Perspectives on Sustainable Resources in America (Rff Press)

The vast size of the United States and extensive variation of its climate, topography, and biota across different regions contribute to both the richness of the nation's natural heritage and the complexities involved in managing its resources. A follow-up to RFF's popular America's Renewable Resources (1990), Perspectives on Sustainable Resources in America updates readers about the current challenges involved in managing America's natural resources, especially in light of the increasing emphasis on sustainability and ecosystem approaches to management. Written to inform general audiences and students, as well as to engage the interest of experts, the book includes assessments by some of the nation's most renowned scholars in natural resource economics and policy. An introductory chapter critically examines the concept of sustainability as it has been developed in recent years and asks how the concept might apply to individual resource systems. It considers the interrelatedness of ecosystem, economic, and social sustainability; the paradigms of resource sufficiency and functional integrity; and the contrast between weak and strong sustainability. The chapters that follow examine America's experience with forests, water, agricultural soils, and wildlife. Highlighting the adaptability and resilience of resource systems, each chapter provides a description of the physical characteristics of the resource, a history of its use, a policy history, and a review of ongoing debates in management and policy. Perspectives on Sustainable Resources in America concludes with an innovative treatment of biodiversity as a natural resource. The chapter reviews the definitions of biodiversity, the ecological and economic meanings of biodiversity, and current efforts to preserve biodiversity, especially through regulatory approaches. Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Contributors 10 Chapter 1 Are America’s Resources Sustainable? 12 The Origin of this Book 13 Overview 14 Some Limitations 17 A Basis For Optimism 18 Further Thoughts 19 Notes 20 References 20 Chapter 2 Sustainability 22 Preservation 23 The Three Pillars of Sustainability 24 Sustainability: The Two-Paradigm Approach 26 Application to Management: Some Qualifications 28 Some Final Thoughts 30 Notes 30 References 31 Chapter 3 Sustainable Forests in America? 33 Sustainability 34 U.S. Forests 41 Changes in the U.S. Forest Sector since 1970 49 U.S. Sustainability Performance 63 Summary and Conclusions 68 Notes 69 References 71 Chapter 4 The Sustainability of U.S. Cropland Soils 75 The Sustainability of Soils 76 Sustainability Concepts: Conclusions 91 Soil Management: Factors That Influence the Quality of Soils 91 Conclusions: The Sustainability of U.S. Cropland Soils 106 Notes 108 References 109 Chapter 5 Water Resources Management and the Challenge of Sustainability 115 Nature’s Water Supply 116 Water Use 118 Conservation, Water Development and Sustainable Water Use 121 Sustainability and the Future of Water Management 131 Looking Ahead 137 Notes 139 References 139 Chapter 6 Wildlife 144 Economics and Wildlife 148 The History of American Wildlife Management 153 The Economic Structure of Wildlife Management 157 Endangered Species and Biodiversity Protection 165 Case Studies 172 Sustainability and the Future: Summary and Discussion 176 Notes 177 References 182 Chapter 7 Biodiversity in the United States 186 What Is Biodiversity? 187 Status of Biodiversity 191 Biodiversity Loss 194 Economic Values for Biodiversity 203 Biodiversity Protection 214 Biodiversity and Sustainability 231 Appendix.Timeline of Species Protection Legislation 234 Notes 237 References 238 Index 246 1933115629,9781933115627,1933115637,9781933115634 RFF Press 2008 The Vast Size Of The United States And Extensive Variation Of Its Climate, Topography, And Biota Across Different Regions Contribute To Both The Richness Of The Nation S Natural Heritage And The Complexities Involved In Managing Its Resources. A Follow-up To Rff S Popular America S Renewable Resources (1990), Perspectives On Sustainable Resources In America Updates Readers About The Current Challenges Involved In Managing America S Natural Resources, Especially In Light Of The Increasing Emphasis On Sustainability And Ecosystem Approaches To Management. Written To Inform General Audiences And Students, As Well As To Engage The Interest Of Experts, The Book Includes Assessments By Some Of The Nation S Most Renowned Scholars In Natural Resource Economics And Policy. An Introductory Chapter Critically Examines The Concept Of Sustainability As It Has Been Developed In Recent Years And Asks How The Concept Might Apply To Individual Resource Systems. It Considers The Interrelatedness Of Ecosystem, Economic, And Social Sustainability; The Paradigms Of Resource Sufficiency And Functional Integrity; And The Contrast Between Weak And Strong Sustainability. The Chapters That Follow Examine America S Experience With Forests, Water, Agricultural Soils, And Wildlife. Highlighting The Adaptability And Resilience Of Resource Systems, Each Chapter Provides A Description Of The Physical Characteristics Of The Resource, A History Of Its Use, A Policy History, And A Review Of Ongoing Debates In Management And Policy. Perspectives On Sustainable Resources In America Concludes With An Innovative Treatment Of Biodiversity As A Natural Resource. The Chapter Reviews The Definitions Of Biodiversity, The Ecological And Economic Meanings Of Biodiversity, And Current Efforts To Preserve Biodiversity, Especially Through Regulatory Approaches. Are America's Resources Sustainable? / Roger A. Sedjo -- Sustainability: From Natural Resource Sufficiency To Ecosystem Functional Integrity / Sandra S. Batie, Roger A. Sedjo, And John Fedkiw -- Sustainable Forests In America? / Roger A. Sedjo And Douglas Maccleery -- The Sustainability Of U.s. Cropland Soils / Sandra S. Batie -- Water Resources Management And The Challenge Of Sustainability / Leonard Shabman -- Wildlife: Sustainability And Management / Dean Lueck -- Biodiversity In The United States / Juha Siikamäki And Jeffrey Chow. Roger A. Sedjo, Editor. An Rff Press Book--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The vast size of the United States and extensive variation of its climate, topography, and biota across different regions contribute to both the richness of the nation's natural heritage and the complexities involved in managing its resources. This book discusses the challenges involved in managing America's natural resources.