Encountering the Past in Nature: Essays in Environmental History (Ecology & History)

A collection of essays offering various approaches to environmental history. Issues covered range from the intellectual formation of environmental concepts to case studies of forest history and animal extinction. Most essays focus on the issue of wilderness and the use of forest resources. A Deeper Understanding Of Contemporary Environmental Problems Requires Us To Know Where We Come From, And The Study Of Environmental History Will Help Us In That Quest. Environmental History, In Short, May Be Described As An Attempt To Study The Interaction Between Humans And Nature In The Past. How Have Human Societies Affected Their Environment And Vice Versa? What Does History Tell Us About Ecological Change? The Essays In Encountering The Past In Nature Provide Various Approaches To The New Discipline. Experts With Diverse Educational Backgrounds Tackle Important Issues In Environmental History, Ranging From The Intellectual Formation Of Environmental Concepts To Case Studies Of Forest History And Animal Extinction. Most Essays In The Collection Focus On The Issue Of Wilderness And The Various Uses Of Forest Resources. Encountering The Past In Nature Also Offers Introductory Essays On The Historiography And Methodology Of This Field Of Historical Study.--pub. Desc. Environmental History: A New Discipline With Long Traditions / Timo Myllyntaus And Mikko Saikku -- Modernization And The Concept Of Nature: On The Reproduction Of Environmental Stereotypes / Ari Aukusti Lehtinen -- Life In The Borderland Forests: The Takeover Of Nature And Its Social Organization In North Karelia / Ismo Björn -- The Vanishing And Reappearing Tropical Forest: Forest Management And Land Use In Thailand / Olavi Luukkanen -- Home In The Big Forest: Decline Of The Ivory-billed Woodpecker And Its Habitat In The United States / Mikko Saikku -- Environment In Explaining History: Restoring Humans As Part Of Nature / Timo Myllyntaus. Edited By Timo Myllyntaus And Mikko Saikku ; Foreword By Alfred W. Crosby. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.