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Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Management of land & natural resources
This broad review of the development of US water resource policy analysis and practice offers perspectives from several disciplines: law, economics, engineering, ecology and political science. While the historical context provided goes back to the early 19th century, the book concentrates on the past 60 years and features a discussion of the difficulty that has generally been encountered in bringing the disciplines of economics and ecology into collaboration in the water resource context.The book explores the evolution of water related analytical capabilities and institutions and provides illustrations from case studies, concluding with recommendations for research, institutional change and action. Though designed to be a background textbook for interdisciplinary graduate seminars in water resources planning and management, it is accessible to interested lay readers and those who have policymaking or implementation responsibility but lack a technical background. The book will appeal to students and faculty in water policy, economics, and engineering, and in interdisciplinary programs organized around water resource problems and questions. Policy makers and general readers will also appreciate this non-technical introduction.
The Eastern Arc Mountains of East Africa are one of the 17 most threatened tropical ecosystems or hotspots worldwide. This is the first book to examine in detail current threats as well as approaches for conserving biological diversity in this global biodiversity hotspot.This volume synthesizes existing information on the biodiversity of the Eastern Arc Mountains, outlines processes that adversely affect this diversity, and suggests potential approaches for promoting its conservation. While the geographic focus of this book is the Eastern Arc forests, the problems, principles, and approaches discussed in relationship to conserving biodiversity have applicability to nearly all tropical forests worldwide.
National parks and game reserves are under threat from exploitation by tourists and by people living on their borders. Parks, although highly valued by conservationists, are not protected from unregulated economic behaviour within and outside their borders.In The Economics of Third World National Parks, Anup Shah argues that parks and reserves are worth preserving, rigorously analyses the problem and advocates solutions drawing on a wide range of sources. Issues discussed include the effects of economic activity on a national park, the tourist problem, valuing a national park and the use of cost-benefit decision making. Dr Shah uses economic analysis to explore institutional arrangements which would compensate for externalities resulting from exploitation and over-use by tourists and local communities. The price mechanism, he argues, is not a satisfactory tool with which to protect areas of rich bio-diversity. The Economics of Third World National Parks presents a clear and thoughtful application of economic thought, and especially the concept of externalities, to a key problem which current institutional structures seem unable to resolve.
This volume in the Fundamentals for the Water and Wastewater Main Operators series covers the basics of piping and valves in water and wastewater plants, including details on fittings, strainers, filters, traps and control systems. The book explains how pipes and valves are used to feed materials (e.g., chemicals) into influents and effluents and also siphon off unwanted liquid and gaseous byproduct. Also covered is how pipes are developed into systems and subsystems and coordinated into a plant-wide functioning unit.
This book contains two parts. The first part deals with some aspects of irrigation, encompassing farm irrigation systems, landscape gardening, energy assessment for drip irrigation, and micro-sprinklers. The second part is on water resources planning and management. It discusses water crisis, challenges in river health management, water supply systems, salt water intrusion, lake management, water supply demand assessment, integrated water resources management, among other topics. The book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in the field of water resources, hydrology, environmental resources, agricultural engineering, watershed management, earth sciences, as well as those engaged in natural resources planning and management. Graduate students and those wishing to conduct further research in water and environment and their development and management may find the book to be of value.
Designed as a text for undergraduate and graduate level courses in Third World development, "Resource Management in Developing CountrieS" takes an interdisciplinary approach to the problem of resource management in developing countries. Focusing on Africa, James explains the reasons for the continent's declining resource base from historical, geographical, economic, and political perspectives, and illustrates the links among all these factors. He explores key resource management issues such as threats to ecological systems, water quality management and agricultural production, using case studies where appropriate to illustrate the decline in biological diversity and human potential, the political and economic instability, and the socio-cultural decay that contribute to Africa's resource management problems. James argues that Africa's great loss of natural resources is due to mismanagement by African leaders, multinationals, and colonial governments, and suggests possible solutions to this declining trend. The introductory chapter examines Africa's legacy of colonialism. The author next addresses threats to the continent's ecological systems and the impact of transnational firms on resource management. After describing specific resource bases: water, soils, river systems, and forests, James then compares and contrasts Africa's urban and rural differences-- using Nigeria as a case example. Subsequent chapters discuss the need for proper resource management, perceptions of resource management problems in Africa, likely future scenarios, and the resource management programs currently underway in Africa. James concludes that governments and private and international organizations must assist the African countries in efforts to save endangered species, protect forest and other resources, and provide an acceptable standard of living for the people. Students of planning, as well as policymakers in developing countries, will find this comprehensive treatment of the ecological consequences of various resource management policies in the Third World very informative.
