It is now well accepted that deforestation is a key source of greenhouse gas emissions and of climate change, with forests representing major sinks for carbon. As a result, public and private initiatives for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) have been widely endorsed by policy-makers. A key issue is the feasibility of carbon trading or other incentives to encourage land-owners and indigenous people, particularly in developing tropical countries, to conserve forests, rather than to cut them down for agricultural or other development purposes.  This book presents a major critique of the aims and policies of REDD as currently structured, particularly in terms of their social feasibility. It is shown how the claims to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as enhance people's livelihoods and biodiversity conservation are unrealistic. There is a naive assumption that technical or economic fixes are sufficient for success. However, the social and governance aspects of REDD, and its enhanced version known as REDD+, are shown to be implausible. Instead to enhance REDD's prospects, the author provides a roadmap for developing a new social contract that puts people first.

Are there any places where women succeed in science? Numerous studies in recent years have documented and lamented a gender gap in science and engineering. From elementary school through college, women's interest in science steadily declines, and as adults, they are less likely to pursue careers in science-related fields.Women's Science offers a dramatic counterpoint not only to these findings but also to the related, narrow assumption that "real science" only occurs in research and laboratory investigation. This book describes women engaged with science or engineering at the margins: an innovative high school genetics class; a school-to-work internship for prospective engineers, an environmental action group, and a nonprofit conservation agency. In these places—where people use or rely on science for public, social, or community purposes—the authors found a remarkably high proportion of women. Moreover, these women were successful at learning and using technical knowledge, they advanced in roughly equal percentages to men, and they generally enjoyed their work.Yet, even in these more marginal workplaces, women had to pay a price. Working outside traditional laboratories, they enjoy little public prestige and receive significantly less financial compensation. Although most employers claimed to treat men and women equally, women in fact only achieved success when they acted like male professionals.Women's Science is an original and provocative contribution that expands our conception of scientific practice as it reconfigures both women's role in science and the meaning of science in contemporary society.

Forests host a disproportionate share of the world's biodiversity. They are increasingly being seen as a refuge for genetic diversity, native species, natural structures, and ecological processes. Yet, intensive forestry threatens their value for biodiversity. The authors present concepts, approaches and case studies illustrating how biodiversity conservation can be integrated into forest management planning. They address ecological patterns and processes taking place at the scale of landscapes, or forest mosaics. This book is intended for students and researchers in conservation biology and natural resource management, as well as forest land managers and policy makers. It presents examples from many forest regions and a variety of organisms. With contributions from researchers that are familiar with forest management and forest managers working in partnership with researchers, this book provides insight and concrete tools to help shape the future of forest landscapes worldwide.

Product Description: 'This book has been written by a team of experts from a wide variety of institutions... The result is by far the most comprehensive and easy to understand treatment of FLR yet written.' ACHIM STEINER (DIRECTOR GENERAL, IUCN) AND MANOEL SOBRAL FILHO (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ITTO), FROM THE PREFACE Forest loss and degradation have caused a decline in the quality of ecosystem services around the world...read more

Product Description: Deforestation is frequently a topic of discussion in the environmental arena, but it is not just the number of trees that matters; the quality of the forest is also important. Even where the forest area is stable or increasing, there are often rapid changes in its character...read more

Product Description: The capability of the microwave radiometric method to determine soil moisture and vegetation biometric indices was revealed a quarter of a century ago by the author and many of his colleagues. In light of many research projects since then, the main objective of this book is to render a systematic account of questions concerning the microwave radiometry of the Earth’s surface in the presence of vegetation canopies...read more

Product Description: 'Whether you are a seasoned conservationist or forestry professional, an aspiring student or simply a concerned citizen, this book is for you' David Kaimowitz, Director General, CIFOR Arrangements for the governance and management of forests have been changing rapidly in recent decades...read more

'Green Alert' introduces readers to environment issues, exploring the causes and effects. It features case studies from around the world, and includes projects to help creative planning, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Product Description: The rapid loss of tropical forests, particularly in the developing world, has been a global concern since the late 1980s and has prompted a variety of international initiatives to save the forests. In 1991, the World Bank responded to global concerns and to criticism by nongovernmental organizations by forming a conservation-oriented forest strategy...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: The risks posed by forest destruction throughout the world are highly significant for all. Not only are forests a critical source of timber and non-timber forest products, but they provide environmental services that are the basis of life on Earth...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Describes different types of forests and where they grow, explains the role trees play in keeping the air clean, and discusses deforestation, acid rain, and forest conservation. (view table of contents)

Product Description: In this classic work of ecology, Chris Maser traces the growth of an ancient forest in Oregon's Cascade Mountains from its fiery birth in the year 987 to the present. A unique biography of an ecosystem, Forest Primeval portrays a diverse fabric of plants, animals, and microorganisms working in unison...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This book addresses the question: how can local and indigenous communities maintain the balance between their societies and their forest environments when faced with increasing external pressures, rising populations and growing demands for basic needs and cash? The case studies in this volume come from all around the world and include tropical, temperate and boreal zones...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Are there any places where women succeed in science? Numerous studies in recent years have documented and lamented a gender gap in science and engineering. From elementary school through college, women's interest in science steadily declines, and as adults, they are less likely to pursue careers in science-related fields...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Briefly describes how the world's forests are being destroyed, some of the causes and consequences of this destruction and some ways of preventing it