Assessments within the Albemarle-Pamlico Region
By interpreting data and molding this information into a format useful for policy and program development, the assessment function is a key component of decision support. The objectives of the most comprehensive form of environmental assessment, integrated assessment, are to [CRMSW 2000:10]:
- Document status and trends in environmental conditions at the necessary scales for scientific investigation and policy development;
- Evaluate the causes and consequences of changes in environmental status and trends;
- Assess environmental, economic and sociological impacts of alternative policies for dealing with these changes;
- Forecast change and create an early warning detection.
Documentation of spatial data (Bullet 1) can take the form of an environmental atlas, whereas rigorous evaluation, assessment, and forecasting (Bullets 2 to 4) require ecological models. The links on this page provide information on environmental modeling and assessments in the APNEP region.