Drawing on research from eleven countries across four continents, the 16 chapters in the volume bring perspectives from various specialties in anthropology and human ecology, institutional analysis, historical and political ecology, geography, archaeology, and land change sciences. The four sections of the volume reflect complementary approaches to HEI: health and adaptation approaches, land change and landscape management approaches, institutional and political-ecology approaches, and historical and archaeological approaches.
This textbook explores the growing area of human-environment interaction. We live in the Anthropocene, an era dominated by humans, but also by the positive yet destructive environmental feedbacks that are poised to completely reset the relationships between nature and society. Modern and historic political, social, and cultural processes and physical landscape responses determine the intensity of these impacts. Yet different cultural groups, political and economic entities view, react to, and impact these human-environmental processes in spatially distinct and divergent ways. Providing an accessible, up-to-date, approach to human-environment interactions with balanced coverage of both social and natural science approaches to core environmental issues, this textbook is an integrative, multi-disciplinary offering that discusses environmental issues and processes within the context of human societies. The book begins by addressing the three most pressing issues of our time: climate change, threshold exceedance, and the 6th mass extinction. From there the authors identify within chapters on resources, population, agriculture and urbanization what precipitated and continues to sustain these three issues. They end with a chapter outlining some practical solutions to our human-environment crises. The book will be a valuable resource for interdisciplinary environment related courses bridging the gap between the social and natural sciences, human geographies and physical geographies.
The impacts of climate change on human societies, and the roles those societies themselves play in altering their environments, appear in headlines more and more as concern over modern global climate change intensifies. Increasingly, archaeologists and paleoenvironmental scientists are looking to evidence from the human past to shed light on the processes which link environmental and cultural change. Establishing clear contemporaneity and correlation, and then moving beyond correlation to causation, remains as much a theoretical task as a methodological one. This book addresses this challenge by exploring new approaches to human-environment dynamics and confronting the key task of constructing arguments that can link the two in concrete and detailed ways. The contributors include researchers working in a wide variety of regions and time periods, including Mesoamerica, Mongolia, East Africa, the Amazon Basin, and the Island Pacific, among others. Using methodological vignettes from their own research, the contributors explore diverse approaches to human-environment dynamics, illustrating the manifold nature of the subject and suggesting a wide variety of strategies for approaching it. This book will be of interest to researchers and scholars in Archaeology, Paleoenvironmental Science, Ecology, and Geology.
The Holocene is unique when compared to earlier geological time in that humans begin to alter and manipulate the natural environment to their own needs. Domestication of crops and animals and the resultant intensification of agriculture lead to profound changes in the impact humans have on the environment. Conversely, as human populations began to increase geologic and climatic factors begin to have a greater impact on civilizations. To understand and reconstruct the complex interplay between humans and the environment over the past ten thousand years requires examination of multiple differing but interconnected aspects of the environment and involves geomorphology, paleoecology, geoarchaeology and paleoclimatology. These Springer Briefs volumes examine the dynamic interplay between humans and the natural environment as reconstructed by the many and varied sub-fields of the Earth Sciences.
Environmental Social Science offers a new synthesis of environmental studies, defining the nature of human-environment interactions and providing the foundation for a new cross-disciplinary enterprise that will make critical theories and research methods accessible across the natural and social sciences. Makes key theories and methods of the social sciences available to biologists and other environmental scientists Explains biological theories and concepts for the social sciences community working on the environment Helps bridge one of the difficult divides in collaborative work in human-environment research Includes much-needed descriptions of how to carry out research that is multinational, multiscale, multitemporal, and multidisciplinary within a complex systems theory context
Human impact on our environment is not a new phenomenon. For millennia, humans have been coping with - or provoking - environmental change. We have exploited, extracted, over-used, but also in many cases nurtured, the resources that the geosphere offers. Geoarchaeology studies the traces of human interactions with the geosphere and provides the key to recognizing landscape and environmental change, human impacts and the effects of environmental change on human societies. This collection of papers from around the world includes case studies and broader reviews covering the time period since before modern human beings came into existence up until the present day. To understand ourselves, we need to understand that our world is constantly changing, and that change is dynamic and complex. Geoarchaeology provides an inclusive and long-term view of human-geosphere interactions and serves as a valuable aid to those who try to determine sustainable policies for the future.
