ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES, BIODIVERSITY, AND THE ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY

The synthetic field of conservation biology uses principles derived fr om many different disciplines to address biodiversity issues. Many of these principles have come from ecology, and two simple ones that seem to relate to many issues involving the utility industry are: (1)''Eve rything is interconnected'' (and should usually stay that way), and (2 ) ''We can never do merely one thing.'' The first principle can be app lied to both the biotic and physical environments that are impacted by industrial activities. Habitat fragmentation and the loss of physical and biotic connectedness that results are frequently associated with transmission rights-of-way. These problems can be reduced-or even turn ed into conservation benefits-by careful planning and creative managem ent. The second principle applies to the utility industry's programs t o deal with carbon released by burning fossil fuels. Ecological knowle dge can allow these programs to contribute to the preservation of biod iversity in addition to addressing a pollution problem, Without carefu l ecological analyses, industry could easily create new problems while implementing solutions to old ones.