Murray Gray

Geodiversity

Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

A counterpoint to biodiversity, geodiversity describes the rocks, sediments, soils, fossils, landforms, and the physical processes that underlie our environment. The first book to focus exclusively on the subject, Geodiversity describes the interrelationships between geodiversity and biodiversity, the value of geodiversity to society, as well as current threats to its existence. Illustrated with global case studies throughout, the book examines traditional approaches to protecting biodiversity and the new management agenda which is starting to be used instead. Since the UN Convention on Biodiversity was signed, attention has been focused on protecting and enhancing biological diversity. However, this does not include the rocks, landforms and processes that form the physical elements of our own environment. These elements have their own diversity - a geodiversity.
Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature is the first book to focus specifically on the geodiversity of the planet and the threats to this diversity, to explain the value of inanimate nature and to assess the approaches that should be taken to conserve it.
This text is unique in several ways:
Reviews different approaches taken around the world, including USA, Canada, Europe and Australia
Reviews new ideas including Natural Areas, Landscape Character, georestoration, landform design, sustainable use of geomaterials, Environmental Impact Assessment and Geodiversity Action Plans
Compares geo- and biodiversity, es tablishes the need for integration of nature conservation strategies, and provides a vision for the future
Beginning with an overall definition and description of geodiversity, this book examines the value of geodiversity to society and the threats that exist to it. It then goes on to survey traditional approaches to protect geodiversity and the new management agenda which is starting to be used in addition. It concludes by looking at the interrelationships of geodiversity and biodiversity and their place in sustainable land management approaches.
This book is for geologists and geomorphologists, nature conservationists, ecologists, landscape planners and architects. It would also make an excellent reference for undergraduates taking courses in Environmental Management, Nature Conservation, Resource Management or Applied Geology within Departments of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, as well as Landscape Architecture, Planning and Archaeology.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley & Sons
• 1. Auflage
• Seitenzahl: 448
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 250mm x 181mm x 30mm
• Gewicht: 988g
• ISBN-13: 9780470848951
• ISBN-10: 0470848952
• Artikelnr.: 22480476

Autorenporträt

Murray Gray is a member of the Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London, UK.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface.
Chapter 1. Defining Geodiversity.
1.1 A diverse world.
1.2 Biodiversity.
1.3 Geodiversity.
1.4 Geodiversity as a Resource.
1.5 Aims and Structure of the Book.
Chapter 2. Describing Geodiversity.
2.1 Introduction.
2.2 Origin of the Earth.
2.3 Early history of the Earth.
2.4 Plate Tectonics.
2.5 Landscapes of Plate Interiors.
2.6 Earth Materials.
2.7 Processes and Landforms.
2.8 Conclusions.
Chapter 3. Valuing Geodiversity.
3.1 Introduction.
3.2 Intrinsic or Existence Value.
3.3 Cultural Value.
3.4 Aesthetic Value.
3.5 Economic Value.
3.6 Functional Value.
3.7 Research and Educational Value.
3.8 Conclusions.
Chapter 4. Threats to Geodiversity.
4.1 Introduction.
4.2 Mineral Extraction.
4.3 Landfill and Quarry Restoration.
4.4 Land Development and Urban Expansion.
4.5 Coastal Erosion and Protection.
4. 6 River Management, Hydrology and Engineering.
4.7 Forestry, Vegetation Growth and Removal.
4.8 Agriculture.
4.9 Other Land Management Changes.
4.10 Recreation/Tourism Pressures.
4.11 Removal of Geological Specimens.
4.12 Climate and Sea-level Change.
4.13 Fire.
4.14 Military Activity.
4.15 Lack of Information/Education.
4.16 Cumulative Impacts and Sensitivity to Change.
4.17 Conclusions.
Chapter 5. Conserving Geodiversity: The Protected Area and Legislative Approaches.
5.1 Introduction.
5.2 Beginning of the Conservation Movement in North America.
5.3 Early British Experience.
5.4 The Protected Area and Legislative Approaches.
5.5 International Conservation.
5.6 The European Dimension.
5.7 National Conservation Systems.
5.8 USA.
5.9 Canada.
5.10 UK.
5.11 Ireland.
5.12 Northern Europe.
5.13 Eastern Europe.
5.14 West-Central Europe.
5.15 Southern Europe.
5.16 Australia.
5.17 New Zealand.
5.18 The Rest of the World.
5.19 International Geoconservation Revisited.
5.20 Conclusions.
Chapter 6. Managing Geodiversity: New Approaches for the Wider Landscape.
6.1 Sustainable Management of the Georesource.
6.2 Assessing the Wider Geodiversity Resource.
6.3 Georestoration.
6.4 Landform Design.
6.5 Geomaterials.
6.6 Land-use Planning Systems.
6.7 Environmental Impact Assessment.
6.8 Policies, Strategies, Audits and Charters.
6.9 Communication, Interpretation and Education.
6.10 Conclusions.
Chapter 7. Integrating Geodiversity and Biodiversity.
7.1 Introduction.
7.2 Criticisms of "Geodiversity".
7.3 Measuring Geodiversity.
7.4 Integrating Geodiversity and Biodiversity.
7.5 Integrated Land Management.
7.6 Potential Geodiversity/Biodiversity Conflicts.
7.7 Conclusions.
Chapter 8. Towards a Vision for Geodiversity Conservation.
8.1 Valuing and Conserving Geodiversity.
8.2 A Vision for Geodiversity Conservation.
References.
Index.

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Preface to Second Edition vii
Preface to First Edition ix
Part I What is Geodiversity? 1
1 Defining Geodiversity 3
2 Geodiversity: the Global Scale 15
3 Geodiversity: the Local Scale 29
Part II Values and Threats 73
4 Valuing Geodiversity in an 'Ecosystem Services' Context 75
5 Threats to Geodiversity 151
Part III Geoconservation: the 'Protected Area' Approach 193
6 International Geoconservation: an Introduction 195
7 World Heritage Sites 219
8 Global Geoparks 237
9 National Geoconservation 255
Part IV Geoconservation: the 'Wider Landscape' Approach 333
10 Geoconservation in the 'Wider Landscape' 335
11 Geoconservation and Land-use Planning 377
12 Geoconservation and Policy 393
Part V Putting It All Together 411
13 Geodiversity and Geoconservation: an Overview 413
14 Comparing and integrating geodiversity and biodiversity 429
15 A Future for Geodiversity? 449
References 455
Index 491

Rezensionen

"Overall, 'Geodiversity' is a most valuable addi­tion to any geoscience library and I strongly recom­mend that people involved in geoconservation have a ready access to it. While the book provides us with a state-of-the-art (AD 2013), the fields of geodiversi­ty and geoconservation are highly dynamic and the perspectives for the future seem generally promis­ing. In this context, I hope that the strong assertion of the author that "there will not be a third edition" -- p. viii) will not prove true and in some years from now we will enjoy an updated new edition of 'Geodiversity'." -- Geologos, 1 June 2014

"It would be a fine basis for an advanced undergraduate or graduate level course and one that your students might actually read, the highest praise that I can give any textbook." -- Geological Journal, 1 June 2014

"The book can serve as an undergraduate/graduate-level textbook, but it will also have some appeal to professional geoscientist. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners." -- Choice, 1 July 2014