EESEEMR

---

The accelerating rate of global environmental deterioration has emphasized study of its causal factors and processes. Studies of modern ecosystems are limited, because they only investigate a very brief span of time, i.e., a couple of years, decades, or at most a century. This is not long enough to observe most environmental processes from beginning to end. Because the impacts of climate change and land use develop over longer periods of time, they require observation of the process over decades, centuries and even millennia to observe the process and understand the outcome. 

Paleoecological research makes this possible. It encompasses a broad array of disciplines devoted to the reconstruction of past environmental conditions. Because these studies examine longer time spans, both long and short-term ecological processes can be examined, as well as the various inputs that may affect them during their evolution. It enables a more robust examination of the impact of climatic, geologic, hydrologic, biotic and cultural inputs. 

At EESEEMR we use geomorphic, sedimentological, micro-paleontological and macro-botanical data to reconstruct past environments. By observing the environment with snapshots over time we at EESEEMR can observe ecological processes from beginning to end. By placing human populations into that context with archaeological, archaeo-botanical, faunal, and coprolite studies, EESEEMR’s staff can monitor the interaction of climate and culture and the environment. We at EESEEMR can provide answers! 

The scientists at EESEEMR reconstruct past climate, and the environments they created, so that we know the precise relationship between climate and the ecosystem. These serve as past analogues for future climates and the ecosystems they will support. We apply these data in models to predict the future outcomes of climate change. 

Modern ecological studies conducted by EESEEMR’s staff will provide the fine-tuned knowledge needed to understand basic connections between parts of the ecosystem, because these links can be quantified. These can then be used to generate sensitive models explaining the operation of these processes, and even rates of change under specific conditions. When applied to longer-term palaeoecologial data, modern processual models are leading to robust understanding of how regional ecosystems and even the global ecosystem operate. We at EESEEMR can provide answers! 

At EESEEMR we employ modern erosion models to examine current, real-time loss of surface sediments to runoff and aeolian processes as they response to changes in precipitation, ground cover and wind. Models not only show at what rate modern ground water is recharging, but at what rates and magnitudes it did in the past, and how it will under projections of future precipitation. Fluvial (stream flow) models are able to show how and why streams have responded to changes in rainfall and sediment input today, in the past and in the future. We at EESEEMR can provide answers! 

Generation of wholistic models that relate modern ecological models to paleo-data, allow us at EESEEMR to reconstruct the long-term processes and see how these may have responded to various inputs, as climates and land use changed. Once relationships between these systems are established, the potential direction of future environmental changes can be projected. 

The results of EESEEMR’s research will form the basis for education programs to inform the public about the vulnerability of the environment, and what we, as individuals can do to protect it. Online distribution of this information in the form of scientific pamphlets for the public, local governments, and schools, and even as children’s books is a major part of our program. These findings will be presented to colleagues the public, at schools, and to local governments. We at EESEEMR can provide answers! 

EESEEMR’s scientific team includes: palaeoecologists, geomorphologists, environmental archaeologists, landscape dynamics modellers, and perascaping expert. Our team provides the necessary information required to assure the success of a permaculture application. The data we provide can guide permascaping companies in how they reshape the landscape, and what they can successfully plant. Our scientists, because of their specialized skills will also be involved in education of not only of the permascaping company scientists and engineers, but will assist to educate (technology transfer) local stakeholders (landowners, land users, local officials, and ecologically minded citizens). We have a permascaper on the staff to refine our permascaping suggestions. We also have a remote sensing expert who will assess the success of our permascaping applications. As part of our business model test, we are using this business paradigm in a test plot in southern Italy, set in a degraded landscape. 

EESEEMR’s solution consists of: 1) a program of local education about the impacts of climate change, and the need to stop destructive agricultural practices; 2) formation of local volunteer groups; 3) assess the unique needs of each landscape to formulate unique permaculture action plans; and 4) implement of the plan. At EESEEMR can formulate action plans and begin programs of environmental mitigation and restoration. 

EESEEMR’s education program of local land owners, land users, and local governmental officials involves detailing: 1) the impacts of global change, and 2) the promotion of changes in current destructive agricultural practices to prepare the landscape for permascape mitigation and restoration. This involves a change from a single crop agriculture (pasta wheat) to a multi-cropping (wheat, olives, grapes, figs, fruit, and vegetables), elimination of field burning, and a change to no-till agriculture. At that point application of permaculture techniques based upon intensive study of the landscape and its characteristics can be applied to revitalize the landscape and local economies. 

Because this technique can be tailored for application to any landscape its application is global. Thus, this technology can be applied to any type of ecosystem whatever its level of destruction. Because each application of permascaping requires a detailed assessment of the ecosystem and its needs, it can be applied anywhere.