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The purpose of this book is specific and ambitious: to outline the distinctive elements, scope, and usefulness of a new and emerging field of applied ecology named warfare ecology. Based on a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, the book provides both a theoretical overview of this new field and case studies that range from mercury contamination during World War I in Slovenia to the ecosystem impacts of the Palestinian occupation, and from the bombing of coral reefs of Vieques to biodiversity loss due to violent conflicts in Africa. Warfare Ecology also includes reprints of several classical papers that set the stage for the new synthesis described by the authors. Written for environmental scientists, military and humanitarian relief professionals, conservation managers, and graduate students in a wide range of fields, Warfare Ecology is a major step forward in understanding the relationship between war and ecological systems.
List of contents
Preface.- Introduction: A New Synthesis.- Part 1. Foundations.- Environmental Consequences of the Second Indo-China War.- Environmental Change and Violent Conflict.- Resource Competition and World Pollitics in the Twenty-First Century.- Warfare Ecology.- Part 2. Preparations.- Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Conflict: A Contribution to the Ecology of Warfare.- Ecological Impacts of Large-Scale War Preparations: Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan.- Ecological, Radiological and Toxicological Effects of Naval Bombardment on the Coral Reefs of Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico.- Part 3. War.- War and Biodiversity Conservation: The Role of Warfare Ecology.- A Public Health Approach to Warfare.- The Application of Warfare Ecology to Belligerent Occupations.- Part 4. Postwar.- Restoration and Reconstruction for Environmental Security.- Environmental Biomonitoring as a Tool in Risk and Impact Assessment Associated with Post-Conflict Restoration and Rehabilitation- Stability and Sustainability in Peace Building: Priority Area for Warfare Ecology.- Territory Spoiled by Blasting Mines - A Croatian Case Study.- Part 5. Advancing the Field of Warfare Ecology.- The Certain Uncertainty: The Political Ecology of Environmental Security.- Application of the Human Ecosystem Model in Warfare Ecology.- Professional Training and Graduate Education Needs in Warfare Ecology.- An Essay on the Relationship of Warfare Ecology to General Ecology.- Observations and Insights from the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Warfare Ecology.
Summary
The purpose of this book is specific and ambitious: to outline the distinctive elements, scope, and usefulness of a new and emerging field of applied ecology named warfare ecology. Based on a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, the book provides both a theoretical overview of this new field and case studies that range from mercury contamination during World War I in Slovenia to the ecosystem impacts of the Palestinian occupation, and from the bombing of coral reefs of Vieques to biodiversity loss due to violent conflicts in Africa. Warfare Ecology also includes reprints of several classical papers that set the stage for the new synthesis described by the authors. Written for environmental scientists, military and humanitarian relief professionals, conservation managers, and graduate students in a wide range of fields, Warfare Ecology is a major step forward in understanding the relationship between war and ecological systems.
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From the reviews:
“This book is a product of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop entitled ‘Warfare Ecology: Synthesis, Priorities and Policy Implications for Peace and Security’ … . The volume does provide much useful and interesting information in the context of war and ecology … . the book is well prepared and edited … . This book is written for a varied audience, among them military and security professional, politicians, ecologists and social scientists. It is worth reading.” (Matthias Schaefer, Basic and Applied Ecology, Vol. 13, 2012)
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From the reviews:
"This book is a product of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop entitled 'Warfare Ecology: Synthesis, Priorities and Policy Implications for Peace and Security' ... . The volume does provide much useful and interesting information in the context of war and ecology ... . the book is well prepared and edited ... . This book is written for a varied audience, among them military and security professional, politicians, ecologists and social scientists. It is worth reading." (Matthias Schaefer, Basic and Applied Ecology, Vol. 13, 2012)
