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published in the 2002 State of the Nation’s Ecosystems Report as well as the 2003 and 2005 Web-Only Updates have been superseded by the 2008 Report and thus should be used with caution.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.

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Click on the on the right to download a PDF file for any part or all of the original 2002 Report (note that updates made on the web site are not reflected in PDF versions available for downloading)**.

Complete Publication in .pdf format    (11.1 MB)

Introductory Materials    (182 KB)
	Foreword
	List of Participants
	Acknowledgments
	Prepublication Praise
Part I:	The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems: Philosophy, Framework, and Findings   (450 KB)
Chapter 1:	Reporting on the State of the Nation’s Ecosystems   (131 KB)
Chapter 2:	The Reporting Framework   (166 KB)
Chapter 3:	The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems: What We Know and What We Don’t Know   (186 KB)
Part II:	The Indicators (45 KB) (At a Glance)

Chapter 4:

Core National Indicators

	Chapter 4 Complete (1.8 MB)
	Core National Indicators Introduction    (138 KB)
	Ecosystem Extent   (105 KB)
	Fragmentation and Landscape Patterns   (41 KB)
	Movement of Nitrogen   (930 KB)
	Chemical Contamination   (74 KB)
	At-Risk Native Species   (56 KB)
	Condition of Plant and Animal Communities   (43 KB)
	Plant Growth Index   (392 KB)
	Production of Food and Fiber and Water Withdrawals   (64 KB)
	Outdoor Recreation   (48 KB)
	Natural Ecosystem Services   (35 KB)

Chapter 5:

Coasts and Oceans

	Chapter 5 Complete (906 KB)
	Coasts and Oceans Introduction   (498 KB)
	Coastal Living Habitats   (43 KB)
	Shoreline Types   (51 KB)
	Areas with Depleted Oxygen   (38 KB)
	Contamination in Bottom Sediments   (47 KB)
	Coastal Erosion   (36 KB)
	Sea Surface Temperature   (42 KB)
	At-Risk Native Marine Species   (38 KB)
	Non-native Species   (32 KB)
	Unusual Marine Mortalities   (43 KB)
	Harmful Algal Blooms   (33 KB)
	Condition of Bottom-Dwelling Animals   (46 KB)
	Chlorophyll Concentrations   (44 KB)
	Commercial Fish and Shellfish Landings   (82 KB)
	Status of Commercially Important Fish Stocks   (48 KB)
	Selected Contaminants in Fish and Shellfish   (36 KB)
	Recreational Water Quality   (39 KB)

Chapter 6:

Farmlands

	Chapter 6 Complete (1.2 MB)
	Farmlands Introduction   (203 KB)
	Total Cropland   (43 KB)
	The Farmland Landscape   (64 KB)
	Fragmentation of Farmlands Landscapes by Development   (37 KB)
	Shape of “Natural” Patches in the Farmland Landscape   (37 KB)
	Nitrate in Farmland Streams and Groundwater   (48 KB)
	Phosphorus in Farmland Streams   (46 KB)
	Pesticides in Farmland Streams and Groundwater   (58 KB)
	Soil Organic Matter   (38 KB)
	Soil Erosion   (512 KB)
	Soil Salinity   (36 KB)
	Soil Biological Condition   (39 KB)
	Status of Animal Species in Farmlands Areas   (34 KB)
	Native Vegetation Cover in Areas Dominated by Croplands   (37 KB)
	Stream Habitat Quality   (35 KB)
	Major Crop Yields   (43 KB)
	Agricultural Inputs and Outputs   (45 KB)
	Monetary Value of Agricultural Production   (149 KB)
	Recreation on Farmlands   (35 KB)

Chapter 7:

Forests

	Chapter 7 Complete (704 KB)
	Forests Introduction   (203 KB)
	Forest Area and Ownership   (44 KB)
	Forest Types   (45 KB)
	Forest Management Categories   (75 KB)
	Forest Pattern and Fragmentation   (49 KB)
	Nitrate in Forest Streams   (45 KB)
	Carbon Storage   (43 KB)
	At-Risk Native Species   (45 KB)
	Area Covered by Non-native Plants   (36 KB)
	Forest Age   (50 KB)
	Forest Disturbance: Fire, Insects, and Disease   (43 KB)
	Fire Frequency   (35 KB)
	Forest Community Types with Significantly Reduced Area   (37 KB)
	Timber Harvest   (42 KB)
	Timber Growth and Harvest   (44 KB)
	Recreation in Forests   (32 KB)

Chapter 8:

Fresh Waters

	Chapter 8 Complete (1.05 MB)
	Fresh Waters Introduction   (132 KB)
	Extent of Freshwater Ecosystems   (47 KB)
	Altered Freshwater Ecosystems   (44 KB)
	Phosphorus in Lakes, Reservoirs, and Large Rivers   (44 KB)
	Nutrients in Fresh Waters (see National, Farmlands - nitrates and phosphorous, Forests, Urban - nitrate and phosphorus indicators)
	Chemical Contamination in Fresh Waters (see National, Farmlands and Urban indicators)
	Changing Stream Flows   (45 KB)
	Water Clarity   (41 KB)
	At-Risk Native Species   (47 KB)
	Non-native Species   (607 KB)
	Animal Deaths and Deformities   (55 KB)
	Status of Freshwater Animal Communities   (41 KB)
	At-Risk Freshwater Plant Communities   (50 KB)
	Stream Habitat Quality   (35 KB)
	Water Withdrawals   (45 KB)
	Groundwater Levels   (39 KB)
	Waterborne Human Disease Outbreaks   (40 KB)
	Freshwater Recreation Activities   (37 KB)

Chapter 9:

Grasslands and Shrublands

	Chapter 9 Complete (2.24 MB)
	Grasslands and Shrublands Introduction   (1.6 MB)
	Area of Grassland and Shrublands   (45 KB)
	Land Use   (43 KB)
	Area and Size of Grassland and Shrubland Patches   (45 KB)
	Nitrate in Groundwater   (37 KB)
	Carbon Storage   (36 KB)
	Number and Duration of Dry Periods in Grassland/Shrubland Streams   (46 KB)
	Depth to Shallow Groundwater   (36 KB)
	At-Risk Native Species   (51 KB)
	Percent Non-native Plant Cover   (37 KB)
	Population Trends in Invasive and Non-invasive Birds   (46 KB)
	Fire Frequency Index   (37 KB)
	Riparian Condition   (35 KB)
	Production of Cattle   (39 KB)
	Recreation on Grasslands and Shrublands   (37 KB)

Chapter 10:

Urban and Suburban Areas

	Chapter 10 Complete (720 KB)
	Urban and Suburban Areas Introduction   (141 KB)
	Area of Urban and Suburban Lands    (54 KB)
	Suburban/Rural Land Use Change   (33 KB)
	Patches of Forest, Grassland and Shrubland, and Wetlands   (46 KB)
	Total Impervious Area   (34 KB)
	Stream Bank Vegetation   (31 KB)
	Nitrate in Urban and Suburban Streams   (43 KB)
	Phosphorus in Urban and Suburban Streams   (45 KB)
	Air Quality (High Ozone Levels)   (191 KB)
	Chemical Contamination   (43 KB)
	Urban Heat Island   (37 KB)
	Species Status   (40 KB)
	Disruptive Species   (36 KB)
	Status of Animal Communities in Urban and Suburban Streams   (41 KB)
	Publicly Accessible Open Space per Resident   (36 KB)
	Natural Ecosystem Services   (35 KB)

Part III:	Appendix and Technical Notes
Appendix:	Data Availability and Gaps   (168 KB)
Technical Notes   (517 KB)

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