Background Paper No. 2


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published productivity might be limited to minutes. At the

present time, such a group could, in fact, comprise the en-

tire community of scientists engaged in ecological research

in the Virgin Islands. The regular sitting of such a group,

would allow for quick and easy dissemenation of ideas and

information; it's funding, limited in scope, could be shared

by the various agencies represented.



 The features of insularity are the meat of the island

ecologist; they are also the major deterant to the projec-

tion of rational research programs endemically generated.

Because of the lack of ecological heritage and tradition in

the Virgin Islands, it is especially important that those

persons charged with the conduct of ecological research com-

municate with one another.


 This Conference is an initial step in attempting to

establish that kind of cooperation and exchange of ideas.