Book Description

The rate at which the planet is losing its biodiversity, the implications of this loss, and possible remedies are the subject of much public and academic debate. This book shows how biodiversity can be protected through the involvement of local communities. The authors suggest that strict protection of threatened areas must be combined with involvement by local economies and societies. The book examines the experience of regions around the world where this approach has been tried, drawing upon the insights of political scientists, economists and social psychologists. ... Read more

Book Description

With more than $3.7 billion in assets and annual revenue of $800 million, the Nature Conservancy has generated staggering growth that would be the envy of any business. Incorporated in 1951 by a small circle of concerned ecologists, the Conservancy has grown financially into the world's largest environmental organization. It has one million members--up from 500,000 in 1990--and 3,500 employees operating in 50 states and 28 countries across the world. Nature's Keepers offers readers an inspirational leadership tale and management chronicle, as it goes behind the scenes and details the inner workings of the Nature Conservancy. Highlighting the efforts of nine extraordinary leaders, Nature's Keepers examines the organization's culture and management, strategy and decisions, and courageous and ingenious individuals who have dedicated their lives to conservation. Author Bill Birchard reveals how the Conservancy's sometimes controversial business practices--entrepreneurial approaches to preserving ecosystems while meeting human needs--have earned the praise of management gurus such as Peter Drucker. The Conservancy's way of operating, though not free of failings, is both widely emulated in the nonprofit community and greatly respected by business scholars and CEOs nationwide. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

First clear picture of a complicated organization
He gets it.Birchard did a remarkable job distilling what and who made the Conservancy tick at every stage of its development.He captures the genius and passion of stars like Noonan and Jenkins.The dramatic struggles in the formative years were news to me, even though I worked at The Conservancy for 20 years.Others have tried before to penetrate this extremely complicated enterprise and capture the essence of the organization but nothing I have seen captures the pearls of organizational development like this book.Recommended reading for every charity's staff and board.I hoped the book had room to show how much fun we had- such as the hilarious story of the Aggassiz Glacier, a ficitious land project that staff almost got through the Board of Governors. Maybe in the next book.And I thank the author for re-inforcing my own pride in having worked so hard on the Conservancy's mission.

Well written, a great read
This is a well-researched, well-written book that paints a vivid picture of the politics and complexities of an organization -- even one as well-intentioned as the Nature Conservancy.

This would make an excellent book for classes in management and leadership.

A great success story
You don't need to be an environmentalist to love this book.The Nature Conservancy is not only the world's largest environmental organizations but one of the most effective.Having worked at other environemtal groups, watching the Conservancy's tremendous growth over the years, I was just amazed and wondered what they were doing to achieve such success.Now Nature's Keepers explains it all.What I really liked was that it was a real honest appraisal about the organization including the mistakes it made and the troubles it faced.It is a great lesson about how to face and overcome challenges to ultimately make your organization stronger. ... Read more

Book Description

Barry Field’s Environmental Economics, 3e, examines all the facets of the connection between environmental quality and the economic behavior of individuals and groups of people. The book contains 21 chapters covering Cost and Benefits of Environmental Policy, Environmental Analysis, Policy Analysis, US Policy (Air Pollution, Toxic Wastes, State and Local Issues), and International Environmental Issues.Barry Field’s other text with McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Natural Resource Economics (©2001), may be packaged with Environmental Economics, 3e, at a discount. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Intro to Environ reesource economics
This book holds an excewllent treatment of the range and focus of topics which fall under the environmental resource economics realm.The author addresses both the fundamentals and advanced social concepts mixed withexcellent examples of the economic principles which resource managers mustmake during the policy process and the inherent problems these policiespresent.A must read for anyone interested in working in the publicsector. ... Read more

Book Description

How will the world's climate change in the coming century? The answer to this question depends on how human societies develop in terms of demographics and economic development, technological change, energy supply and demand, and land use change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios describes new scenarios of the future, and predicts greenhouse gas emissions associated with such developments. The scenarios provide the basis for future assessments of climate change and possible response strategies. This volume is the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art assessment available of greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, and provides invaluable information for industry, policy-makers, environmental organizations, and researchers in global change, technology, engineering and economics. ... Read more

Book Description

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are expected to addconsiderable productivity to existing transportation infrastructure and to thereforepartially reduce the need for more physical infrastructure such as additional lanes ofroadway. But there are huge barriers to achieving this vision ranging from the technical tothe institutional. In this book a new outcome oriented methodology is developed andapplied to a diverse set of ITS case studies in an effort to gain insight into the barriers todeployment. The case studies, most from the National Capital Region (Washington) inthe US, include but are not limited to evaluation of electronic tolling, truck roll overwarning systems, Advanced Traffic Information Systems (ATIS), variable message signs(VMS), ITS enhanced emergency management systems and ITS bridge operations. Theevaluation methodology bears similarity to the benefit/cost balance sheet approach. Fullcost (benefit) assessment is adopted with multiple externalities (environment, economicdevelopment, social equity issues, etc.) formally included in each of the individualevaluations.

