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For the past thirty years or so, wetlands have been at the forefront of developments in understanding past cultural activity and associated landscapes. The exceptional preservation afforded by waterlogged sites are paralleled only by those of comparable extremes: frozen and arid contexts. Wetland sites then, can provide a wealth of information that 'dryland' sites seldom can. But such preservation is not limited to organic deposits, but also records the environmental conditions at the time, thereby allowing for detailed reconstruction of the associated environment and landscape. Between 1992 and 2000, a project based at the University of Hull undertook the systematic investigation of over half a million hectares of land located primarily in the catchment of the Humber Basin. In order to mark the successful completion of this, the Humber Wetlands Project, the editors invited colleagues from all over the world to contribute a series of chapters to this book. The aim was to outline the current state of wetland cultural and palaeoenvironmental knowledge, and to provide multidisciplinary insights into the methodological approaches and theoretical aspects of this important area of study. ... Read more

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The Southwest Under Stress examines the development-environment conflict in the four contiguous states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. It emphasizes three issues with implications that extend far beyond the Southwest: water---its quantity, quality, and allocation; environment---how and to what extent it should be preserved; and the future of Native American and other poverty-stricken peoples. Energy comes in for special attention because the Southwest is a principal repository of fossil and nuclear fuels.

This book serves as a guide for public policy in the region, and many of the policy alternatives set out are aimed at state and local governments. Alleviating poverty, improving the lot of Native Americans, and formulating workable water, environmental, and natural resources development policies are all of special concern to the region, but the federal government has asserted a dominant role in may of these areas. The book discusses ways in which the federal role may change to improve both federal policy itself and cooperation with other levels of government. ... Read more

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Practical Ecology for Planners, Developers, and Citizens introduces and explains key ecological concepts for planners, landscape architects, developers, and others involved in planning and building human habitats. The book is tailored to meet the needs of busy land use professionals and citizens seeking a concise yet thorough overview of ecology and its applications. It offers clear guidelines and a wealth of information on how we can protect species and ecosystems while at the same creating healthy, sustainable human communities.

Throughout the book, the authors make ecological concepts accessible to readers with little or no scientific background. They present key ideas and information in simple and pragmatic terms, and provide numerous graphics to help explain important concepts. They also offer exercises for the reader to practice ecologically-based planning and design, along with a list of resources for practical information on ecology and conservation.

Practical Ecology for Planners, Developers, and Citizens will raise the level of ecological understanding among land use professionals and citizens, and is an invaluable new resource for anyone concerned with human land use and its environmental impacts.

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Interesting as well as Practical Ecology
This is an interesting and articulate book for both the specialist and the general reader who cares about a healthy world.It is of significant practical value while at the same time it presents a coherent background of information on which to base action. ... Read more

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Because of the profound effects of the built environment on the availability of natural resources for future generations, those involved with designing, creating, operating, renovating, and demolishing human structures have a vital role to play in working to put society on a path toward sustainability.

This volume presents the thinking of leading academics and professionals in planning, civil engineering, economics, ecology, architecture, landscape architecture, construction, and related fields who are seeking to discover ways of creating a more sustainable built environment. Contributors address the broad range of issues involved, offering both insights and practical examples. In the book:

• Stephen Kellert describes the scope of the looming ecological crisis
• Herman Daly explains the unsustainability of the world's economic system and the dangers inherent in the current movement toward globalization
• John Todd describes the evolution of wastewater processing systems inspired by natural systems
• John Tillman Lyle discusses the importance of landscape in the creation of the human environment
• Randall Arendt argues for a fundamental shift in land development patterns that would not only provide for more green space in new developments, but would also increase the profitability of developers and the quality of life for new home owners
• Thomas E. Graedel proposes the application of lessons learned from the emerging science of industrial ecology to the creation of "green" building.

