The importance of geology in current and future efforts to inventory and, perhaps ultimately, to manage natural systems cannot be overstated. The geologist is trained broadly and traditionally is a generalist vitally interested in resource conservation and proper exploitation. Geologists need to accept the challenge and involve themselves formally or informally with the pressing problems of the decade to insure that rational, fair environmental guidelines are developed. The geologist can fill an important role not only in the solution of pollution problems, but also in environmental inventory and planning, because he long has been involved in mapping, extrapolating, and interpolating limited information in his search for geologic answers. Geologists' energies and approach s can be applied effectively to resource inventories that involve mapping and documenting the present status of natural environments and related facies, providing a perspective of natural systems that will be exceedingly important when, and if, management guidelines eventually are established. The geologist can translate his knowledge of natural change, physical processes, sedimentary facies, or ancient bedrock into parameters involving land and water capability, couched in the language of scientists and nonscientists who share responsibility for establishing land-use systems for balanced conservation and exploitation.

Legislation is being enacted which may establish the trend of land use for decades to come. A proper balance needs to be maintained between use and conservation on the basis of scientific facts rather than emotion. Geology can contribute much to this effort, for geologists had a professional interest in the earth, its processes, and its environments long before the present crisis. The geologic profession provided much of the technical and scientific knowledge which has allowed society to utilize mineral and energy resources on the present 20th-century scale. Can geology contribute less to insure intelligent use of these natural resources with rational and balanced environmental protection?