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area is a challenge because it cannot be measured directly. In order to determine the ecological integrity of an area, ecologists must identify, measure and interpret some indicators. Indicators must be identified at various scales from the landscape to the site. Road access and road density (e.g., the number of kilometres of roads in an area) may be suitable indicators of human access to a large area. The condition and trends of a specific wildlife population can be an indicator of the viability of an ecosystem on a regional or site-specific scale. The definition and use of measurable indicators is a difficult and complex task at all scales.
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