future scenarios in response to possible management strategies. However, the basic science needed to achieve these goals is lacking. Without such information and forecasts, there is great risk to the national endowment of ecosystem goods and services.