While not a panacea, the emerging field of restoration ecology provides an important tool for environmental conservation and contributes greatly to our understanding of ecology. The first Web site is the home page of the Society for Ecological Restoration, offering a good starting point for exploring this relatively new discipline (1). The next site (2) provides an overview of the University of...

The National Academic Press "publishes over 200 books a year on a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and health, capturing the most authoritative views on important issues in science and health policy." These books are made available to read online for free. One of the latest offerings is entitled Riparian Areas: Functions and Strategies for Management, written by the Committee on...

This report, from the Economic Research Service, examines the differences between private and public incentives regarding wetlands. Central to the report is the recognition that society has recently increased the value it places on wetland services, from water quality improvement and flood control to wildlife habitat, and recreation. The report (.pdf format) "assesses the need for continued...

This learning module on wetland functions and values is the newest addition to the EPA's Watershed Academy Website (first reviewed in the January 19, 2000 Scout Report for Science & Engineering). The module explores the ecological and societal benefits and values that wetlands provide, such as "fish and wildlife habitats, natural water quality improvement, flood storage, shoreline erosion...