Environmental Disasters, Natural Recovery and Human Responses

by Roger del Moral , Lawrence R. Walker

• ISBN13: 9780521860345
• ISBN10: 0521860342
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-04-23
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Natural disasters destroy more property and kill more people with each passing year. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, fires and other natural events are becoming more frequent and their consequences more devastating. Del Moral and Walker provide a comprehensive summary of the diverse ways in which natural disasters disrupt humanity and how humans cope. Burgeoning human numbers, shrinking resources and intensification of the consequences of natural disasters have produced a crisis of unparalleled proportions. Through this detailed study, the authors provide a template for improving restoration to show how relatively simple approaches can enhance both human well-being and that of the other species on the planet. This book will appeal to ecologists, land managers as well as anyone curious about the natural world and natural disasters.

Author Biography

Lawrence R. Walker is Professor of Biology at the University of Nevada.

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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