Synopsis
The earth's fragile ecosystems support all life forms. The continued survival of these ecosystems will determine the survival of different species, including humans. Environmental Change and Challenge is for the reader who would like to learn how marine and terrestrial ecosystems work; how predator-prey relationships form part of the intricate web linking all species; how the survival or extinction of one species affects the survival or extinction of other species in the food chain; how humans have caused lasting environmental damage and how we must now learn to manage the resources we depend on in much more effective ways. The book encourages readers to take a proactive approach by becoming better informed about the planet's life-support systems and by taking more responsibility as individuals for minimizing their impact on the environment. There are boxes highlighting suggestions for recycling and reducing waste and consumption, as well as interesting facts, such as how to identify animal tracks and how Native peoples have used traditional ecological knowledge to manage the resources they depend on. There are numerous photographs of wildlife, different ecozones, and wilderness areas. Illustrations show the composition of different food chains and how ecosystems function. Sidebars contain quotes from various sources, who draw attention to how the environment has conservation organizations - including ones involved in preserving endangered wildlife, oceans, rainforests, as well as conserving energy, water, and lands - is a useful resource for the reader who wants to become more proactive. Environmental Change and Challenge offers a thought-provoking and intelligent look at the earth's ecosystems and the changes that affect us all.
Présentation de l'éditeur
Environmental Change and Challenge: A Canadian Perspective , Third Edition, is an introduction to the rich, fascinating, and extremely topical field of environmental studies. Well-known and respected geographers Philip Dearden and Bruce Mitchell ground readers in the basic science of ecosystems so that they may knowledgeably explore a host of contemporary environmental issues, such as climate change, oceans and fisheries, forests, agriculture, water, minerals and energy, and endangered species and protected areas. Throughout, the authors emphasize the interrelationship between human actions and environmental change and bring their field and policy experience to bear on topics with both Canadian and international relevance. The third edition of Environmental Change and Challenge also addresses the philosophies and methods behind planning and management, including management of increasingly stressed urban environments, and concludes with concrete steps for developing solutions for a planet facing complex and ever-changing environmental challenges.
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