Environmental Monitoring And Assessment Program Research Articles

A systems‐level approach to environmental assessment∗ †

This paper presents an overview of the rationale, goals, and primary elements of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), which represents a long‐term commitment to periodically assess and document the condition of the ecological resources of the United States. EMAP is being designed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development. The program will serve a spectrum of decision‐makers who require information to set environmental policy, program managers who require an objective basis for allocating research and monitoring funds, scientists who desire a broader understanding of ecosystems, and those interested in evaluating the effectiveness of the Nation's environmental policies.