Note that the data published in the 2002 State of the Nation’s Ecosystems Report as well as the 2003 and 2005 Web-Only Updates have been superseded by the 2008 Report and thus should be used with caution. For the most recent data, purchase the 2008 Report from Island Press.

This volume is intended as the first in a series of periodic reports on the extent, condition, and use of the lands, waters, and living resources of the United States. The “ecosystem indicators” that form the heart of the State of the Nation’s Ecosystems have been selected through a nonpartisan collaboration among government, environmental organizations, the private sector, and the academic community. The indicators thus represent a unique consensus on how the nation’s ecosystems can be described—and their status tracked over time—in a fair and balanced way. They characterize what is most important to know about the nation’s ecosystems, rather than merely reflecting what happens to have been measured. Finally, the data presented for each indicator are based on solid science––on verified measurements, not opinion––that have been reviewed by experts from all sectors of society.

For all these reasons, this report will be a valuable tool for environmental decision makers at all levels and in all sectors of society. It should also provide Americans with a new way of looking at and talking about ecosystems that will help them evaluate the potential, and actual, effects of both public and private management decisions.

Part I lays out the fundamental principles on which this report is based, describes the nature of the indicators and defines the ecosystems on which we report, and summarizes the highlights of our findings.