ABSTRACT
There will come a time (hopefully not too far in the future) when the unrest in Iraq is over and a large number of people from around the world whose collective imagination has been captured by reading the compelling accounts of British adventurers of the twentieth century (Maxwell 1966; Thesiger 1964; Young 1977) or whose collective consciousness has moved them to want to help to repair the damage (see chapters 1 and 2; and France 2007a, 2007b), will make them eager to visit the marshes in a constructive, nonconsumptive way, possibly through contributing to the scientic study of the ecosystem as support for ongoing restoration or management actions. The basis of this chapter is to support the thesis that science can help foster a dialogue that can create constituencies for change by engaging an international populace. And one of the leaders in developing this strategy is the Earth Watch Institute, which has spent thirty years based on constructing eld research experiences for the general public.
