Maintenance of the Biosphere
Published on 26. April 1990
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-7486-0142-4 (ISBN)
Description
The biosphere is universally recognized as essential to the support of the world's life, yet every hour its stability is threatened by demographic growth and increasing industrialization. This book tackles the crucial subject of man's attitude to the biosphere. The result of discussions held at an international forum of 70 of the world's leading ecologists, it challenges current thought on environmental policy and argues for stronger measures to protect the environment. Begining with a study of man's industrial history and his relationship with the environment, the book goes on to discuss recent changes in the biosphere as a result of a series of events culminating in Chernobyl and the hole in the ozone layer. Ecological productivity and the need for genetic diversity are looked at, and the whole question of an ecological moral code is discussed.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
15 illustrations, index
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
576 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7486-0142-4 (9780748601424)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
The evolution of the biosphere and the ascent of industrial man, Sir John Burnett; modern man and global development - need for diversity, resilience and adaptability, Prof J.I.Furtado; the sources of change - from Jericho to Chernobyl, Prof O.Gjaerevoll; effects and interactions, Dr M.D. Gwynne; life of Earth - lessons from the past, challenges for the future, Prof M.B.McElroy; maintaining ecological productivity and genetic diversity, Prof F.T.Last; moral thrusts - the attainable ideal in human and ecological terms, Prof L.K.Caldwell; our place in nature - reflections on the global carrying-capacity for humans, Dr A.H.Westing; practical targets for sustainability and development - general considerations, Dr M.W.Holdgate; practical targets in the six inhabited continents - Africa, Prof D.P.S.Wasawo, China, Shijun Ma, Australasia, Dr D.F.McMichael, North America, Prof J.G.Nelson, Amazonia, Prof P.M.Fearnside, Europe, Dr U.E.Loening; our common future - a call for action, Dr G.Brundtland.