Global Perspectives on River Conservation: Science, Policy and Practice

Throughout the world, river conservation is becoming an increasingly important concern. In arid regions, for instance, rivers often form the only water resource for human sustenance: indeed, the World Bank has predicted that future wars will be about water. In many parts of the developing world, rivers are used as repositories for waste, and river ecosystems consequently reflect the worst excesses of human exploitation. In the industrialised nations, the focus of attention is beginning to move from chemical clean–up to restoring the structural damage to rivers caused by decades of river engineering. Recognition is growing that river management needs a catchment–wide perspective if the needs of human populations, river habitats and wildlife are to reach a sustainable balance. The development of river conservation strategies has become a global imperative. Global Perspectives on River Conservation is the first book that provides a truly global synthesis of knowledge on river conservation, with the aim of encouraging strategic river planning. It does this in two ways. First, it sets out a worldwide, region–by–region overview of the science, policy and practice of river conservation. Second, it provides a topical review of different river settings (such as tropical/temperate; temporary/perennial; large/small) and contemporary issues in river conservation (such as classification and evaluation; environmental legislation; the role of public participation). Global Perspectives on River Conservation is an invaluable reference for river managers, planners and developers, conservationists, statutory water agencies, government departments, academics, researchers, postgraduates and final–year under–graduates working in the field of environmental management of inland waters.

Spis treści:
GEOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW.
River Conservation in the United States and Canada (J. Karr, et al.).
River Conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean (C. Pringle, et al.).
River Conservation in the European Community, Including Scandinavia (T. Iversen, et al.).
River Conservation in central and eastern Europe (incorporating the European parts of the Russian Federation) (P.A. Khaiter et al)
River Conservation in North Africa and the Middle East (M.J. Wishart et al)
River Conservation in Central and Tropical Africa (N. Pacini et al)
River Conservation in the Countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) (B.R. Davies et al)
River Conservation in Madagascar (J. Benstead, et al.).
River Conservation in the Indian sub–continent (B. Gopal et al)
River Conservation in Central and Eastern Asia (L.Li et al)
River Conservation in South–East Asia (D. Dudgeon, et al.).
River Conservation in Australia and New Zealand (N. Schofield, et al.).
CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.
Introduction:
Conservation, Ecosystem Use and Sustainability (J. Gardiner N. Perala–Gardiner).
Geographical Settings:
Global Disparities in River Conservation: ′First World′ values and ′Third World′ Realities (M.J. Wishart et al)
River Conservation in Tropical Versus Temperate Latitudes (C. Pringle).
Special Problems of Urban River Conservation: The Encroaching Megalopolis (K.E. Baer and C.M. Pringle)
Key Constraints:
River Size as a Factor in Conservation (E. Stanley A. Boulton).
Problems and Constraints in Managing Rivers with Variable Flow Regimes (A.J. Boulton et al)
A Biogeographical Approach to Interbasin Water Transfers: Implications for River Conservation (B.R. Davies et al)
Conservation in Practice:
The Role of Classification in the Conservation of Rivers (J.H. O′Keefe and M. Uys)
Popular Participation in River Conservation (K.B. Showers)
The Role of Legislation in River Conservation (C.G. Palmer et al)
River Restoration in Developed Economies (G. Petts, et al.).
In tegrated Watershed Management for River Conservation: Perspectives from Experiences in Australia and the United States (B. Hooper R. Margerum).
Indexes.

Okładka tylna:
Throughout the world, river conservation is becoming an increasingly important concern. In arid regions, for instance, rivers often form the only water resource for human sustenance: indeed, the World Bank has predicted that future wars will be about water. In many parts of the developing world, rivers are used as repositories for waste, and river ecosystems consequently reflect the worst excesses of human exploitation. In the industrialised nations, the focus of attention is beginning to move from chemical clean–up to restoring the structural damage to rivers caused by decades of river engineering. Recognition is growing that river management needs a catchment–wide perspective if the needs of human populations, river habitats and wildlife are to reach a sustainable balance. The development of river conservation strategies has become a global imperative. Global Perspectives on River Conservation is the first book that provides a truly global synthesis of knowledge on river conservation, with the aim of encouraging strategic river planning. It does this in two ways. First, it sets out a worldwide, region–by–region overview of the science, policy and practice of river conservation. Second, it provides a topical review of different river settings (such as tropical/temperate; temporary/perennial; large/small) and contemporary issues in river conservation (such as classification and evaluation; environmental legislation; the role of public participation). Global Perspectives on River Conservation is an invaluable reference for river managers, planners and developers, conservationists, statutory water agencies, government departments, academics, researchers, postgraduates and final–year under–graduates working in the field of environmental manage ment of inland waters.