Global Deforestation

A concise but comprehensive interdisciplinary examination of global deforestation for a broad audience of scientists and policymakers.

Christiane Runyan (Author), Paolo D'Odorico (Author)

9781107135260, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 April 2016

300 pages, 68 b/w illus. 14 colour illus.
26.4 x 17.9 x 2 cm, 0.76 kg

'In Global Deforestation Runyan and D'Odorico bring together in a single analysis, better than anyone else to date, a consideration of deforestation's ecological impacts and human drivers. Their linked discussions of these processes provide the reader with an unparalleled appreciation of the importance of forest losses for our future.' Thomas K. Rudel, Rutgers University, New Jersey

Global Deforestation provides a concise but comprehensive examination of the variety of ways in which deforestation modifies environmental processes, as well as the societal implications of these changes. The book stresses how forest ecosystems may be prone to nearly irreversible degradation. To prevent the loss of important biophysical and socioeconomic functions, forests need to be adequately managed and protected against the increasing demand for agricultural land and forest resources. The book describes the spatial extent of forests, and provides an understanding of the past and present drivers of deforestation. It presents a theoretical background to understand the impacts of deforestation on biodiversity, hydrological functioning, biogeochemical cycling, and climate. It bridges the physical and biological sciences with the social sciences by examining economic impacts and socioeconomic drivers of deforestation. This book will appeal to advanced students, researchers and policymakers in environmental science, ecology, forestry, hydrology, plant science, ecohydrology, and environmental economics.

Preface
1. Introduction: patterns and drivers of deforestation
2. Hydrological and climactic impacts of deforestation
3. Biogeochemical impacts of deforestation
4. Irreversibility of deforestation
5. Economic impacts and drivers of deforestation
6. Synthesis and future impacts of deforestation
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Deforestation [RNPD], Conservation of the environment [RNK], The environment [RN], Hydrology & the hydrosphere [RBK], Environmental economics [KCN]