Biodiversity and Landscapes
A Paradox of Humanity

Experts from different disciplines discuss the nature, origin and possible solutions to the problem of landscape degradation and diminishing global biodiversity.

Ke Chung Kim (Edited by), Robert D. Weaver (Edited by)

9780521119337, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 September 2009

448 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.65 kg

"Biodiversity and Landscapes is an ambitious book....The coverage is comprehensive....it is a worthwhile contribution, providing valuable background and fostering understanding of these important topics." D. Scott Slocombe, La Societe Canadienne des Biologistes de l'Environnement

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.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Biodiversity and humanity Ke Chung Kim and Robert D. Weaver
Part II. Human Values and Biodiversity: 2. Thoreau and Leopold on science and values Bryan G. Norton
3. Creation Holmes Rolston III
4. Biodiversity and ecological justice Eric Katz
Part III. Human Processes and Biodiversity: 5. Preindustrial man and environmental degradation William T. Sanders and David Webster
6. Conserving biological diversity in the face of climate change Robert L. Peters
7. We do not want to become extinct: the question of human survival Norman Myers
8. Germplasm conservation and agriculture Garrison Wilkes
Part IV. Management of Biodiversity and Landscapes: 9. The paradox of humanity Eugene Hargrove
10. Biodiversity and landscape management Zev Naveh
11. Making a habit of restoration Leslie Sauer
12. Landscapes and management for ecological integrity James Karr
Part V. Socioeconomics of Biodiversity: 13. Economic valuation of biodiversity Robert D. Weaver
14. Thinking about the value of biodiversity Alan Randall
15. Lessons from the aging Amazon frontier Christopher F. Uhl, Adalberto Verissimo, Paulo Barreto, Marli Maria Mattos and Recardo Tarifa
Part VI. Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation: 16. Market based economic development and an assessment of conflict Robert D. Weaver
17. Technology and biodiversity conservation John Cairns, Jr
18. Evaluation of biodiversity for ecological engineering Howard T. Odum
19. Urban horticulture: a part of the biodiversity picture Harold Tukey
20. The watchdog role of nongovernmental environmental organizations M. Rupert Cutler
21. Legislative and public agency initiatives in ecosystem and biodiversity conservation Michael J. Bean
22. Biodiversity and humanity Robert D. Weaver and Ke Chung Kim
Index.

Subject Areas: Applied ecology [RNC], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]