The importance of restoration continues to grow, and this book integrates the restoration of forest functions into landscape conservation plans. The global onservation organization WWF has made forest landscape restoration a key topic and priority for its environmental work. Due to the WWFs extensive global reach, and together with is many partners and counterparts, it has acquired a significant level of experience on the topic of forest restoration at large scales. This book represents the collective body of knowledge and experience of WWF and its many partners - which is collected here for the first time and which will be invaluable to all of those working in the field. This guide will serve as a first stop for practitioners and researchers in any organization or region and as a key reference on the subject. Along with concise, practical information for a variety of specific systems and issues, it gives many suggestions for further research.From the Foreword by Chief Anyaoku, President, WWF International: Is it a sign of the times that the Nobel committee chose to award the Nobel Peace prize to Wangari Maathai for having planted 30 million trees? We believe so...The 21st Centur
One of the major challenges of sustainable development is the interdisciplinary nature of the issues involved. To this end, a team of conservation biologists, hunters, tourist operators, ranchers, wildlife and land managers, ecologists, veterinarians and economists was convened to discuss whether wildlife outside protected areas in Africa can be conserved in the face of agricultural expansion and human population growth. They reached the unequivocal - if controversial - conclusion that wildlife can be an economic asset, especially in the African savannas, if this wildlife can be sustainably utilized through safari hunting and tourism. Using the African savannas as an example, Wildlife Conservation by Sustainable Use shows that in many instances sustainable wildlife utilization comprises an even better form of land use than livestock keeping. Even when population pressure is high, as in agricultural areas or in humid zones, and wild animal species can pose a serious cost to agriculture, these costs are mainly caused by small species with a low potential for safari hunting. Although ranching has a very low rate of return and is hardly ever profitable, the biggest obstacle to the model of sustainable wildlife use outlined in Wildlife Conservation by Sustainable Use is from unfair competition from the agricultural sector, such as subsidies and lack of taxation, resulting in market distortion for wildlife utilization. This book thus gives valuable evidence for a different way of working, providing arguments for removing such distortions and thereby facilitating financially sound land use and making it a rationally sound choice to conserve wildlife outside protected areas. The expert team of authors, most of whom came together at a workshop to thrash out the ideas that were then developed into the various chapters, has written a superb account of recent research on this complex subject, resulting in a book that is a major contribution to our understanding of sustainable use of land. The important conclusion is that wildlife conservation can be possible for landholders and local communities if they have a financial interest in protecting wildlife on their lands.
Concerns about the effects of global climate change have focused attention on the vulnerability of circumpolar regions. Long-term historical data are needed to better understand the magnitude and direction of environmental change related to both natural and anthropogenic causes, as well as to assess patterns of natural variability. The paucity of instrumental data requires that proxy methods be used. The abundance of lakes throughout the Arctic and Antarctic makes paleolimnological approaches especially powerful tools to assist interpretations of environmental change. This book provides a synthesis of the broad spectrum of techniques available for generating long-term environmental records from circumpolar lakes. It also provides overviews of the geographic extent of paleolimnological work completed thus far in these regions. It explores the diverse ways in which paleolimnology is used to address the pressing and emerging environmental issues of high-latitude regions. By providing both an introduction and in-depth reviews, this volume is of interest to students and advanced researchers alike who are studying earth, atmospheric and environmental sciences.
This book presents up-to-date information on the status of water resources in India. It presents an assessment of the surface water and groundwater condition to help stakeholders take the necessary actions to control pollution and make the country's water resources sustainable. The book addresses various topics, including forest-water interactions for governing water quality at catchment scales, water quality status, rainwater harvesting methods, acid-mine drainage, water pollution, management strategies, drinking water quality, and treatment of industrial wastewater. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable tool for policy planners who wish to improve the current situation and move toward sustainable water resources in India.