Transportation policymakers as well as scholars and students of economics, public policyand political science will find this study useful and informative. ... Read more

Book Description

In recent years a startling policy innovation has emerged within global and domestic environmental governance: certification systems that promote socially responsible business practices by turning to the market, rather than the state, for rule-making authority. This book documents five cases in which the Forest Stewardship Council, a forest certification program backed by leading environmental groups, has competed with industry and landowner-sponsored certification systems for legitimacy.

The authors compare the politics behind forest certification in five countries. They reflect on why there are differences regionally, discuss the impact the Forest Stewardship Council has had on other certification programs, and assess the ability of private forest certification to address global forest deterioration.


... Read more

Reviews (9)

Free Book, Anyone?
A major underlying assumption in our society today is that growth is good. We need growth! Growth is good for business, good for the community, good for you and me.

Except, of course, that it doesn't work that way.

Who sez?

Eben Fodor, that's who. Fodor is a professional community planning consultant from Eugene, Oregon. He has written a book that defies the conventional wisdom, and backs it up with solid evidence. Its title is "Better Not Bigger: How to Take Control of Urban Growth and Improve Your Community" (New Society Publishers, 1999).

Chapter 3 is called "The 12 Big Myths of Growth". Most of these myths are so deeply entrenched that people never even question them. However, Fodor refers to authoritative studies showing that just the opposite is true in each case. ... I will buy a copy of this book for any Asheville area politician or business leader who asks me. If you would like to see your representative get a copy, please call him or her and tell them to get their order in! ...

Right on Target!
This book was terrific! I had bought this book to help enhance my understanding of a controversial $1 billion plus expansion project in my community. Eben Fodor's comments and insights were 100% right on target. This book was like a blueprint as to how this mega deal is being forced down the throats of the citizens of my community. From the elistist few of the "urban growth machine" that would benefit from this project, to the creation of a false sense of urgency to push through our city council for a 30 year tax break for the developer, to the p.r. blitz offering up false either/or choices...everything discussed in "Better not Bigger" is happening in my hometown. This is absolutely "must reading" for anyone who wants to understand how the "urban growth machine" can ruin community. What Eben Fodor teaches is that smart growth is better then stupid growth. If you care about the community you call "home".....read this book!

Right on Target
This book was terrific! I bought this book to help enhance my understanding of a controversial over $1 billion mall expansion project in my community. Fodor's comments and insight were 100% right on target. From the elitist few who would benefit from it pushing this mega deal, to creation of a false sense of urgency to rush through a 30 year tax break to the developers, to offering up false either/or choices......this book was like a blueprint to how this project is being forced on the taxpayers. I found it extremely insightful and enlightening and would recommend it as absolute "must reading" for anyone who wishes to understand how the urban growth machine can ruin a community. The bottom line is that smarter growth is better then stupid growth, and that is what Eben Fodor teaches those of us who truly care about our community.

Fodor doesn't offer any viable solutions
I have read many books on the subject of tackling suburban sprawl. Although the solutions offered by these books vary, they can be summarized as such: (1) Limit sprawl in rural areas and redirect it to higher-density redevelopment of existing urban and suburban areas. (2) Provide a viable alternative to automobile dependency in the form of walkable communities and quality public transit. Fodor ignores these solutions and instead proposes that individual communities should banish all growth from their jurisdictions. This is an easy trap to fall into, since for the last 50 years, most growth has been in the suburban sprawl mold, which is profitable for developers but generally damaging to communities and the environment. What Fodor fails to mention is that stopping growth in "your community" creates more sprawl in rural areas where there are fewer protesting residents. This growth will likely be of a lower density, and more car-dependant than the growth you had banished from "your community". If you want a more far-sighted view of what to do about suburban sprawl, read J.H. Kunstler's "The Geography of nowhere", or Newman & Kenworthy's "Sustainability and Cities".

