Submit Content (login required)
Last updated: 05/12/2009
About UsCooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) National Network is a network of cooperative units established to provide research, technical assistance, and education to resource and environmental managers.
These units are named to signify their broad role as providers of research, technical assistance, and education to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies and their potential partners.
Cooperative emphasizes that multiple federal agencies and universities are among the partners in this program. Ecosystem studies involve the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address resource issues and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context. Resources encompass natural and cultural resources.
Each CESU is structured as a working collaboration among federal agencies and universities. CESUs are based at universities and focused on a biogeographic region of the country. Universities provide space, basic administrative support (secretarial, accounting, equipment), and access to university faculty, students, staff, and resources.
Federal agencies contribute research scientists and/or other professionals. In many cases, these federal personnel are located and working at CESUs under formal agreements between their respective bureaus and universities. Federal personnel are supervised and supported by their respective agencies, through existing administrative systems. Participating agencies provide scientific staff, administrative support funds (for assistance beyond the basic support provided by the universities), and project funds for specific research projects and technical assistance. Federal agency participation in a CESU does not alter previous arrangements or cooperative agreements. CESUs will create additional opportunities for interdisciplinary and multi-agency research, technical assistance, and education.