Implementing ecosystem management: a framework for remotely sensed information at multiple scales

Many of the common ‘toolsʹ for developing information and implementing activities for ecosystem management are based on a multi-scale framework. This paper highlights the major elements of scale and level associated with an ecosystem management approach from two differing perspectives. The first summarizes a general framework for concepts recognizing multiple scales in four specific dimensions: biological, temporal, social and spatial. The second summarizes a current partnership among several US Government agencies to utilize remote sensing technologies as a common basis for the development of certain types of scale-dependent information for ecosystem management. Scale and level in ecological contexts are recognized as continuous variables, highly related to the landscapes, features and relationships of a particular situation, as well as the specific interests of the observer. An initial simplification of scale, as related to remotely sensed data, to support the continuing evolution of ecosystem management is a necessary step in developing common understanding and information across large areas.