In Arctic Canada, Hudson Bay is a site of great exploration history, aboriginal culture, and a vast marine wilderness supporting large populations of marine mammals and birds. These include some of the most iconic Arctic animals like beluga, narwhal, bowhead whales, and polar bears. Due to the challenges of conducting field research in this region, some of the mysteries of where these animals move, and how they are able to survive in such seemingly inhospitable, ice-choked habitats are just now being unlocked. For example, are polar bears being replaced by killer whales? This new information could not be more salient, as the Hudson Bay Region is undergoing rapid environmental change due to global warming, as well as increased pressures from industrial development interests. A Little Less Arctic brings together some of the world 's leading Arctic scientists to present the current state of knowledge on the physical and biological characteristics of Hudson Bay.
Emerging to the forefront of sustainable production and consumption are a promising and rapidly evolving concept known as Voluntary Standard Systems (VSS). They encompass the three pillars of sustainability social, environmental and economic aspects and consequently they can be considered as a tool, which makes sustainable development visible. Currently, they are becoming a significant element in international trade and in the promotion of sustainable development strategies, especially in the context of globalised markets and supply chains. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the current VSS concepts: from their nature and functioning, to the future outlook for their development. It places VSS in the broader context of global development issues and challenges, including development policy and international sustainability commitments, progress towards achieving green economy and meeting climate protection targets. The volume contains also a representative selection of case studies which demonstrate their wide range of application in different sectors of the economy."
This book introduces readers to the press release work carried out by Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China in 2018. It is divided into 3 parts, and each part is arranged in chronological order. The first part contains the records of Li Ganjie, Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, who attended the press conference of the two conferences and the "Ministerial Channel". The second part contains the record of Special Representative of China's Climate Change Affairs, Xie Zhenhua, who attended the "China's Policies and Actions on Climate Change 2018 Annual Report" press conference, and Zhao Yingmin, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, who attended the "Three-year Action Plan to Win the Blue Sky Defense War" policy briefing. The third part contains the records of 12 regular press conferences of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment throughout the year.
This important new book is a practical guide to the design of policies for effective energy conservation. Drawing on a wide range of European experiences, it analyses and evaluates the weaknesses of current conservation policies. The authors advance proposals that will ensure that political, administrative and energy conservation resources are used to maximum effect. Based on original investigations of conservation policies the book examines: the use of grants and subsidies to encourage investment in the conservation of energy in domestic housing and public buildings the use of information to inform householders of their conservation options and the implications of these options the use of regulation to encourage the use of combined heating power demand-side management by utility companies institutional development as a means of engendering 'bottom-up' conservation initiatives The main lesson is that it is not the policy per se but its design and execution which dictates performance. The key variables in shaping such performance are identified and discussed. This timely book will be invaluable for those responsible for designing and implementing energy conservation policies and will be of special interest to those researching the practice of energy conservation.
Frequent drought events, recently occurred in different Mediterranean regions, have highlighted a general inadequacy of the current strategies applied to mitigate negative impacts of such phenomenon on different water sectors. In particular, the lack of timely drought monitoring systems, the difficulty in transferring advanced methodologies for the assessment of drought risk to the institutions responsible for water resources management, as well as the complexity in defining simple and objective criteria to select and implement appropriate mitigation measures, represent the main limits to an efficient drought management policy. These key issues have been tackled by universities and public agencies involved in the EU projects Sedemed and Sedemed II (Programme Interreg IIIB MEDOCC), aimed at the definition of an integrated network for real time monitoring of drought, the development of common methodologies for drought analysis and forecasting, as well as of mitigation strategies for the Mediterranean countries. This book presents the main outcomes of such projects with a specific focus on: drought monitoring and forecasting techniques at different spatial scales (Part I), new agrometeorological indices and remote sensing technique for drought identification (Part II), tools to improve surface water resources management under drought condition (Part III), methods for monitoring and management groundwater (Part IV) and mitigation strategies to prevent or face drought impacts (Part V).
Addressing the techno-socio-economic challenges involved in the
protection, conservation, recycling and equitable utilization of
water as an economic good, this text explores the linkages and
dynamics of interactions involving water, and includes the
following key topic areas: dynamics of interactions involving
water; water quality; augmentation and conservation of water
resources; wastewater reuse systems; use of water in agriculture;
industrial and municipal uses of water; water pollution; economics
and management of water supplies; etiology of water-related
diseases; climate change impacts on water resources and paradigms
of water resource management.
