ABSTRACT
In Chapter 22, Robert T. Lackey presented in detail the difficulties in using the term ecological health for the management of ecological structures. Although this phrase is pervasive in popular print, radio, and television, the lack of a quantitative description of ecosystem health prevents its use in a scientific process. Lackey also states that currently an alternative model for setting the priorities of managing ecological structures does not exist. Allan K. Fitzsimmons (Chapter 23) details effectively the problems in using ecosystem health to make policy and to manage ecological structures. This chapter provides a further critique of the use of ecosystem health as a metaphor, evaluates current definitions of sustainability, and presents an alternative quantitative model, The Box. Finally, we present criteria for the development of indicators to facilitate the management of sustainable ecological structures.
