Welcome

Paul Dest, of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve ("NERR") , welcomes us to the conference. The purpose of NERR system is to conserve our estuarine resources through education, research and stewardship. This conference, focusing on ecosystem based management of coastal areas in Maine, is part of that effort. This condference is co-sponsored bythe Maine Coastal Program, the University of Maine Sea Grant, and the University of New England Center for Sustainable Communities.

Definition of ecosystem based management developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration "recognizes the physical, biological, economic and social interactions among the affected components of the ecosystem and attempts to [an area] to achieve a stipulated spectrum of societal goals, some of which may be in competition." Ecosystem based management differs from traditional management in that seeks to manage ecosystems as a whole, rather than the individual components of the ecosystem.

Most of us agree that ecosystem based management is the best way to be managing our natural resources. The question is: how do we implement it? Implementation of such an approach is challenging particularly in a home rule state like Maine. In states like Maine decisions are made at the municipal level making it difficult to apply a management system that looks to manage resources, like watersheds, that straddle political boundaries. Today we are here to look at how some municipalities and organizations are taking a more holistic approach to resource management and the overcoming some of these challenges.