Ecosystem Classification for Environmental Management

Ecosystem Classification for Environmental Management PDF Author: Frans Klijn
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401713847
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
When Lovelock published his 'Gaia', it was for many people quite a relief. We would not be able to destroy life on earth. Lovelock illustrated this argument with a wealth of mechanistic feedback processes, as we know them to occur in ecosystems. These feedback processes would, somehow, lead the earth as a whole into a new equilibrium. An equilibrium with life within, be it in an entirely changed environment. This is, indeed, let us be earnest: a functioning ecosystem. But what kind of ecosystem? The Gaia-hypothesis triggered a great deal of thought and discussion about what we actually require as an environment. Bio diversity as an abbreviation of biotic diversity has since become the focal point of societal concern. But again, when we think about it, we are not only interested in the sheer number of species on earth. We also have ')ther interests: nearby, in our backyards, in the surrounding countryside, and on the various locations where we would like to spend our holidays. We also want to preserve rare or characteristic species just for their own sake. In fact, we want species in viable populations to be part of communities that are self-maintaining in environments where they belong. We know we cannot ask for this without protecting their environment, which is also our environment. This is where the next fashionable term emerges: sustainability.

Ecosystem Classification for Environmental Management

Ecosystem Classification for Environmental Management PDF Author: Frans Klijn
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401713847
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 257

Get Book Here

Book Description
When Lovelock published his 'Gaia', it was for many people quite a relief. We would not be able to destroy life on earth. Lovelock illustrated this argument with a wealth of mechanistic feedback processes, as we know them to occur in ecosystems. These feedback processes would, somehow, lead the earth as a whole into a new equilibrium. An equilibrium with life within, be it in an entirely changed environment. This is, indeed, let us be earnest: a functioning ecosystem. But what kind of ecosystem? The Gaia-hypothesis triggered a great deal of thought and discussion about what we actually require as an environment. Bio diversity as an abbreviation of biotic diversity has since become the focal point of societal concern. But again, when we think about it, we are not only interested in the sheer number of species on earth. We also have ')ther interests: nearby, in our backyards, in the surrounding countryside, and on the various locations where we would like to spend our holidays. We also want to preserve rare or characteristic species just for their own sake. In fact, we want species in viable populations to be part of communities that are self-maintaining in environments where they belong. We know we cannot ask for this without protecting their environment, which is also our environment. This is where the next fashionable term emerges: sustainability.

Ecosystem Classification for Environmental Management

Ecosystem Classification for Environmental Management PDF Author: Frans Klijn
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9789401713856
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
The ecosystem is a central concept in modern ecology and is fundamental to sound environmental policy making. Not all ecosystems are equally susceptible to human-induced environmental change, nor do we attribute equal value to all ecosystem types. From a nature conservation point of view we are concerned about the spatial extension of ecosystems and their quality, as well as about their responsiveness and recovery potential. This requires the classification and mapping of ecosystems. This book treats the why and how of such classification and mapping as a prerequisite to environmentally sound management aimed at sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity. Existing concepts and procedures are modified for modern applications, including susceptibility assessment, environmental quality assessment and monitoring, as well as predictive modelling for environmental impact assessments. These procedures are illustrated by applying them to current environmental problems, such as acidification, eutrophication, changing land use, or groundwater lowering. Written by a number of renowned landscape ecologists from several West European countries, this book discusses a wealth of theories, concepts, and methods from plant ecology, vegetation science, physical geography, and other environmental sciences composed in such a way to constitute practically applicable tools. For scientists engaged in applied research and professionals in environmental planning. Graduate students will find it inspiring as well as a source of practical advice.

Aridland Springs in North America

Aridland Springs in North America PDF Author: Lawrence E. Stevens
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
ISBN: 9780816526451
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 432

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Book Description
A collection of articles on the ecology of North American desert springs, by authors from the fields of biology, botany, ichthyology, conservation, geology and law; and covering both the special traits of springs and the ways in which they might be managed in order to survive.

A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan

A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan PDF Author: Joshua G. Cohen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781611861341
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Small enough to carry in a backpack, this comprehensive guide explores the many diverse natural communities of Michigan, providing detailed descriptions, distribution maps, photographs, lists of characteristic plants, suggested sites to visit, and a dichotomous key for aiding field identification. This is a key tool for those seeking to understand, describe, document, conserve, and restore the diversity of natural communities native to Michigan.

Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification of Non-forested Ecosystems in British Columbia

Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification of Non-forested Ecosystems in British Columbia PDF Author: William H. MacKenzie
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description
Non-forested ecosystems are an important part of British Columbias landscape and biological diversity. Plant community composition and vegetation structure of these ecosystems stand in contrast to the forests that are typical of much of British Columbia. These non-forested habitats supply critical life history requirements for many plant and animal species.

Riverine Ecosystem Management

Riverine Ecosystem Management PDF Author: Stefan Schmutz
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319732501
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 562

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Book Description
This open access book surveys the frontier of scientific river research and provides examples to guide management towards a sustainable future of riverine ecosystems. Principal structures and functions of the biogeosphere of rivers are explained; key threats are identified, and effective solutions for restoration and mitigation are provided. Rivers are among the most threatened ecosystems of the world. They increasingly suffer from pollution, water abstraction, river channelisation and damming. Fundamental knowledge of ecosystem structure and function is necessary to understand how human acitivities interfere with natural processes and which interventions are feasible to rectify this. Modern water legislation strives for sustainable water resource management and protection of important habitats and species. However, decision makers would benefit from more profound understanding of ecosystem degradation processes and of innovative methodologies and tools for efficient mitigation and restoration. The book provides best-practice examples of sustainable river management from on-site studies, European-wide analyses and case studies from other parts of the world. This book will be of interest to researchers in the field of aquatic ecology, river system functioning, conservation and restoration, to postgraduate students, to institutions involved in water management, and to water related industries.

Ecological Planning

Ecological Planning PDF Author: Forster Ndubisi
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 080187775X
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
Chosen by Choice Magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2003 Ecological planning is the process of understanding, evaluating, and providing options for the use of landscape to ensure a better fit with human habitation. In this ambitious analysis, Forster Ndubisi provides a succinct historical and comparative account of the various approaches to this process. He then reveals how each of these approaches offers different and uniquely useful perspectives for understanding the dialogue between human and environmental processes. Ndubisi begins by examining the philosophies behind and major contributors to ecological thinking during the past 150 years, as well as the paradigm shift in planning that occurred in recent decades as a result of a growing global ecological awareness. He then turns to landscape suitability analysis and discusses alternative approaches to ecological planning, such as applied human ecology, applied landscape ecology, and others. Finally, he offers a comparative synthesis of the approaches in order to reveal the theoretical and methodological assumptions inherent when planners choose one approach over the other. Ndubisi concludes that no one approach can by itself adequately address the whole spectrum of ecological planning issues. For this reason he offers guidance as to when it may be appropriate for landscape architects and planners to emphasize one approach rather than another.

Foundation Papers in Landscape Ecology

Foundation Papers in Landscape Ecology PDF Author: John A. Wiens
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 9780231126809
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 602

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Book Description
The editors begin with articles that illuminate the discipline's diverse scientific foundations, such as L.

Environmental Literacy in Science and Society

Environmental Literacy in Science and Society PDF Author: Roland W. Scholz
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521183332
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 657

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Book Description
A comprehensive review and analysis of environmental literacy within the context of environmental science and sustainable development. Approaching the topic from multiple perspectives, the book explores the development of human understanding of the environment and human-environment interactions in the fields of biology, psychology, sociology, economics and industrial ecology.

Environmental Management in Organizations

Environmental Management in Organizations PDF Author: John Brady
Publisher: Earthscan
ISBN: 1849771197
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 461

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Book Description
Twenty years ago, environment and sustainable development issues were marginal concerns for businesses and public bodies, requiring a relatively narrow range of personnel, knowledge and skills. Today, these issues are key operational concerns for all but the smallest organizations and apply to all sectors - the private, public and voluntary sectors. Managing them requires a growing army of environmental professionals to manage them with knowledge of a rapidly developing body of regulatory measures.Environmental Management in Organizations provides the basic resource needed by organizations and the managers they employ on the issues and on the management tools, performance measures and communication strategies available. Leading experts on each topic have provided focused explanations and clear practical guidance, as well as setting out the context and the key environmental and management drivers.