This book provides a comprehensive approach to all aspects of water-related subjects affected by climate change that expand readers' attitudes toward future of the management strategies and improve management plans. It summarizes climate change scenarios, models, downscaling methods, and how to select the appropriate method. It also introduces practical steps in assessing climate change impacts on water issues through introducing hydrological models and climate change data applications in hydrologic analysis. The book caters to specialist readers who are interested in analyzing climate change effects on water resources, and related issues can gain a profound understanding of the practical concepts and step-by-step analysis, which is enriched with real case studies all around the world. Moreover, readers will be familiar with potential mitigation and adaptation measures in sustainable water engineering, considering the results of hydrologic modeling.
A new era in wildland fuel sciences is now evolving in such a way that fire scientists and managers need a comprehensive understanding of fuels ecology and science to fully understand fire effects and behavior on diverse ecosystem and landscape characteristics. This is a reference book on wildland fuel science; a book that describes fuels and their application in land management. There has never been a comprehensive book on wildland fuels; most wildland fuel information was put into wildland fire science and management books as separate chapters and sections. This book is the first to highlight wildland fuels and treat them as a natural resource rather than a fire behavior input. Moreover, there has never been a comprehensive description of fuels and their ecology, measurement, and description under one reference; most wildland fuel information is scattered across diverse and unrelated venues from combustion science to fire ecology to carbon dynamics. The literature and data for wildland fuel science has never been synthesized into one reference; most studies were done for diverse and unique objectives. This book is the first to link the disparate fields of ecology, wildland fire, and carbon to describe fuel science. This just deals with the science and ecology of wildland fuels, not fuels management. However, since expensive fuel treatments are being planned in fire dominated landscapes across the world to minimize fire damage to people, property and ecosystems, it is incredibly important that people understand wildland fuels to develop more effective fuel management activities.
Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen was described by Paul Samuelson as 'an economist's economist'. This book honors him by discussing his theories on a wide range of issues but particularly on environmental and energy economics. It is a dynamic tribute which extends his work to address the problems the human race will face in the 21st century. The book shows how Georgescu-Roegen constructed nothing less than an almost complete theoretical alternative to neoclassical economics. Although best-known for his later work as an environmentalist and his work on energy and material transformation, Georgescu-Roegen also made seminal contributions to the economic theory of utility and production and is considered to be one of the founders of modern mathematical economics. In this book an internationally acclaimed group of contributors including Joan Martinez-Alier, William H. Miernyk, Herman Daly and Cutler Cleveland present discussions on environmental and energy economics as well as mathematical economics, economic development and peasant economies, and bioeconomics. This book serves as an excellent all-inclusive introduction to the work of one of the great economists of the 20th century. This celebration of the contributions made by Georgescu-Roegen will be of interest to environmental and natural resource economists, as well as social and economic theorists. With a dedication by Wassily Leontief and a foreword by Paul Samuelson.
In recent years, Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) have been a key issue both in the scientific community and in public debates. This is due to their profound implications for rural development, local sustainability, and bio-economics. This edited collection discusses what the main determinants of the participation of operators - both consumers and producers - in AFNs are, what the conditions for their sustainability are, what their social and environmental effects are, and how they are distributed geographically. Further discussions include the effect of AFNs in structuring the food chain and how AFNs can be successfully scaled up. The authors explicitly take an interdisciplinary approach to analyse AFNs from different perspectives, using as an example the Italian region of Piedmont, a particularly interesting case study due to the diffusion of AFNs in the area, as well as due to the fact that it was in this region that the 'Slow Food' movement originated.
The papers in this book were 'in a preliminary version' presented at an international con ference May 21-25, 2002 in Gilleleje, Denmark. It was a joint event, namely the biennial meeting of the Scandinavian Society of Forest Economics and the 3rd Berkeley-KVL Con ference. The Scandinavian Society of Forest Economics (SSFE) was established in 1958 as a forum for forest economists in the Nordic countries to meet and exchange ideas on research and education. Alternating between Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, biennial ordinary meetings have taken place ever since. The number of participants has increased from 10-15 in the first decade to more than 80 in 2002. In the last two decades prominent researchers from outside Scandinavia have been invited to present papers at the biennial meetings and also to participate in ad hoc working groups. The Berkeley-KVL part of the conference is based on a research collaboration between The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL), Copenhagen, University of Cali fornia at Berkeley, and Oregon State University. It was initiated in 1993 within the frame work of a research programme at KVL: 'Stochastic Decision Analysis in Forest Manage ment' and since 1996 extended to the programme 'Economic Optimisation of Multiple-Use Forestry and Other Natural Resources'."
