Assessing Biodiversity

Environmental assessment and monitoring is not limited to measuringquantities of some substances that threaten our existence. Atpresent the greatest challenge is not to gain another decimal pointin assaying a certain noxious chemical. As far as technical aspectsof monitoring are concerned, we witness a steady progress. Ourconceptual development is less tangible. At the same time it ismore urgent. We are directed to assess and monitor novelcharacteristics such as biodiversity and ecosystem health. They areconsidered to be the basis of modern, ecosystem management.Specialists in wildlife, fisheries, soil scientists, agronomists,and foresters are revising the established tenets of theirdisciplines to pursue maximum biodiversity. This could be done onlyif we know what biodiversity and ecosystem health are. This paperassesses the state of our knowledge of these concepts.