Tropical Forests: Regional Paths of Destruction and Regeneration in the Late Twentieth Century

by Thomas Rudel

Overview

In Tropical Forests, Rudel analyzes hundreds of local studies from the past twenty years to develop a much-needed, global perspective on deforestation. With separate chapters on individual regions, including South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa, Rudel's work offers an up-to-date assessment of the world's tropical forests. In the concluding chapter, Rudel considers the implications of these trends and describes policy directions for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development in each region.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231131957
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	08/31/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Thomas K. Rudel is a professor in the departments of human ecology and sociology at Rutgers University. He is the author of Tropical Deforestation: Small Farmers and Land Clearing in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Theory and Method in Studying Regional Deforestation Processes
3. Central America and the Caribbean: Island and Isthmus Deforestation
4. The Amazon Basin: The Breakdown of Passive Protection
5. West Africa: From Cocoa Groves in Forests to Food Crops in Scrub Growth
6. Central Africa: Passive Protections for Rain Forests
7. East Africa: Sustainable Spots Surrounded by Degrading Expanses
8. South Asia: A Turning Point for Forests?
9. Southeast Asia: Deforesting the Lowlands, Afforesting the Highlands
10. Through a Regional Lens: Conservation Policies in Large and Small Forests
Appendix: Case Studies and Accompanying QCAs for Each Region
Notes
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Jefferson Fox

Rudel's book synthesizes numerous case studies that have been conducted around the world on the causes of tropical deforestation. This is an important endeavor and Rudel makes a strong argument for what he calls a regional-level analysis of global deforestation. It will be of interest to people studying land-use and land-cover change as well as tropical deforestation.

— Jefferson Fox, senior fellow at the East-West Center, University of Hawaii, Manoa

Editorial Reviews

A lifetime of experience working with tropical forests is utilized in this book to provide an insightful assessment.

Landscape Ecology - Harini Nagendra

Relevant to anyone with an interest in patterns of land use and change.

Southeastern Naturalist

Rudder's book is a work of outstanding scholarship.

Environmental Conservation

It will serve as an excellent update... Highly recommended.

Choice

A compelling, concise, and very readable examination of a broad and complex subject.

Human Ecology - Avrum J. Shriar

A compelling, concise, and very readable examination of a broad and complex subject.

— Avrum J. Shriar

Human Ecology

A lifetime of experience working with tropical forests is utilized in this book to provide an insightful assessment.

— Harini Nagendra

Landscape Ecology