J. Lemons - Böcker

This text examines the role of science, economics, law and ethics as generally applied to decision-making on sustainable development, particularly in respect to the recommendations contained in Agenda 21. Specifically, the book examines the role, capabilities and certain strengths and weaknesses of these disciplines and their ethical implications in the context of sustainable development problems. Such an analysis is necessary to determine whether sustainable development problems create important new challenges and problems for government so that, where appropriate, new tools or approaches may be designed to overcome limitations or take advantage of the strengths of current scientific, economic and legal capabilities. This book is intended for environmental professionals, whether academic, governmental or industrial, or those in the private consultancy sector. It is also suitable as an upper-level text or reference.

Concepts of ecological integrity have recently been proposed to facilitate enhanced protection of biological and ecological resources against the threat of human activities. The promotion of ecological integrity as a basis for public policy and decision-making stems from scientists and others concerned about the threats of human activities to ecosystems and species, and from philosophers attempting to derive a more suitable ethic to guide the relationships between humans and the non-human environment. Although ecological integrity has been proposed as a norm for public policy and decision making, the concept is relatively new and therefore the underlying scientific and philosophical rationales have not been fully developed.

Various concepts of ecological sustainability and integrity have been proposed as a means of enhancing the protection of humans and the environment against the threat of human activities. In this book, scholars in the fields of ecology, public policy, philosophy, and economics are brought together in order to explore more fully the concepts of sustainability and ecological integrity as well as the connections between them. First, the concept of sustainability in relation to science, law, and ethics is explored. Second, concepts of sustainability and ecological integrity are applied to problems in specific natural resources. Finally, authors examine possible approaches to public policy which might include concepts of sustainability and ecological integrity. The book should be of interest to environmental professionals, whether academic, governmental or industrial, or in the private consulting sector, and should be suitable as an upper level undergraduate or graduate text or reference.

The protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of resources in arid and semiarid regions is important because: more than one-third of the earth's land area is drylands; up to one billion people (mostly poor) depend on drylands for their survival; the biological resources of drylands are both unique and vulnerable; and loss of dryland species increases the threats to the lives of millions of people. In Southern (developing) nations, successful experiences in conserving biodiversity and utilizing sustainable resources have not been publicized widely and hence have not been replicated in other relevant circumstances. For example, much of the available information on a wide variety of best practices and lessons learned for protecting and sustainably using arid and semiarid zone biodiversity remains within the institutions in which it has been generated and has not been shared between others working on similar issues for the mutual benefit of the global environment.Lack of financial resources constrains developing nations and their scientific institutions to widely disseminate the results of studies and projects as well as their ability to increase partnerships, cooperation, and capacity building between institutions and various stakeholders. The overall goal of this book is to increase the size of and more widely disseminate the "portfolio" of research and other works aimed at protecting and sustainably utilizing biodiversity of global significance in arid and semiarid areas in developing nations. Specifically, the book focuses on best practices and lessons learnt for science, for public policy and management, for increasing the participation of local people in decision making, and for enhancing partnerships and capacity building between institutions. In part, the successful practices and programmes described in this book are a follow up to the Earth Summit Conference and the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and, hence, provide examples of understudied measures by Southern nations to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity.

On the eve of the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in autumn 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended five specific areas as focal points of discussion for the global forum: Water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity. In his address, "Towards a Sustainable Future," delivered just four months before the WSSD, Secretary General Annan contended that concrete progress in each of these areas, often referred to by their acronym WEHAB, would be key to improving the quality of life not only in the developing world but across the globe. For most people, I think it is fair to say that the inclusion of biodiversity in a list that focuses on basic human needs may not be self-evident. Water, energy, health and agriculture, yes. But why biodiversity? The truth is that biodiversity is just as critical to global well-being as water, energy, agriculture and health. This is because biodiversity both drives and shapes nature's intricate and dynamic structure in an enduring form and force that enables both current and future generations to enjoy its bounty.

Of all the books written about the problems of sustainable development and environmental protection, Sustainable Development: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy is one of the first to examine the role of science, economics and law, and ethics as generally applied to decision making on sustainable development, particularly in respect to the recommendations contained in Agenda 21. Specifically, the book examines the role, capabilities, and certain strengths and weaknesses of these disciplines and their ethical implications in the context of sustainable development problems. Such an analysis is necessary to determine whether sustainable development problems create important new challenges and problems for government so that, where appropriate, new tools or approaches may be designed to overcome limitations or take advantage of the strengths of current scientific, economic and legal capabilities. Audience: Environmental professionals, whether academic, governmental or industrial, or in the private consultancy sector. Also suitable as an upper level text or reference.

Various concepts of ecological sustainability and integrity have been proposed as a means of enhancing the protection of humans and the environment against the threat of human activities. This book follows upon two earlier ones, both published by Kluwer Academic Publishers: Sustainable Development: Science, Ethics and Public Policy (John Lemons and Donald A. Brown, editors), and Perspectives on Ecological Integrity (Laura Westra and John Lemons, editors). In this present book, we bring together scholars in the fields of ecology, public policy, philosophy, and economics in order to explore more fully the concepts of sustainability and ecological integrity as well as the connections between them. First, the concept of sustainability in relation to science, law, and ethics is explored. Second, concepts of sustainability and ecological integrity are applied to problems in specific natural resources. Finally, authors examine possible approaches to public policy which might include concepts of sustainability and ecological integrity. Audience: Environmental professionals, whether academic, governmental or industrial, or in the private consulting sector.Also suitable as an upper level undergraduate or graduate text or reference.