Global environmental problems are much more severe and complex than many of the public believe. This book explores the paradox of humanity's dependence on biodiversity and landscape systems for survival while simultaneously placing an enormous stress on the existence of these natural systems. Leading contributors to the fields of biodiversity conservation, ecology, economics, entomology, forestry, history, landscape management, philosophy and sociology draw from their unique disciplinary perspectives to consider the origins, bases and possible solutions to this pressing problem. The volume shows that the need for a solution is one of the most urgent facing humanity, yet the challenge of solving it is one that will require a major shift in the composite of human values.

This book is concerned with the paradox that humanity depends on biodiversity and landscape systems for its survival, yet, at the same time, the current burden of humanity's use of living resources places the existence of these natural systems at risk. The role of human values, technological society and social and political processes in the creation and solution of the paradox are explored in this volume, whose origins lie in an international discussion meeting held at the PennState Center for BioDiversity Research. Leading contributors to the fields of biodiversity conservation, ecology, economics, entomology, forestry, history, landscape management, philosophy and sociology draw from their unique disciplinary perspectives to consider the origins, bases and possible solutions to this pressing problem.