Ecological Integrity: Conceptual Foundations and Applications

As the term suggests, ecological integrity refers to the pristineness, undiminished wholeness, or completeness of an entire ecosystem, whether it be a planet, an ecoregion, a preserve, a pond, or an alpine meadow. The concept of protecting large natural areas from development is the basis for marine and terrestrial national parks, biological reserves, and wilderness areas distributed globally. Nonetheless, how one defines, determines, and assesses ecological integrity remains unclear, if not controversial, to many scientists, managers, politicians, and concerned citizens. Part of this ambiguity arises from the multiplicity of terms associated with ecological integrity, such as ecological health, ecological sustainability, ecosystem services, environmental health, biological integrity, biological diversity, and natural. Therefore, any comprehensive discussion of ecological integrity must incorporate discussion and clarification of those terms as well as a brief history of the use of the concept.