Arising initially from a conference, the papers published here have been integrated into book form to provide information on human activities and the tropical rainforest in the past and present, and on the possible future of the rainforest, in a unique way. Other books have considered some, but not all, of these themes; however, none has stressed the continuity of change over time and its possible outcome for the people of the forest as well as for the forest itself. Because of the approach taken, this book should appeal across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Indeed a prime aim has been to suggest that rainforest, because of its complexity and the complexity of people-rainforest relationships throughout time, deserves study from a broad perspective. This book poses more questions than answers about the rainforest and it is hoped that it will encourage readers to think about the rainforest in a wider way than hitherto. This book is aimed at geographers (physical and human), social anthropologists, archaeologists, pedologists, foresters and tropical botanists and will be of value to graduates of various disciplines setting out to research the rainforest.

This new edition of the acclaimed Man and Environmental Processes, comprised of chapters contributed by internationally respected researchers, reviews the effect of human activity on the entire range of environmental processes. Provides extensive, up-to-date coverage of human influence upon processes in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere and how it relates to questions of management. Material from the first edition has been substantially updated and revised, and four new chapters have been added which provide introductory coverage of the theme of human activity and environmental processes in oceans and lakes, and African vegetation and desertification.

The Encyclopedia of the Biosphere features comprehensive coverage of the earth's greatest ecosystems, their characteristics and their operations. The Encyclopedia explains how these ecosystems have been transformed by human activity, while presenting the main species inhabiting each region. The text in each volume is clearly organized into four distinct sections covering the ecosystem's environmental factors, plants and animal ecology, human influences and biosphere reserves. Eleven fully-illustrated, 4-color volumes present in a contemporary, dynamic manner, the earth's principal ecosystems and the better known species of flora and fauna.

Through a series of three classroom-tested activities, high school students explore the implications of human activity - especially their own - as a part of a process that includes economic development and the environment. They get an opportunity to exercise their skills in following instructions, dealing with concepts, working with others and applying new knowledge.