Eye-opening!
I was stunned at how well this book describes the real impacts of growth. I have watched overgrowth in two small towns so far (one of them my hometown), and each time the developers and local government kept assuring us that it was good for us all -- when in fact the developer made millions and the rest of us, including the local government, suffered profound losses in quality of life and economic factors.

Page after page, I read this book and went "Wow!" I only wish I'd been able to read it ten years ago -- maybe I could have made a difference in the ugly things that happened to my beloved home town. ... Read more

Book Description

This book reviews techniques of dynamic optimization and shows how they can be applied to the management of various resource systems. In addition, it highlights the theory, models, and methods employed in the discipline of resource economics.Professors Conrad and Clark have written this text under the premise that the theory and concepts in this field are more quickly learned and made operational through numerical examples. By working through the problems at the end of each chapter, readers will learn the techniques that may be used in empirical studies of natural resources systems. Specifically, the chapters deal with renewable resources, nonrenewable resources, environmental management, and stochastic resource models, in addition to dynamic optimization. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

This concise introduction to environmental science uses basic and easily comprehendible scientific laws, principles, and concepts to help students understand environmental and resource problems and possible solutions to these problems. It is a shorter alternative to Miller's LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT (which is 864 pages long). It includes many full-color illustrations and photographs and a writing style that is clear, personal, and lively. Extensive reviewing by hundreds of experts and Miller's careful research covering more than 10,000 sources ensure the text's accuracy and currency. The book's 412 illustrations are designed to present complex ideas in understandable ways and to relate learning to the real world. During the early 1970's, Miller's texts helped shape and define the environmental science course. Since 1975 Miller's books have been the most widely used environmental science texts in the United States and the world. His books have been published in five languages and have been used by more than two million students. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Biased indoctrination thinly disguised as a college text.
Be wary of any economics book that tries to teach you science. And avoid any science book that tries to teach you economics. I can only describe myself as speechless as I read chapter two, 'Environmental Economics, Politics, and Worldviews'. I would expect some coverage of the political and economic issues that surround environmental science, but Mr. Miller goes out of his way to present his political views as the One True Path and all other views as evil. There are no opposing points, no mention that other opinions might also have merit. His description of capitalism would be laughable if I and thousands of other college students around the world weren't being taught them in class.

On top of this, some web searches turn up other problems with this text. The book does not meet the 'Fairness and Accuracy' guidelines of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Mr. Miller was criticized by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) for citing only references that supported his viewpoints (and even then, he didn't provide proper references). Another comment from 'The Textbook Letter' magazine describes this book as well as I could ever hope to "The [Miller] book is so insistent in promoting its worldview that it could serve as a model for education-with-indoctrination."

No matter your viewpoint, I think everyone can agree that purposeful bias is not something that is conducive to good learning. I would recommend avoiding this book and finding another less-biased text. ... Read more