This volume contains a selection of fourteen papers presented at the Red Sea VI conference held at Tabuk University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2013. It sheds light on many aspects related to the environmental and biological perspectives, history, archaeology and human culture of the Red Sea, opening the door to more interdisciplinary research in the region. It stimulates a new discourse on different human adaptations to, and interactions with, the environment. With contributions by Andre Antunes, K. Christopher Beard, Ahmed Hussein, Emad Khalil, Solène Marion de Procé, Abdirachid Mohamed, Ania Kotarba-Morley, Sandra Olsen, Andrew Peacock, Eleanor Scerri, Pierre Schneider, Marijke Van Der Veen and Chiara Zazzaro.
Gene Environment Interactions: Nature and Nurture in the Twenty-first Century offers a rare, synergistic view of ongoing revelations in gene environment interaction studies, drawing together key themes from epigenetics, microbiomics, disease etiology, and toxicology to illuminate pathways for clinical translation and the paradigm shift towards precision medicine. Across eleven chapters, Dr. Smith discusses interactions with the environment, human adaptations to environmental stimuli, pathogen encounters across the centuries, epigenetic modulation of gene expression, transgenerational inheritance, the microbiome's intrinsic effects on human health, and the gene-environment etiology of cardiovascular, metabolic, psychiatric, behavioral and monogenic disorders. Later chapters illuminate how our new understanding of gene environment interactions are driving advances in precision medicine and novel treatments. In addition, the book's author shares strategies to support clinical translation of these scientific findings to improve heath literacy among the general population. Offers a thorough, interdisciplinary discussion on recent revelations from gene environment interaction studies Illuminates environmental factors affecting disease-gene etiology and treatment Supports the clinical translation of gene environment interaction findings into novel therapeutics and precision medicine
"Human Environment Interactions" is an enlightening and comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between humans and their environment. This groundbreaking book delves into the multifaceted ways in which our everyday actions impact the world around us and, in turn, how environmental changes shape human societies, cultures, and behaviors. At the heart of this book is a detailed examination of the dynamic interplay between human activities and the environment. From the widespread effects of urbanization and industrialization to the subtle influences of cultural practices, the book presents a holistic view of how human actions have shaped landscapes, ecosystems, and climate. Equally, it explores how environmental factors like climate change, biodiversity loss, and natural disasters affect human societies, economies, and health. The book stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from ecology, sociology, geography, and more. This rich blend of perspectives provides a more nuanced understanding of the complex human-environment interactions. Chapters on theoretical frameworks introduce readers to cutting-edge concepts and tools, such as ecological and social-ecological systems theories, aiding in the comprehension of these complex interactions. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to discussing the human impact on the environment. It brings to light recent trends in deforestation, urbanization, agriculture, and resource extraction, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues. The text also highlights growing concerns over unprotected lands crucial for human well-being and biodiversity, underscoring the delicate balance between human needs and environmental preservation. Conversely, the book also delves into the environmental impact on human societies. It presents the latest findings on climate change, biodiversity loss, and natural disasters, offering a sobering look at the challenges we face. Emerging concerns like drinking water scarcity and waste production are also thoroughly examined, painting a comprehensive picture of the environmental challenges impacting human life. The book does not stop at outlining problems; it actively explores solutions. It showcases interdisciplinary and technological approaches, including the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and new technologies in environmental research. The discussion extends to cultural and indigenous perspectives, offering unique insights into indigenous knowledge and cultural practices and their role in environmental management. Practical applications and real-world examples are abundant in the book's case studies. These range from conservation efforts to urbanization challenges, providing tangible illustrations of human-environment interactions. The economic and policy dimensions are also explored, with a focus on market-based environmental policies and their impacts. Social justice and environmental equity receive significant attention, with discussions on environmental racism and the evolving landscape of environmental justice movements. The book also delves into human behavior and sustainability, presenting new findings on pro-environmental behaviors and psychological perspectives. Governance and policy innovations, particularly the effectiveness of international environmental agreements and local governance, are critically assessed. The book also offers insights into resilience and adaptation strategies, highlighting community resilience through case studies. Ethical considerations are not overlooked, with thorough discussions on environmental ethics and value systems. The role of technology and innovation in addressing environmental challenges, particularly in renewable energy and pollution control, is another key focus. The book further explores education and communication strategies.
