Subject: Conservation ecology Journal 


Dear Subscribers:

In the spirit of novelty and experimentation with the electronic format
of Conservation Ecology, we have recently published an article by Robert Costanza "Visions
of alternative (unpredictable) futures and their use in policy analysis"
(http://www.consecol.org/Journal/vol4/iss1/art5), that includes an
interactive web survey.  The survey allows readers an opportunity to
participate in an envisioning exercise by rating the desirability of
different future scenarios that are described in Costanza's paper. 
Reader's responses are automatically tabulated and displayed in a
graphic format.  The responses will also contribute to future analysis
of the visions.  We plan to summarize the results of the survey at
regular intervals and provide a brief description of any interesting
patterns that are revealed and comments that are received.

A seperate survey of reader's preferences has been created to provide
feedback to Conservation Ecology regarding access to the journal and
alternative format options (e.g. Portable Document Format, CD-ROM). 
This short survey takes only 1-3 minutes and will provide us with
valuable information that will be used to improve access to the journal.

The current Issue-in-Progress already contains several excellent
contributions with many more articles soon to be added, including a
Forum on Genetically Modified Organisms featuring a Perspective by
Gordon Conway, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, that is based on
his remarks to the Monsanto Board of Directors on June 24, 1999.  Five
Commentaries on Gordon Conway's Perspective, a critique of the Forum
articles and comments on transgenetic technology resulting from a Young Scholars
Dialogue, and a Synthesis article by Mark Ritchie, will round out the
Forum. 

We would like to invite you to participate in the surveys, enjoy the
current Issue-in-Progress, and add to the discussion of Conservation
Ecology articles by using the journal's Response facility. 

Sincerely,

C.S.Holling
Editor-in-Chief