Book Description

The new edition of this text has been fully updated throughout and features expanded sections on issues such as global warming, biotechnology, and energy. Global Issuesis an introduction to the nature and background of some of the central issues - economic, social, political, environmental - of modern times. It will provide the basis for a stimulating course for beginning students in departments of geography, politics, sociology and environmental science. The book opens with an overview of the complex political, cultural and natural origins of world problems and of why some nations are rich and some are poor. The author then discusses in depth such issues as population growth, hunger, the extinction of species, global warming and climatic change, ozone depletion, energy conservation, deforestation, and the misuse of technology.The book covers a range of perspectives on a diversity of societies, developed and developing. The author writes clearly, stressing the need, by argument and by exemplification, for informed, critical thinking. Students are shown both the decisions that have been made - and the resulting failures and successes - and the choices that must now be faced if crucial problems are to be solved.The book is extensively illustrated with diagrams and photographs, contains guides to further reading, media, and internetresources, and includes suggestions for discussion and studying the material. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent one volume intro to how all the issues connect.
I used this book as text for high school "Global Studies" courses, and thought it was terrific in its understandable but not watered down treatment of the big issues -- war, hunger, women's rights,population, environment, etc.Shows how these issues relate to each other.It was a stretch for 9th graders, but would be perfect for high schoolseniors or college intro. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fascinating, but error prone
Full of quotations of classics and poetry, written as literature with wonderful similes and metaphors, this "Biography of Water" roams from ancient civilizations to outer planets. The middle third was the most satisfactory, with details of the various forms of ice, how organisms cope with freezing, and what makes water so unusual. Explanations of its hydrogen bonding patterns and how they might change to make ice less dense than liquid water, and the funny shrinkage of water above its melting point and are all interesting. The many functions of water in biological systems, right down to the molecular level are given, and there are a number of cleverly done diagrams.
Ball's major blunder in this middle part was his complete failure to explain what holds normal liquids together, that is, what are the van der Waals forces (p165)? This leads to an absurd reason for the cohesion cell membranes, where the hydrocarbon tails of lipid bilayers are said to be held together merely by their repulsion of water (p253). Most college chemistry texts do better on both counts (including Linus Pauling, "General Chemistry", 3rd ed., 1965). The UV light from the sun is presented as detrimental only (p235). Ball seems unaware that vitamin D is formed from the action of UVB on cholesterol in the skin, and that there is less cancer the closer humans live to the equator. In recounting all the effects on the development of life (atmospheric composition, heat, cold, nutrients), Ball ignores the contribution of 10 times the radioactivity the Earth now has in promoting chemical reactions and mutations long ago (see T. D. Luckey, "Radiation Hormesis", 1991).
More minor problems are speaking of a vacuum "sucking" (p240), the pH of stomach acid as 1 rather than 1-3 (p247), missing the true function of the Glomar Challenger as a submarine salvage vessel (p47), a confusion of the effect of pressure on a melting point by comparing with the effect of pressure on the the boiling point of water (p51), implying that the reaction of sulfur dioxide with water gives sulfuric acid (p101) rather than sulfurous acid, and that paraffin wax has a viscosity anywhere near as low as 15 centipoises (p282).
It is when Ball enters the realm of politicized science that serious misinformation flows. Water vapor is by far the most important greenhouse gas and human activities add plenty of it to the atmosphere by irrigation, burning methane which puts 2 molecules of water into the air with just 1 of carbon dioxide, of burning gasoline, jet and diesel fuel, unlike p66. See "Hot Talk, Cold Science" by S. Fred Singer. Cold fusion has been replicated in half a dozen laboratories; the reality of the effect cannot be dismissed by ignoring the publications and merely listing ones that do not show the effect) (p307). See "Excess Heat" by Charles G. Beaudette, 2001. Memory effects in water at really high dilutions are real (see Lionel Milgrom, New Scientist, 11 Jun 03). Homeopathy effects were demonstrated against placebo in trials (BMJ 1991;302:316-323), all contrary to p334.
Read this "chocolate and cherry syrup coated" book at your own risk.

--Joel M. Kauffman 20 May 04

Thorough, interesting and multifaceted
Wow. At first having noted the author's vita on the cover, I wasn't certain that an individual trained "only" in chemistry and physics could adequately write a book that was "obviously" about geology. As I read on, however, I realized that Phillip Ball's intention really was to write a "biography of water" as the subtitle suggested. The book in fact contains information about water from almost every perspective: from the origins of its constituent elements oxygen and hydrogen in cosmological processes to it's social and political effects in the modern world. The book covers it all. Because I have almost a complete degree in geology, I enjoyed most particularly the geological effects of water including its effects on geomorphology, its impact on glacial formation, its effect on climate and ocean physics, etc. The author lost me a little in his discussion of the chemistry and physics of the substance, but I still found what I understood of it very instructive. Water's function in the evolution of life and in the biochemistry of cellular metabolism was also interesting to me since I enjoy studying evolution-paleontolgoy and earth history were my major focus in studying geology--and I also am a nurse caring for patients whose fluid and electrolyte status arises from the cellular effects of water.

Probably the most important messages in the book, however, are those regarding conservation and utilization of water resources. Certainly the information about the disparity of water availability and quality between the western and 3rd world countries, between urban and rural use, and between countries and states that have competing interests in a particular watershed were very enlightening. It was surprising to learn that part of the problems of the Middle East revolve around water availability and use. These issues certainly provide previews to future problems that will almost certainly arise globally in the not too distant future!

A very thorough, interesting and multifaceted book.

Water, Water Everywhere
We live on the planet called Earth. That just shows our chauvinism and inability to see the larger picture. The planet ought to be called Water. As Philip Ball points out in _Life's Matrix: A Biography of Water_ (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux), water covers two thirds of the globe, and seen from space, water in its three different states is what determines what Earth looks like. It also determines that every other heavenly body we have been able to see looks to us like a lifeless orb. It is water that defines life for us, and when we go poking our noses into other planets, one of the first things we try to find is water. So no wonder that Ball has called this a biography.

