REPORT CARDS: AN EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENT TOOL

Environmental report cards are an emerging technique used to assessandrepor on theecosystemhealthofaregion.Providingrigorous,quantitativeassessmentsprovides anaccountabilitythat is increasingly required by various funders that support environmentalprotection and restoration efforts. In addition, the transparency that is by generatingcolor-coded metrics, maps, graphs and diagrams used in environmental report cards is also agrowing expectation on behalf of funders, government and non-governmentorganizations,and the public.

Keywords:

Assessment , science communication , integration , conceptual framework , ChesapeakeBay , variability