Biodiversity and Landscapes A Paradox of Humanity

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.

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.