The mission of the Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI) is to advance environmental research, education, planning and restoration in Central New York. OEI seeks responsible stewardship of the local environs as a means to achieving the overall goal of sustainability.
OEI recognizes that human life and ecological systems are interrelated and have intrinsic value; that ecosystem preservation is a moral imperative and collective responsibility, which depends on sound knowledge and conscientious dissemination and application of that knowledge.
Capabilities & Achievements
Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI) embraces a model of community-driven environmental stewardship based on science. OEI’s purpose is to seek responsible stewardship of the environment, recognizing that human life and ecological systems are interrelated and have intrinsic value. Fostering responsible stewardship requires an understanding of community values about the environment around us; as well as educating the public regarding best practices.
Public participation allows community members to identify issues and set goals for our shared environment, helping to drive OEI’s research, planning, education, and restoration programs. The practice of adaptive management frames our approach to our programs; as it allows us to learn and modify projects to achieve the best outcome for the environment, aligned with the community’s expressed values and needs.
In turn, OEI shares information about the local environment through education and outreach programs. There are many challenges facing our environment, OEI is here to confront them and find solutions that work for the Central New York Community.
Adaptive management is a method of managing natural resources that places an emphasis on learning during the implementation process for environmental policies and strategies; then adapting implementation strategies accordingly.