What is the first step to using ecology to solve environmental problems?

The first stage of addressing an environmental problem is to determine if it is a problem at all. Often groups get concerned over problems that are natural trends. As an example the number of hares and predators are a cyclic phenomenon - hare numbers increase for several years, predator numbers increase due to the easy access to food, the predators eat up the surplus hares, the predators then die off (starve to death) as the food source is over utilized. A problem could be seen by a person not aware of the cycle who only sees a larger number of starving or dead wolves or coyotes.

Once the problem is identified as real the required stages are to:

• Identify the extent of the problem
• The causes of the problem
• The causes which we can control or remedy
• Identify available corrective action which is available, realistic and cost effective

As an example:

The Tasmanian Devils of Tasmania are endangered; their numbers are seriously depleted in all locations. The cause is a contagious form of cancer transmitted from their mouths during their frequent fights.

This satisfies our first three criteria - there is a problem, We know its extent and cause.

Now the problems are how to combat it (cancer vaccine, change their disposition, isolate healthy individuals to repopulate areas after all the sick individuals die off. etc).