The Great Lakes Basin in North America holds more than 20 percent of the world's fresh water. Threats to habitats and biodiversity have economic, political, national security, and cultural implications and ramifications that cross the US-Canadian border. This multidisciplinary book presents the latest research to demonstrate the interconnected nature of the challenges facing the Basin. Chapters by U.S. and Canadian scholars and practitioners represent a wide range of natural science and social science fields, including environmental sciences, geography, political science, natural resources, mass communications, environmental history and communication, public health, and economics. The book covers threats from invasive species, industrial development, climate change, agricultural and chemical runoff, species extinction, habitat restoration, environmental disease, indigenous conservation efforts, citizen engagement, environmental regulation, and pollution.Overall the book provides political, cultural, economic, scientific, and social contexts for recognizing and addressing the environmental challenges faced by the Great Lakes Basin.

This paper serves to begin a dialogue on how these special biodiversity resources should be identified and protected in the Great Lakes basin. In this paper, signifiant biodiversity elements of the basin are identified. Threats to those resources are described and, in general terms, evaluated. Based on this information, recommandations are provided for the protection of biological diversity in the Great Lakes ecosystem. These are strategic in nature, designed to suggest broad direction, stimulate discussion and solicit advice for the progection of biological diversity in the basin. Finally, a range of tools available for biodiversity protection is outlined.

This study argues that simply augmenting actions already taken to remedy environmental degradation in the Great Lakes region, such as control of polluters, and piecemeal restrictions of physical development, is not a sufficient response. Rather, it shows that a far-reaching commitment to reduce the environmental assault on the Great Lakes from all sources is necessary. It also underscores the need for a dramatic break from the crisis management approach to environmental degradation that persists in the region, and to develop a commitment to anticipate and prevent future legacies of environmental destruction.

In 1978 Canada and the United States concluded an agreement for the protection and enhancement of water quality in the Great Lakes based on the ecosystem approach to management. Since ratification of this agreement, little progress has been made in practical application of this concept to basin-wide management for the Great Lakes. At the same time public concern for the quality of the Great Lakes and their future has risen dramatically. As a result, the need has arisen for a practical, authoritative explanation of the ecosystem concept. This volume, written by highly qualified authorities, addresses these important ecological, political, and economic issues in a systematic and informative manner. In this study, the ecosystem concept and its objectives are defined. The institutional structure that has evolved for governance of the Great Lakes, the need for a more effective governance structure, and prospects for rehabilitation of the Great Lakes Waters are crucial issues considered. The management question is the single most important policy question with respect to the Great Lakes and this is the only study available that brings together all pertinent information and provides steps for new and constructive management of the Great Lakes.

Provides links to information on water quality of the Great Lakes as well as air quality, climate change and conservation and restoration of biodiversity in the Great Lakes basin.