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A comprehensive look at our environment
A comprehensive analysis and commentary on America's physical and social infrastructure, Kilbert has compiled an impressive list of authors/environmental policy specialists. They speak to issues as seeminglydiverse as the moral burdens being placed on future generations by shortsighted environmental policy to practical solutions ( the Brownfieldsinitiative)for reusing old industrial land in the inner city--a valuabletext for anyone involved in shaping public policy in the near future. ... Read more

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A significant consequence of the development of natural landscapes is habitat loss and fragmentation that results in widespread loss of biological diversity. While scientists have made great strides in determining principles and concepts fundamental to preserving biodiversity, their work will have little impact unless it is understood and implemented by those who are making on-the-ground decisions about land use.

Planning for Biodiversity provides an accessible introduction to ecological concepts for planning professionals and students. Sheila Peck explains why planners should be concerned with habitat preservation and presents practical approaches to incorporating conservation principles into planning efforts. The book.

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This study of the Grande Carajas programme, the largest project in the Amazon rainforest, is central to the debate on its future and fate. The social and environmental costs of the programme are examined here. The programme is the result of official policies which, over the past 20 years, have favoured large-scale mining, forestry and agribusiness at the expense of peasant farmers. They have seen their land steadily appropriated in a violent process of landgrabbing, leading to social polarization, growing poverty, landlessness, forced population displacement, invasions of Indian lands and environmental degradation. The author examines these frequently ignored side-effects and draws lessons for development throughout Amazonia and throughout the world's tropical rainforests. Planners, he argues, have to learn the lessons of existing policies if they are to devise constructive future initiatives. ... Read more

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Text offers a unique, integrative perspective on the political and ecological processes shaping landscapes and resource use across the global North and South. Summarizes important developments and debates in the field. Softcover. DLC: Political ecology. ... Read more

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This book should be of interest to those interested in ecology and planning. ... Read more

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Controversy surrounding environmental issues is not a recent development in American history. Since the time of the early settlers, issues concerning the environment have plagued certain groups of Americans. In this exhaustively researched study, primary documents support different sides of various questions, such as the use of water as an energy source, deforestation, gold mining in California, and the emergence of wildlife conservation. High school and college students will not only find this book extremely comprehensive, but will also find its heated discussions exceptionally engaging.

Some of the major topics covered include differences between the way Native Americans and early settlers treated the land, The Land Ordinance of 1785, Thomas Jefferson's views about the land, the commercial progress of New England river valleys, establishing the Adirondack Forest Preserve in 1885, Theodore Roosevelt's thoughts on forest conservation, the pros and cons of hydraulic gold mining, the near-extinction of the North American bison, andThe Lacey Act

Magoc's book will prove an essential asset for all American history students.

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A team of scholars from throughout the world joins together in this volume to discuss the changes and challenges for administrative structures at the beginning of the 21st century. Focusing on democratization movements, flexibilization tendencies, the inclusion or exclusion of minority groups and the restructuring of transitional or emerging states, it provides a differentiated spatial overview of key problems currently faced in public administration. Offering a wide range of regional case studies from Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it tests current theories and concepts of government and governance, space and place and society and community. In doing so, it offers valuable insights and makes policy implications. ... Read more

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The Mediterranean has been subject to changing human settlements and land use patterns for millennia, and has a history of human exploitation in an inherently unstable landscape. This work provides an introduction to the Mediterranean region, its history, physical and human geography and its environmental problems. ... Read more

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Integrated regional models are conceptual and mathematicalmodels that describe the physical environment, biologicalinteractions,human decision-making, and human impact on theenvironment. Effortsare now being made to integrate regional modelsfrom the physical,biological and social sciences in order to respondto diverseenvironmental problems. This volume explores the latestresearchdevelopments on processes operating at a variety of scales,includingregions, and how scientists can combine their efforts todevelopmodels linking biological, physical, and human systems. Datarequirements for successful integrated regional models are identifiedand discussed. Chapters also consider methodological questions, suchas whether to integrate disciplinary approaches at the beginning orthe end of the modelling process, and whether integrated regionalmodels should focus on specific regions or specific problems. Theinformation in this volume will enable the reader to view problemssuch as coastal zone management, atmospheric pollution, non-pointsource pollution, commodity production in forested areas, and urbanexpansion in a broad, conceptual context. Researchers and graduatestudents in ecology, biology, geography and geology will benefit fromthis innovative approach to contemporary environmental problems. ... Read more