Sustaining the World's Wetlands: Setting Policy and Resolving Conflicts (Springer Series on Environmental Management) - Hardcover

Smardon, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387494286 ISBN 13: 9780387494289

Publisher: Springer, 2009

Synopsis

Wetlands throughout the world, including those described in this book are among the most sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems. They are critical habitats to the world’s migratory birds and a broad range of endangered mammal, reptile, amphibian, and plant species. They provide a broad range of flood storage, pollution control, water supply, ecotourism functions to indigenous peoples and country populations as a whole. They are also at the center of severe land and water use conflicts. These are conflicts between counties where wetland resources or the water supplies required for such resources involve more than one country. These are conflicts in use such as conflicts between habitat protection and charcoal production in mangroves. These are conflicts between groups of peoples such as indigenous peoples and hydropower advocates. Many wetlands have already been destroyed by water extractions, dams, levees, channelization, and fills. Others have been degraded by water pollution, overfishing and overhunting, timber harvest, and a host of other activities. This book describes these conflicts and international policies and institutions developed to protect and manage wetland resources. Most of the broader literature and other books on wetlands focuses on wildlife. Wildlife is described in the case studies, which follow. But, Richard Smardon provides us with more. He traces the history of conflicts and the development of policies and insti- tions to protect and manage wetland resources.

About this title

About the Author

Richard C. Smardon is professor of Environmental Studies at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. He has held titles there as Chair of the Faculty and Director of the Graduate Program, and is also the former director of the Randolph G. Pack Environmental Institute.

 

From the Back Cover

Written both as a textbook and as a professional reference book, Sustaining the World's Wetlands: Setting Policy and Resolving Conflicts contains detailed case studies of wetland management worldwide. Examinations of international wetland policy in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America generate a discussion of the differences between wetland management issues in developed and developing countries, and culminate in suggested strategies for the future of wetland management.

Key themes addressed in the case studies include the tradeoffs between sustainable use of wetlands for food, fuel, and fiber versus the protection of ecosystem diversity and stability, and the respective roles of international NGO's, national and regional government, and local community-based organizations when faced with wetland management issues.

With its global scope and its emphasis on policy and management analysis, Sustaining the World's Wetlands is a unique and valuable tool both for students and for practitioners.

About the Author:

Richard C. Smardon is professor of Environmental Studies at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. He has held titles there as Chair of the Faculty and Director of the Graduate Program, and is also the former director of the Randolph G. Pack Environmental Institute.

 

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0387494286
• ISBN 13: 9780387494289
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 342