This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the status and progress of China-ASEAN green development and examines the common development issues in China and ASEAN Member States (AMSs). It also explores development trends within the framework of global and regional environmental governance and discusses the approaches towards green development in China and AMSs, offering its own definition of green development and using a "pressure-state-response" (PSR) model to build a framework for assessing green development. The book includes typical policy measures and numerous practices for green development in China and AMSs in the form of tables, figures and boxes. Based on detailed analysis, it argues that the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development brings significant opportunities to China and AMSs, that the ongoing pragmatic cooperation should be further advanced, and that a connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and green ASEAN Community should be established to achieve regional sustainable development. As such it furthers readers' understanding of environment and development and practical policy advice for promoting China-ASEAN cooperation on environment and green development. Intended for decision makers from the government, business sector, and civil societies who are working to boost green development and China-ASEAN cooperation, it is also a valuable resource for government officials, researchers and non-experts interested in creating a balanced relationship between the environment and development.
On the surface the new president seems to inherit an empty house," Hugh Heclo, a recognized expert on American democratic institutions, has noted. "In fact, he enters an office already shaped and crowded by other people's desires." Empowering the White House examines how Richard Nixon entered that crowded Oval Office in 1969 yet managed to change it in a way that augmented the power of the presidency and continues to influence into the twenty-first century how his successors have governed. Nixon's White House is perhaps best remembered for the growth in the size of the staff, which operated under the supposed iron fist of H. R. Haldeman. But more important than size and management style to the character of the Nixon White House were the assigned tasks, complexity, and dynamics of the burgeoning staff. Faced with hostile majorities in Congress and executive branch careerists assumed to be committed to a Democratic agenda, Nixon sought to control his political fate by engaging more actively than earlier presidents in public relations and the mobilization of support. At the command and under the control of the Oval Office, the staff carried out assignments designed to fulfill Nixon's aims. This theoretically informed and well-researched study explains how Nixon changed and expanded the institutionalized presidency and how that affected the Ford and Carter administrations. Nixon ushered in a new stage in the modern presidency by organizing and using his increasingly complex staff in new ways that have persisted beyond the 1970s to this day. To a greater degree than any predecessor, Nixon systematized outreach, legal advice, and policy formulation. His White House staffing, then, has come to be regarded as a "standard model" that influences incoming presidents regardless of party affiliation. Leavening this organizational study are revealing accounts of how the Nixon, Ford, and Carter staffs operated behind the scenes in the West Wing. Anyone needing to know how the White House worked during those presidencies--or how it has worked since--will find this book invaluable.
The focus of this singular work is to discuss the role and importance of bioorganic phase in food products-providing the first major reference source for researchers looking to understand all aspects of the isolation, extraction and application of this major element in natural foods. From the identifying features to its applications through biotechnology and nanobiotechnology, this book covers all of the important aspects of bioorganic phase and points to future uses and methods. With chapters focusing on phase extraction and application, food product synthesis and nanoparticle application, Bioorganic Phase in Natural Food: An Overview covers both conventional and non-conventional approaches for the extraction of bioorganic phase from various food sources. Toxicity studies in nanoparticles are presented, and the vital role played by bioorganic phase toward nanoparticles synthesis is outlined in full. For any researcher looking for complete coverage of all main aspects of bioorganic phase in foods, this work provides a comprehensive and well-researched view of this important subject. .
With the increasing threat of depleted and contaminated water supplies around the world, this book provides a timely and much needed analysis of how cities should manage this precious resource. Integrating the environmental, economic, political and socio-cultural dimensions of water management, the authors outline how future mega-city systems can maintain a high quality of life for its residents. With the rapidly evolving and wealthy Shanghai as the key example, the paradox between the wealth of a city and the quality of its water is uncovered. With a multidisciplinary and multi-scale analysis, the supply of water to cities is discussed in the context of rivers, households, corporations, government and infrastructures. Chapters include the influence of household water use, the political economy of water management, the sources and management of pollution, catchment dynamics, and a Bayesian model for calculating future demand. This comprehensive study shows how essential water management will be to new, developing and expanding cities in the foreseeable future. Water Supply in a Mega-City will be of interest to researchers from across social, natural and engineering sciences interested in the theoretical and practical management of this essential resource in large cities, as well as those interested in the way cities respond to changing environmental conditions. |
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