From the reviews: "This book, edited by Walsh (Univ. of North Carolina) and Mena (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador), both associated with the Galipagos Science Center, focuses on studies of the social and ecological sustainability of the islands. ... Although the book's purpose is foundational for future volumes in the series, it can easily stand alone as a valuable and needed overview of the complex human-environmental interactions in the Galipagos. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (R. L. Smith, Choice, Vol. 50 (11), August, 2013)

• Preface.- Foreword.- Science and Conservation in the Galapagos Islands.- Changing Views of the Galapagos.- Perspectives for the Study of the Galapagos Islands: Complex Systems and Human- Environment Interactions.- The Socio-Economic Paradox of Galapagos.- Environmental Crisis and the Production of Alternatives: Conservation Practice(s) in   the Galapagos Islands.- The Double Bind of Tourism in Galapagos Society.- The Evolution of Ecotourism: The Story of the Galapagos Islands and the Special Law of 1998.- People Live Here: Maternal and Child Health on Isla Isabela, Galapagos.- Characterizing Contemporary Land Use/Cover Change on Isabela Island, Galapagos.- Investigating the Coastal Water Quality of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.- Research in Agricultural and Urban Areas in Galapagos – a Biological Perspective.- A Geographical Approach to Optimization of Response to Invasive Species.- From Whaling to Whale Watching: Cetacean Presence and Species Diversity in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.- Index.