And like a good biography, the book covers all the aspects of his subject. He goes into the origins of water back to the big bang. He shows how we found it on the moon and Mars, and of all places, our Sun. Since he is a doctor of physics, it is not really surprising that he looks at the chemistry and physics of his subject, detailing why ice expands, and why you can ski on solid water but not on asphalt. He tells how its currents run the oceans, and how we don't completely understand the molecular happenings in water flow, or in the formation of snowflakes. He tells us about the dire problems we could have if we don't start handling this most precious and most taken-for-granted resource with more wisdom. He reports at length on the foolishness of cold fusion of heavy water, or of polywater.

In short, this book wonderfully covers every aspect of water you could think of. Ball writes with humor and excellent analogies, and even when the science gets complicated, he is an excellent guide.

Unexpected Wonders
We live on the planet called Earth. That just shows our chauvinism and inability to see the larger picture. The planet ought to be called Water. As Philip Ball points out in _Life's Matrix: A Biography of Water_ (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux), water covers two thirds of the globe, and seen from space, water in its three different states is what determines what Earth looks like. It also determines that every other heavenly body we have been able to see looks to us like a lifeless orb. It is water that defines life for us, and when we go poking our noses into other planets, one of the first things we try to find is water. So no wonder that Ball has called this a biography.

And like a good biography, the book covers all the aspects of his subject. He goes into the origins of water back to the big bang. He shows how we found it on the moon and Mars, and of all places, our Sun. Since he is a doctor of physics, it is not really surprising that he looks at the chemistry and physics of his subject, detailing why ice expands, and why you can ski on solid water but not on asphalt. He tells how its currents run the oceans, and how we don't completely understand the molecular happenings in water flow, or in the formation of snowflakes. He tells us about the dire problems we could have if we don't start handling this most precious and most taken-for-granted resource with more wisdom. He reports at length on the foolishness of cold fusion of heavy water, or of polywater.

In short, this book wonderfully covers every aspect of water you could think of. Ball writes with humor and excellent analogies, and even when the science gets complicated, he is an excellent guide.

science for us non-scientists
Philip Ball, a precocious young editor and writer at the British science journal Nature, with whose work I was previously unfamiliar, is apparently the hot new thing among popular science writers. Based on the evidence of this book, it's easy to see why folks like him so much.

Ball's thesis and method are apparent from the title. He sets out to demonstrate how central water is to our existence and he does so by tracing it's life history from the Big Bang right up to today. The broad arc of his story allows him to demonstrate a truly remarkable command of disparate topics, ranging from Cosmology to History, Geology to Mythology, and Chemistry to Politics. For someone with my embarrassingly limited science background, there was a little too much theory to absorb in one reading, but any technical confusion is more than made up for by the wealth of non-scientific information he provides. The book is packed with colorful anecdotes, interesting vignettes and fascinating factoids. If it's too much to say that you learn something new on every page, it certainly seemed to be true.

If I have one complaint with the book, it is that Ball has done such a good job of demonstrating how ubiquitous and remarkable water is, that by the time he gets to the dire environmental warnings about our wastefulness that conclude the book, it's sort of hard to take them too seriously. This section also tends to turn the biography into a bit of a melodramatic cliffhanger. He can hardly be blamed for not knowing water's ultimate fate, but there is a certain lack of closure to his tale.

There are a number of popular science writers I particularly recommend: Jacob Bronowski (The Ascent of Man), Daniel Boorstin (The Discoverers), Lewis Thomas (The Lives of a Cell : Notes of a Biology Watcher), Carl Sagan (The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence ), Richard Rhodes (The Making of the Atomic Bomb), Stephen Hawking (A Brief History of Time: from the Big Bang to Black Holes) and Thomas Kuhn (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions) have all written classics and among more recent authors Timothy Ferris (Coming of Age in the Milky Way) and David Quammen (The Flight of the Iguana : A Sidelong View of Science and Nature) are especially good. I don't know that Philip Ball belongs in such exalted company already, but I'm certainly interested to see what he writes about next.

GRADE: B+ ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Introduction!
I bought a few copies of this book for new people who may not be related to our usability group but may need to understand what the disipline is all about.

I thought it did a great job of teaching this topic to people who have never seen this stuff before. In fact the people who read it really enjoyed it. Its something like 100 pages long, so its a quick read.

