Summary
Following the Soviet invasion in 1979, the Mujahideen defenders of Afghanistan developed and reinforced many natural cave systems to use as supply bases and defensive positions. The Taliban and Al Qaeda further strengthened these positions in the 1990s. Following the events of September 11, 2001, these cave systems have once more come to prominence and sites such as Tora Bora...
A Practitioner's Guide to Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation brings together knowledge and experience from conservation practitioners and experts around the world to help readers understand the global challenge of conserving biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. More importantly, it offers specific strategies and suggestions for managers to use in establishing new conservation initiatives...
The policy guidelines were developed as part of the pilot project 'Incorporating Needs and Roles of Women in Water and Energy Management in Rural Areas in South Asia-Capacity Building in Rural Areas of the Himalayas'. Women were provided with hands on training on the management of energy and water using the training manual developed by the project. The experiences gained were...
Tourism is the world's largest industry and environmentally sustainable tourism or "ecotourism" has become a major area of interest for governments, the private sector and international lending institutions. It is regarded as a way of allowing economic development whilst protecting against environmental degradation, especially in those countries with fragile ecosystems. However, this may not...
Perpetual economic growth is physically impossible on a planet with finite resources. Many concerned with humanity's future have focused on the concept of "sustainable development" as an alternative, as they seek means of achieving current economic and social goals without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own goals. Sustainable development brings together elements...
In the late sixties, as the world was waking to a need for Earth Day, a pioneering group founded a small non-profit research and education organisation they called the New Alchemy Institute. Their aim was to explore the ways a safer and more sustainable world could be created. In the ensuing years, along with scientists, agriculturists, and a host of enthusiastic amateurs and friends, they set...
In this comprehensive and abundantly illustrated book, Allan Schoenherr describes a state with a greater range of landforms, a greater variety of habitats, and more kinds of plants and animals than any area of equivalent size in all of North America. A Natural History of California will familiarise the reader with the climate, rocks, soil, plants and animals in each distinctive region of the...
There have been many "firsts" in Jim Whittaker's life. He was the first North American to summit Mount Everest. As the first manager and employee, and ultimately the CEO, of fledgling Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), he guided the company through years of record-setting growth. He guided Bobby Kennedy up the newly named Mount Kennedy, helping him to become the first person to summit the...
The Appalachian region, extending from Alabama in the South up to the Allegheny highlands of Pennsylvania, has historically been characterised by its largely rural populations, rich natural resources that have fuelled industry in other parts of the country, and the strong and wild, undeveloped land. This land has always profoundly influenced the development of its people. The rugged...
Ecological assessments are critical to land management planning and regulatory decision-making. This book addresses topics of particular importance to strategic integrated ecological assessments at a regional or sub-regional scale. The chapters range from overviews of basic ecological principles and ecosystem characterisation and analysis to systematic reviews of selected case studies. In this...
