MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN TROPICAL ECOLOGY

The preceding reports describe the research questions in tropical ecology that are especially important from both a theoretical and a practical viewpoint. In this section, we will consider some of the institutional mechanisms necessary for the support of this research. Fully developed research programs in ecology are a relatively new feature in the scientific establishments of many developed countries. In most cases these programs have been stimulated by pollution problems, environmental deterioration, and needs for planning. Tropical American countries need ecological research since, as discussed in the other sections, it is probably not possible to directly transfer information from temperate regions to the tropics. Ecological research also underlies and directly supports efforts to expand food production and industry, control disease and pests, and effectively plan for the optimum use of the tropical lands and waters. However, some decisionmakers have identified ecological research as antagonistic to these developmental projects.