Environmental Disasters, Natural Recovery and Human Responses

by Roger del Moral , Lawrence R. Walker

• ISBN13: 9780521677660
• ISBN10: 0521677661
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-16
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Natural disturbances are becoming more frequent and their consequences are becoming more devastating for humans. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, fires, and other natural events destroy more property and kill more people with each passing year. Nature recovers from these impacts, but often with uncertain results. This book provides a comprehensive summary of the diverse ways in which nature disrupts humanity and how humans have coped. Burgeoning human numbers, shrinking resources, and intensification of the consequences of natural disturbances have produced a crisis of unparalleled proportions. By closely studying natural recovery from disturbances, a template for improving restoration of damaged lands has been produced. Written for ecologists, policy makers, and concerned citizens, the goal of this book is to show how relatively simple approaches to restoration can enhance both human wellbeing and that of the other species on the planet. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Roger del Moral is Professor of Biology at the University of Washington Lawrence R. Walker is Professor of Biology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

Table of Contents

Preface and acknowledgements	p. vii
Introduction: a crescendo of destruction	p. 1
Disturbance and human interactions	p. 1
Disturbance and recovery	p. 9
The future is now, time is short	p. 11
Natural disturbances: synergistic interactions with humans	p. 14
Introduction	p. 14
Disturbance types	p. 15
Definitions	p. 17
Gradients of severity	p. 18
Infertile habitats	p. 20
Fertile habitats	p. 20
Disturbance interactions and linkages with humans	p. 22
Infertile and unstable habitats	p. 27
Introduction	p. 27
Porous volcanic materials	p. 28
Dunes	p. 40
Glaciers	p. 55
Lessons from infertile, unstable habitats	p. 70
Infertile and stable habitats	p. 72
Stable habitats develop slowly	p. 72
Lava	p. 73
Cliffs	p. 87
Lessons from infertile, stable habitats	p. 98
Fertile and unstable habitats	p. 100
Introduction	p. 100
Landslides	p. 101
River floodplains	p. 114
Lakeshores	p. 126
Salt marshes and mangroves	p. 132
Lessons from fertile, unstable habitats	p. 142
Fertile and stable habitats	p. 144
Introduction	p. 144
Fire	p. 145
Hurricanes	p. 159
Grazing	p. 167
Lessons from fertile, stable habitats	p. 176
The lessons learned	p. 178
Introduction	p. 178
Nature recovers	p. 178
Humans intensify disturbances	p. 179
How humanity alters the equation	p. 179
Natural models provide lessons	p. 181
But the rules have changed	p. 181
Lessons we can apply	p. 182
Guide to rehabilitation	p. 183
A plea for biodiversity	p. 186
The future	p. 187
Glossary	p. 189
Illustration credits	p. 200
Index	p. 201
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