My only beef is the fact that each page has about a zillion words on it, and its easier for me to scream though a book if I feel like I have forward momentum, if even only because I'm flipping pages with relatively few words on it. ... Read more

Book Description

This book brings together a collection of innovative papers on strategies for analyzing the spatial and economic impacts of disasters. Natural and human-induced disasters pose several challenges for conventional modeling. For example, disasters entail complex linkages between the natural, built, and socio-economic environments. They often create chaos and economic disequilibrium, and can also cause unexpected long-term, structural changes. Dynamic interactions among agents and behavioral adjustments in a disaster become complicated. The papers in this volume make notable progress in tackling these challenges through refinements of conventional methods, as well as new modeling frameworks and multidisciplinary, integrative strategies. The papers also provide case study applications that afford new insights on disaster processes and loss reduction strategies.

Book Description

At a time when millions of Americans are facing higher energy costs and less disposable income in their pockets, the newly updated Consumer Guide to Solar Energy can show you how to reduce these costs while actually making your home more comfortable.

The costs of energy for heating, cooling and electricity are at an all-time high in most parts of the country, and many energy experts predict that they will continue to rise. At the same time, there is growing concern about the reliability of an aging and less-than-secure electric grid. Recent events have further emphasized the need for energy security and reduced reliance on imported oil.

Consumer Guide to Solar Energy is a must for those who are tired of power brownouts and blackouts, skyrocketing energy bills and the feeling that there is nothing we can do to help resolve these problems ourselves. Don't wait for utility bill sticker shock to worsen, or sit through another power outage or energy disruption. The new edition of this guide can help readers seize their own destiny, become more self-reliant and use the available technology to make their homes more comfortable and their power bills more affordable.

Two nationally recognized experts on solar energy have updated their classic guide for homeowners and businesses. Learn about numerous new products, proven reliable and effective, which are now available on the shelves of hardware stores, home supply centers and other outlets. The new edition includes updated information on solar energy tax credits and a host of new state programs supporting clean energy. The incentives total more than $3 billion for clean energy installations, and the authors provide a quick guide to accessing these and other consumer benefits. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Timely Advice
Sklar and Sheinkopf know their stuff. They offer practical advice on how to install and use solar energy. The book includes information on tax breaks and how to buy everything you need. This book is a hands-on guide that takes you through the whole process. ... Read more

Book Description

Sustainability may seem like one more buzzword and cities and towns like the last places to change, but The Natural Step for Communities provides inspiring examples of communities that have made dramatic changes toward sustainability and explains how others can emulate their success.

Chronicled in the book are towns like Övertorneå, whose government operations recently became 100 percent fossil fuel-free, demonstrating that unsustainable municipal practices really can be overhauled. Arguing that the process of introducing change-whether converting to renewable energy or designing compact development-is critical to success, the authors outline why well-intentioned proposals often fail to win community approval and why an integrated approach-not "single-issue" initiatives-can surmount challenges of conflicting priorities, scarce resources and turf battles.

The book first clarifies the concept of sustainability, offering guiding principles-the Natural Step framework-that help identify sustainable action in any area. It then introduces the 60+ eco-municipalities of Sweden that have adopted changes to sustainable practices throughout municipal policies and operations. The third section explains how they did it and outlines how other communities in North America and elsewhere can do the same. Key to success is a democratic, "bottom-up" change process and clear guiding sustainability principles, such as the Natural Step framework.

The book will appeal to both general readers wishing to understand better what sustainability means and practitioners interested in introducing or expanding sustainable development in their communities.

Sarah James is the principal of a community planning consulting firm. She co-authored the American Planning Association's Planning for Sustainability Policy Guide and has published articles throughout the U.S. on this subject.

Torbjörn Lahti was the planner for Sweden's first eco-municipality and is directing a five-year sustainable community demonstration project. He was instrumental in forming the Swedish National Association of Eco-municipalities.

Book Description

This innovative, cutting-edge text takes a hands-on, applied approach to the origins of environmental problems, their economic consequences, and the policies that address them. The text presents environmental economic theory and methods in the first five chapters and then applies and reinforces them with illustrations and applications in the subsequent chapters. No other text provides a stronger link between theory and applications. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources
While getting a little long in tooth, this text is an excellent introduction to environmental economics. Unlike many texts in this area, the methodology used in this text is quite similar, although less mathmatically rigorous, to presentations used in graduate studies. ... Read more