Ecological Research in the Tropics

Abstract

Scientific studies in the tropics have burgeoned over the past 20 years. In particular, ecology has been used in decision making, land use planning, evaluation of environmental impact, agriculture and forestry, and other areas of human concern. As a result, the number of ecological research workers has increased, ecology is more frequently taught in universities and colleges, and the number of reports of ecological research is greater. During 1972–1973 The Institute of Ecology (TIE), an international organization, sponsored a workshop to determine research priorities for tropical ecology in the Americas. A total of 472 ecologists were identified in tropical America, 145 in Africa, and 206 in Asia. While these are not complete counts of scientific workers, they do suggest the size of the research cadres available. And when we realize that many of these workers are relatively young, the future of the subject seems secure.