A network of cooperative research units is being established to provide research, technical assistance, and education to resource and environmental managers. Cooperative emphasizes that multiple Federal agencies and universities are among the partners in this program. Ecosystem studies involve the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address resource issues and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context.
Resources encompass natural and cultural resources.
Federal personnel are supervised and supported by their respective agencies, through existing administrative systems. Federal agency participation in a CESU does not alter previous arrangements or cooperative agreements. CESUs will create additional opportunities for interdisciplinary and multi-agency research, technical assistance, and education. The CESU Network is being established in a series of steps. An Interagency Memorandum of Understanding has created the CESU Council.