The most unique characteristics of the Great Basin are the ecological fragility of the resources, scarcity of water, predominance of federal land, high degree of urbanization, independence of rural people. Factors most likely to impede EM are conflicting goals and missions of agencies, conflicting social values among stakeholders, slow recovery rates of biophysical systems, and difficulty of predicting responses to natural disturbances and management actions. Characteristics most likely to facilitate EM are new political climates promoting consensus, extensive federal lands, social diversity, and improving management technology. A critical need for successful EM is communication and promoting public understanding of the process.