The six‐million hectare mountainous region surrounding Yellowstone National Park has become the focus of a vigorous policy debate. At issue is the appropriate mix of preservation and development of the public lands that make up the “Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”; Administration of the region is fragmented among twenty‐eight different governmental agencies, making management of wide‐ranging wildlife and other shared resources difficult. To confront the problems resulting from lack of unifying goals, lack of interagency coordination, and poor use of scientific data, many authors and organized interest groups are urging that the agencies adopt “ecosystem management”; as a comprehensive policy for the region. The article discusses the meaning of ecosystem management and the hindrances to its implementation in the Yellowstone region.