Perspectives on Ecological Integrity

by L. Westra (Editor), J. Lemons (Editor)

Overview

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. This book offers a number of perspectives to stimulate and inform future discussion on the importance and consequences of ecological integrity for science, morality and public policy.
Audience: Environmental professionals, whether academic, governmental or industrial, or working in the private consultancy sector. Also suitable as an upper-level reference text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789401042024
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	10/02/2012
Series:	Environmental Science and Technology Library , #5
Edition description:	1995
Pages:	279
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- Conceptual Dimensions of Integrity.- 2 Ecosystem Integrity and Sustainability: The Foundational Value of the Wild.- 3 Ecological Integrity: Reclaiming Lost Connections.- 4 Embracing Complexity: The Challenge of the Ecosystem Approach.- 5 Ecological Integrity and Sustainability: Buzzwords in Conflict?.- 6 Ecosystem Integrity: A Causal Necessity.- 7 Ecosystem Integrity in a Context of Ecostudies as Related to the Great Lakes Region.- 8 Universal Environmental Sustainability and the Principle of Integrity.- Integrity: Science, Ethics, and Policy.- 9 Hard Ecology, Soft Ecology, and Ecosystem Integrity.- 10 Science for the Post Normal Age.- 11 The Value of Integrity.- Case Studies and Practical Consequences of Applying Integrity.- 12 Ecological Integrity and National Parks.- 13 The Importance of Landscape in Ecosystem Integrity: The Example of Everglades Restoration Efforts.- 14 Integrity, Sustainability, Biodiversity and Forestry.- 15 The Global Population, Food, and the Environment.- 16 Sustainable Development and Economic Growth.- 17 Ethical Obligations of Multinational Corporations to the Global Environment: The McDonald’s Corporation and Conservation.

Editorial Reviews

‘Appropriately assuming that environmental policy is both a matter of science and ethics, this book compellingly argues that ecosystem integrity should be the goal of environmental policy.'
Donald A. Brown, Director Bureau of Hazardous Sites and Superfund Enforcement, Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Resources, Harrisburg
‘Westra and Lemons have done an admirable job fleshing out the debate on the role of ecological integrity in environmental decisionmaking.'
Margaret Mellon, Director Biotechnology and Agricultural Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, D.C.

From the Publisher

Furthers the effort to constructing a philosophical and scientific foundation for the concept of ecological integrity, which has been proposed as a criteria for public policy and decision making to protect biological and ecological resources against threats from human activities. Looks at conceptual dimensions such as reclaiming lost connections, the foundational value of the wild, complexity, and sustainability. Science, ethics, and policy get a chapter each, then six case studies demonstrate practical consequences of applying integrity in such contexts as national parks, forestry, the global food supply, economic growth, and McDonald's as an example of multinational corporations. Suitable as an advanced undergraduate text. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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