Provides insight into the application of applied ecology for bioremediation of radioactive wastes Discusses species selection criteria for tailings radioactivity consolidation Explains safe treatment of radioactive ore processing plants tailings Illustrates the role of ethnobotany in selection of most appropriate species to effectively use in bioremediation Focusses on experimental outcomes

Across the globe vast areas that in the past supported natural forests have either been deforested or have degraded. Data shows that nearly 30 percent of the world's potential forest cover has been completely cleared and a further 20 percent has been degraded. But the silver lining is that still more than two billion hectares of deforested and degraded forest landscapes worldwide have the potential to be restored on sustainable basis. Land is one of the most precious natural resource on which all human activities are based. Changes in land use and land cover are therefore being increasingly recognized as critical factors influencing global change. While land cover and land use are often assumed to be identical, they are rather quite different. Land cover may be defined as the biophysical earth surface, while land use is often shaped by human, socioeconomic and political influences on the land. Last few decades have witnessed enhanced pace of landscape alteration in India. Developmental activities as well as anthropogenic causes have fragmented natural landscapes leading to deteriorating bird and animal habitats and alterations of biodiversity.

Landslides are one of the catastrophic hazards that affect at least 15% land area of India exceeding 0.49 million km2. The Himalayan Mountains has been witnessing the furry of nature for a long time. Landslides are among one of the major and widely spread natural disasters that strike life and property almost perennially year after year. Large scale deforestation in recent decades has also disturbed the sensitive areas in the Himalayas. Concentration of human settlements and consequent logging, felling, grazing and occasional fires have reduced the forest area to a great extent The replacement of climax oak by pioneer pine has become a common and ever increasing phenomenon in Himalaya. The role of native vegetation is quite significant in prevention of landslides as well as for stabilizing the landslide. The present book embodies the bioengeinneing application and its role in mitigating and managing the landslide hazardous. The book has mainly emphasized on the bioengineering measures taken for recovery of catastrophic Varunavat Landslide, which took place on September 24th, 2003 in the Northern part of India and caused a massive socio-economic and ecological devastation.