Resource Management Intro.

Introduction

The 182,115 hectares (450,000 acres) making up the ACE Basin study area support more than 1,500 plant and animal species (not including insects) within six distinct ecosystem habitats. The ecosystems of the ACE Basin are not untouched considering that some level of anthropogenic impact has occurred for the last 6,000 years; however, the ecological integrity of the ACE Basin has been maintained through conscious management and sustainable use of its resources. The management of natural resources involves a number of different aspects including both the resource itself (i.e., a fish species) and the habitat the resource occupies (i.e., providing riparian zones as fish habitat). The following management sections discuss management issues and goals presently in use and needed in the future to maintain the unique nature of the Basin:

Assessment of Management Issues and Goals
ACE Basin Task Force Project
Management Strategies for Resource Protection
Resource Management Issues and Goals
Nature-Based Tourism and Public Access Management Issues and Goals
Research and Monitoring
Education Programs
Regulations

These sections also include in depth discussions about preservation of resources, wildlife habitats, and cultural resources, as well as development of nature-based tourism. The research and education section describes ongoing research, monitoring, and education within the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve as well as educational programs throughout the Basin. The ACE contacts section presents all of the federal, regional, state, and local agencies and organizations mentioned in the Characterization. The regulations section describes the pertinent federal and state regulations governing activities in the ACE Basin.

All aspects of the cultural, historical, physical, chemical, biological, and sociological environment affect the strategy of resource management in the ACE Basin. Therefore, the reader is referred to sections on History and Cultural Resources, Environmental Conditions, Biological Resources, Traditional and Current Resource Use, and Socio-Economic Assessment of this Characterization for further information on these topics as they relate to the Resource Management component.

Next Section: Assessment of Management Issues and Goals

Author

M. McKenzie, SCDNR Marine Resources Division