To begin ecosystem management there needs to be a definition to state what ecosystem management is. Actually there isn't a concrete definition for the term ecosystem management. It has been used and defined by various groups in several different ways and, because of a somewhat vague definition has the potential to cause confusion among managers, some concluded that ecosystem management is based on principles rather than one single definition. (Vogt 1997). The Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management's explanation of ecosystem management states: Ecosystem management is a process that considers the total environment. It requires the skillful use of ecological, social, and managerial principles on managing ecosystems to produce, restore or sustain ecosystem integrity and desired conditions uses products, values, and s

Using jewel Cave National Monument as an example to state my argument, ecosystem management is by far an application that could and over time will work. Applications for ecosystem management is site specific, so the ecosystem management approach at Jewel Cave will differ from other site where caves are present. Jewel cave has enough data to know the ecosystem's health; the National Park Service along with the National Forest Service has conducted research on inputs and outs for years. One question that I ask Jewel Cave, will technology and science be able to solve all changes that have happened due to human interactions. Will they be able to clean up the oil and other substances seeping slowly down into the cave? That is one threshold that will have to be decided. Again stating my view I think the ecosystem approach is usable, and should be considered and combined with past management strategies.

Plans at Jewel Cave consist of restoring the entire area back to its original state. Their plans include keeping the present management plans of hydrology

As with most occurrences with developing an area, the effects of the development don't show up until years later. Disturbances within the cave started to occur. Rooms and areas located throughout the cave that was dry, show signs of water. Observation concluded that the unknown water was from the development of the structures directly above the cave. The New Wet Room along the Scenic tour is the main example to show how the past management strategies changed the cave. Because the parking lot was constructed directly above the cave, it concentrated the flow of water into the New Wet Room, formally called The Velvet room. The presence flow of water in the New Wet Room totally erased one formation, but it created another. With the tour in that particular area it was a prime example of how humans disturb and affect habitat. Research has shown that because the parking lot and visitor center, runoff water was no longer being soaked up by the 3-acres of what used to be Ponderosa Pine trees.

ervices over the long term... Ecosystem management recognizes that people and their social and economic level needs are an integral part of ecological system (Vogt 1997).

Jewel Cave is located in western South Dakota, 13 miles from the town of Custer on the outer boundaries of the Black Hills, 24

Some common words found in the essay are:
Jewel Cave, Ponderosa Pine, National Monument, , Land Management's, Wet Scenic, Sewage Lagoons, jewel cave, ecosystem management, Black Hills, South Dakota, Forest Service, ponderosa pine, visitor center, management strategies, past management, ecosystem approach, past management strategies, parking visitor center, parking visitor, center housing, throughout cave, visitor center housing, ecosystem management approach, cave national monument,
Approximate Word count = 1594
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)