<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites</Emphasis> and environmental management: A question of values |
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| Authors: | David F Ludwig Timothy J Iannuzzi Anthony N Esposito |
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| Institution: | 1.BBL Sciences,Annapolis;2.Blasland, Bouch & Lee, Inc.,Syracuse |
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| Abstract: | For a common, widespread, and familiar plant,Phragmites australis engenders an enormous level of scientific controversy and emotional conflict. In parts of the world,Phragmites is an important component of healthy ecosystems and an integral (if now minor) contributor to human economies. In other places
it is an invading, unfriendly, and ugly weed. To some scientists and environmentalists,Phragmites is an indicator of and key factor in landscape degradation and habitat deterioration. To others, it is a valiant remnant
of nature, providing a relatively rich ecology where there might otherwise be only barren and eroding ground. Our review of
the literature leads us to conclude thatPhragmites is simply a biological entity. It is not inherently good or bad, since its evolution, biology, and ecology do not give it
a value. The controversy overPhragmites, its role in the ecosystem, and the need for and intensity of management efforts are all artifacts of human perspectives.
Effective, consistent management decisions (for either control or enhancement ofPhragmites) can only be made on the basis of site-specific scientific findings, a consideration of technologies with their needed level-of-effort,
and explicit exposition of the human values driving the management options. We present a simple decision model to illustrate
the interaction of these management components forPhragmites in the environment. |
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