Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific - An Environmental History

A fascinating study of the environmental history of Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of the Pacific, from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. Of interest to students and academics alike, this book provides a much-needed synthesis of the recent literature on the environmental history of Australia and Oceania. Part of ABC-CLIO''s Nature and Human Societies series, this book maps out the key trends in the region''s environmental history, charting the creation of the Australian continent from the ancient land mass of Gondwanaland to the arrival of humans.Especially fascinating are the chapters highlighting how successive waves of human migration created environmental havoc throughout the region, leading to the collapse of the Easter Island civilization and the spread of nonindigenous flora and fauna. From the controversies over the reasons why creatures such as the marsupial lion and the giant kangaroo became extinct to such contemporary problems as deforestation and global warming, this book contains sobering lessons for us all.>

About the author

Don Garden is associate professor in the Department of History & Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Product details

• Authors: Don Garden, Donald Garden, Donald S Garden, Donald S. Garden, Donald S./ Stoll Garden
• Assisted by: Mark R. Stoll (Editor)
• Publisher: Abc Clio Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 19.08.2005
• EAN: 9781576078686
• ISBN: 978-1-57607-868-6
• No. of pages: 416
• Series: Nature and Human Societies Series; Nature and Human Societies; Nature and Human Societies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Cultural history; Non-fiction book > Nature, technology > Natural science