Strategic planning in ecology is important and timely. New technologies, interdisciplinary challenges, and significant progress on many ecological fronts provide exciting opportunities for advances in the 1990's. Furthermore, urgent problems such as environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and change in global climate emphasize the need for sound ecological information and understanding. Resources to obtain this basic ecological knowledge are limited, and a comprehensive evaluation of research priorities is therefore crucial for the wise use of research support. The Ecological Society of America will publish the revised report "The Sustainable Biosphere Initiative: An Ecological Research Agenda for the Nineties" with funding provided by this award. In addition the Society will conduct a workshop to plan the further dissemination of the report and to organize subsequent, topical workshops which will further define the research opportunities, needs and priorities for the 1990's. These activities will provide valuable input for the ecological science community and for the federal government as both strive to improve the base for more cost effective research in ecology//
