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Tropical Forest Resource Dynamics and Conservation: From Local to Global Issues
Forest Ecology and Management 164 (2002) 307–308
Book reviews Tropical Forest Resource Dynamics and Conservation: From Local to Global Issues K.F. Wiersum (Ed.), Tropical Resource Management Papers, No. 33, Wageningen University Press Centre, P.O. Box 342, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2000, 172 pp., ISBN 0926–9495 The dynamics and conservation of tropical forests have been the subject of scientific study for over a century, but the emphasis has usually been on biological, ecological, or forest production issues. Social issues in tropical forests have largely been addressed as problems or constraints to production forestry or ecological management. When social issues were considered, they were initially studied by natural scientists who were often ignorant of social science methodologies. Over the past 2 decades, social scientists have become involved in the study of tropical forests and forestry, and a substantial body of theory has developed. This small volume addresses a diversity of theoretical approaches and regional contexts to the literature on tropical forestry. After a comprehensive introduction to The Netherlands based social science research on tropical forest management and conservation, two quite different chapters present contrasting perspectives on the tropical forest. These are followed by three chapters that address land-use at the forest fringe. The authors cover conditions in areas that differ both geographically and in their degree of development. As with the perspective chapters, no attempt at inclusiveness is made, but neither are any broad generalizations put forth. The final section deals with forest conservation in a political and economic context. With these four chapters, the book completes its goal of covering both local and global (micro- and macro-level) processes that are at work in tropical forests. Some readers will find the English language usage a bit odd and others may bridle at the lack of com-
prehensiveness and the failure to reach broad general conclusions, but the volume should be valuable to students and researchers alike. It does an excellent job of advancing our knowledge of the diversity of techniques that have been developed by social scientists, especially in The Netherlands, for the study of tropical forests. It is not, however, a textbook; it would be of great value as additional reading in a variety of university courses. R.F. Fisher Temple-Inland Forest Products Corp. Forest Research and Productively P.O. Drawer N, 303 S. Temple Drive Diboll, TX 75941, USA Tel.: þ1-936-829-1475; fax: þ1-936-829-1476 E-mail address: [email protected] (R.F. Fisher) PII: S 0 3 7 8 - 1 1 2 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 6 0 1 - 6
Forests and Landscapes—Linking Ecology, Sustainability and Aesthetics S.R.J. Sheppard, H.W. Harshaw (Eds.), CABI Publishing, UK, 2001, ISBN 0-85199-500-4, 294 pp., Price £49.95 (US$ 90.00) This volume purports to ‘‘proclaim(s) . . .a second revolution in the way we as a society think about, study, and act upon the aesthetic dimensions of forest landscape management’’. With 16 contributors from Canada, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, with a wide diversity of academic and professional backgrounds, it may well achieve that lofty goal. The book is divided into six parts: (1) Linking Ecological Sustainability to Aesthetics: Do People Prefer Sustainable Landscapes?, (2) Seeing and Knowing: Approaches to aesthetics and sustainability, (3) Perspectives on Forest Sustainability, (4) Theories Relating Aesthetics and Forest Ecology, (5)
0378-1127/02/$ – see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Book reviews Tropical Forest Resource Dynamics and Conservation: From Local to Global Issues K.F. Wiersum (Ed.), Tropical Resource Management Papers, No. 33, Wageningen University Press Centre, P.O. Box 342, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2000, 172 pp., ISBN 0926–9495 The dynamics and conservation of tropical forests have been the subject of scientific study for over a century, but the emphasis has usually been on biological, ecological, or forest production issues. Social issues in tropical forests have largely been addressed as problems or constraints to production forestry or ecological management. When social issues were considered, they were initially studied by natural scientists who were often ignorant of social science methodologies. Over the past 2 decades, social scientists have become involved in the study of tropical forests and forestry, and a substantial body of theory has developed. This small volume addresses a diversity of theoretical approaches and regional contexts to the literature on tropical forestry. After a comprehensive introduction to The Netherlands based social science research on tropical forest management and conservation, two quite different chapters present contrasting perspectives on the tropical forest. These are followed by three chapters that address land-use at the forest fringe. The authors cover conditions in areas that differ both geographically and in their degree of development. As with the perspective chapters, no attempt at inclusiveness is made, but neither are any broad generalizations put forth. The final section deals with forest conservation in a political and economic context. With these four chapters, the book completes its goal of covering both local and global (micro- and macro-level) processes that are at work in tropical forests. Some readers will find the English language usage a bit odd and others may bridle at the lack of com-
prehensiveness and the failure to reach broad general conclusions, but the volume should be valuable to students and researchers alike. It does an excellent job of advancing our knowledge of the diversity of techniques that have been developed by social scientists, especially in The Netherlands, for the study of tropical forests. It is not, however, a textbook; it would be of great value as additional reading in a variety of university courses. R.F. Fisher Temple-Inland Forest Products Corp. Forest Research and Productively P.O. Drawer N, 303 S. Temple Drive Diboll, TX 75941, USA Tel.: þ1-936-829-1475; fax: þ1-936-829-1476 E-mail address: [email protected] (R.F. Fisher) PII: S 0 3 7 8 - 1 1 2 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 6 0 1 - 6
Forests and Landscapes—Linking Ecology, Sustainability and Aesthetics S.R.J. Sheppard, H.W. Harshaw (Eds.), CABI Publishing, UK, 2001, ISBN 0-85199-500-4, 294 pp., Price £49.95 (US$ 90.00) This volume purports to ‘‘proclaim(s) . . .a second revolution in the way we as a society think about, study, and act upon the aesthetic dimensions of forest landscape management’’. With 16 contributors from Canada, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, with a wide diversity of academic and professional backgrounds, it may well achieve that lofty goal. The book is divided into six parts: (1) Linking Ecological Sustainability to Aesthetics: Do People Prefer Sustainable Landscapes?, (2) Seeing and Knowing: Approaches to aesthetics and sustainability, (3) Perspectives on Forest Sustainability, (4) Theories Relating Aesthetics and Forest Ecology, (5)
0378-1127/02/$ – see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.