Impacts of Land-use Change on Ecosystem Services

Impacts of Land-use Change on Ecosystem Services

Author: Jinyan Zhan

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-08-10

Total Pages: 267

ISBN-13: 3662480085

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book aims to systematically elaborate how land-use change directly or indirectly exerts impacts on the ability of ecosystems to provide services for human society. The relationship between land use, ecosystem services and human well-being is a hot topic, and there have been some important achievements in this field, but its continuing growth means that it warrants further research. The unique viewpoint, the scientific analysis methods and the precise language of this book make it not only a valuable guide for professors conducting research, but also a reference resource to help governments make decisions on relevant policies. Prof. Jinyan Zhan is an associate professor at the School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, China.


Landscape Planning with Ecosystem Services

Landscape Planning with Ecosystem Services

Author: Christina von Haaren

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2019-06-25

Total Pages: 514

ISBN-13: 9402416811

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Human well-being depends in many ways on maintaining the stock of natural resources which deliver the services from which human’s benefit. However, these resources and flows of services are increasingly threatened by unsustainable and competing land uses. Particular threats exist to those public goods whose values are not well-represented in markets or whose deterioration will only affect future generations. As market forces alone are not sufficient, effective means for local and regional planning are needed in order to safeguard scarce natural resources, coordinate land uses and create sustainable landscape structures. This book argues that a solution to such challenges in Europe can be found by merging the landscape planning tradition with ecosystem services concepts. Landscape planning has strengths in recognition of public benefits and implementation mechanisms, while the ecosystem services approach makes the connection between the status of natural assets and human well-being more explicit. It can also provide an economic perspective, focused on individual preferences and benefits, which helps validate the acceptability of environmental planning goals. Thus linking landscape planning and ecosystem services provides a two-way benefit, creating a usable science to meet the needs of local and regional decision making. The book is structured around the Driving forces-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses framework, providing an introduction to relevant concepts, methodologies and techniques. It presents a new, ecosystem services-informed, approach to landscape planning that constitutes both a framework and toolbox for students and practitioners to address the environmental and landscape challenges of 21st century Europe.


Human and Ecological Risk Assessment

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment

Author: Dennis J. Paustenbach

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2024-04-15

Total Pages: 1319

ISBN-13: 111974296X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Understand the fundamentals of human risk assessment with this introduction and reference Human risk assessments are a precondition for virtually all industrial action or environmental regulation, all the more essential in a world where chemical and environmental hazards are becoming more abundant. These documents catalog potential environmental, toxicological, ecological, or other harms resulting from a particular hazard, from chemical spills to construction projects to dangerous workplaces. They turn on a number of variables, of which the most significant is the degree of human exposure to the hazardous agent or process. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment combines the virtues of a textbook and reference work to introduce and analyze these vital documents. Beginning with the foundational theory of human health risk assessment, it then supplies case studies and detailed analysis illustrating the practice of producing risk assessment documents. Fully updated and authored by leading authorities in the field, the result is an indispensable work. Readers of the second edition of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment will also find: Over 40 entirely new case studies reflecting the latest in risk assessment practice Detailed discussion of hazards including air emissions, contaminated food and soil, hazardous waste sites, and many more Case studies from multiple countries to reflect diverse international standards Human and Ecological Risk Assessment is ideal for professionals and advanced graduate students in toxicology, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, environmental science, and all related subjects.


Ecosystems and Human Well-being

Ecosystems and Human Well-being

Author: Joseph Alcamo

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being is the first product of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a four-year international work program designed to meet the needs of decisionmakers for scientific information on the links between ecosystem change and human well-being. The book offers an overview of the project, describing the conceptual framework that is being used, defining its scope, and providing a baseline of understanding that all participants need to move forward. The Millennium Assessment focuses on how humans have altered ecosystems, and how changes in ecosystem services have affected human well-being, how ecosystem changes may affect people in future decades, and what types of responses can be adopted at local, national, or global scales to improve ecosystem management and thereby contribute to human well-being and poverty alleviation. The program was launched by United National Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001, and the primary assessment reports will be released by Island Press in 2005. Leading scientists from more than 100 nations are conducting the assessment, which can aid countries, regions, or companies by: providing a clear, scientific picture of the current sta


Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments

Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments

Author: Dennis J. Timlin

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2022-04-26

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 0891183914

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming Insightful applications of crop system models to developing countries to explore climate change mitigation and management decision tools Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments delivers an authoritative collection of applications of crop system models to Asian and African environments and evaluates current agricultural systems in developing nations. The book provides models to assist in the precision management of soil, water, fertilizers and manures, soil organic matter, alternative crops, and cultivars in both rainfed and irrigated systems. Contributions cover recent and ongoing research in knowledge gap areas such as modeling the long-term effect of management soil health, the effect of extreme temperatures and drought on evapotranspiration and crop growth, root growth and the uptake of water and nutrients. The book also includes An introduction to system models integrated with experiments as tools to develop improved management practices for subsistence farming Explorations of models of soil erosion impacts and trade-offs for sustainable land management practices in Kenya Discussions of the crop simulation model as a tool to quantify the effects of crop management practices in northern Ethiopia In-depth examinations of models of water dynamics for assessing and managing ecosystem services in India Perfect for field research scientists and graduate students studying cropping and range systems, and essential reading for agricultural consultants, progressive farmers, plant breeders, and policymakers. Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling Transdisciplinary Research, Synthesis, and Applications Lajpat R. Ahuja, Series Editor Agricultural system modeling has made substantial progress, but there are still many critical gaps in our knowledge. The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America are taking a leadership role with the initiation of this new series. Future breakthroughs in science and technology lie at the boundaries of disciplines. The new series will Advance critical transdisciplinary research, and its synthesis and quantification Encourage collaboration among top researchers in building and improving models Promote the application of system models to solve practical problems Achieve better instruction in these models and their applications


Pedometrics

Pedometrics

Author: Alex. B. McBratney

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-04-24

Total Pages: 715

ISBN-13: 3319634399

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book presents the basic concepts of quantitative soil science and, within this framework, it seeks to construct a new body of knowledge. There is a growing need for quantitative approach in soil science, which arises from a general demand for improved economic production and environmental management. Pedometrics can be defined as the development and application of statistical and mathematical methods applicable to data analysis problems in soil science. This book shows how pedometrics can address key soil-related questions from a quantitative point of view. It addresses four main areas which are akin to the problems of conventional pedology: (i) Understanding the pattern of soil distribution in character space – soil classification, (ii) Understanding soil spatial and temporal variation, (iii) Evaluating the utility and quality of soil and ultimately, (iv) Understanding the genesis of soil. This is the first book that address these problems in a coherent quantitate approach.


Urban Soils

Urban Soils

Author: Rattan Lal

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2017-10-18

Total Pages: 423

ISBN-13: 149877010X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Globally, 30% of the world population lived in urban areas in 1950, 54% in 2016 and 66% projected by 2050. The most urbanized regions include North America, Latin America, and Europe. Urban encroachment depletes soil carbon and the aboveground biomass carbon pools, enhancing the flux of carbon from soil and vegetation into the atmosphere. Thus, urbanization has exacerbated ecological and environmental problems. Urban soils are composed of geological material that has been drastically disturbed by anthropogenic activities and compromised their role in the production of food, aesthetics of residential areas, and pollutant dynamics. Properties of urban soils are normally not favorable to plant growth—the soils are contaminated by heavy metals and are compacted and sealed. Therefore, the quality of urban soils must be restored to make use of this valuable resource for delivery of essential ecosystem services (e.g., food, water and air quality, carbon sequestration, temperature moderation, biodiversity). Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences Series, Urban Soils explains properties of urban soils; assesses the effects of urbanization on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and water and the impacts of management of urban soils, soil restoration, urban agriculture, and food security; evaluates ecosystem services provisioned by urban soils, and describes synthetic and artificial soils.