Protected Land: Disturbance, Stress, and American Ecosystem Management (Springer Series on Environmental Management)

Book Details

• Author: Douglas J. Spieles

• Publisher: Springer

• Edition: 2010 ed.

• Binding: Hardcover

• Format: Import

• Number of Pages: 166

• Release Date: 14-09-2010

• EAN: 9781441968128

• Package Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches

• Languages: English

About The Book:
This volume presents a sobering assessment of the state of Earth's ecosystems, which are increasingly under stress due to human activities. Much of the planet's biomes, including temperate forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, and coral reefs, are no longer able to support the diverse biological communities they once did. This decline is primarily due to land conversion for human use, such as agriculture, urban development, and resource extraction. Additionally, aquatic ecosystems, such as wetlands and mangrove swamps, have been severely impacted, with many ecosystems lost or significantly altered in recent decades.

The book underscores the widespread impact of human activities, noting the substantial loss of natural habitats across terrestrial and aquatic environments. The author delves into the anthropogenic stressors that continue to degrade these ecosystems and emphasizes the fragmented nature of the remaining ecosystems, which are often subject to multiple stressors. This work highlights the urgency of addressing these challenges and provides a crucial perspective on the current status of Earth's ecosystems in light of ongoing environmental changes.