Environmental Health

Ecosystems and Their Relationship to Human Sustainability Authors: Gabrielle Harris Erik van Lennep Not for sale at this time

Premarketing Pub Date: TBA Hardback Price: TBA | TBA Hard ISBN:  Pages: Approx. 300p w/index Binding Type:  Notes: TBA

This timely and thought-provoking volume, Ecosystems and their Relationship to Human Sustainability, presents and explains the latest scientific work and projections of probable climate changes and makes strong arguments for fossil fuel transition and the protection of surviving large ecosystems and biomes.

In Part One, the authors set out the most fundamental processes and principles of terrestrial and marine ecosystem science developed by leading ecologists. To facilitate understanding of the principles, the authors include supplementary materials and discussion points that reflect direct and indirect human dependencies. The book observes system- and ecosystem-level vulnerabilities and presents documented consequences of ecosystem destabilization, illustrated with case histories.

Part Two focuses on ecological functions as services and presents what human society receives as “services.” The book then proceeds to spotlight two kinds of services and “service providers” for a more in-depth review of the species involved, with some clues as to what has happened to those species and how human activities have impacted those service providers. The two cases are about insects and other organisms providing natural pest control and pollination services, with the main point being to help students understand that we and all the other species depend on the good functioning of the Earth’s biosphere, and that there are certain activities we need to curb and eventually cease. Throughout the book there are boxed commentaries highlighting damage done through human activities.

Part Three of the book examines corrective action strategies that are evolving as a result of systems thinking focused on biome- or ecosystem-level repair and regeneration. Examples are many types of ecosystem restoration practices, or the equally multidisciplinary practice of regenerative agriculture.

This book attempts to bridge the work of research at scientific institutions and the work by people who are not recognized scholars but whose successes can still be clearly seen in before-and-after site photography. The academic world and the industrial agriculture sector need to know about the worldwide efforts being made to regenerate ecosystems, or their equivalent functionalities, to re-wild, and to build resilience in the face of constant and fast change in climactic conditions.

This thought-provoking volume provides a thorough understanding of ecosystems and their relationship to human sustainability. With case studies, boxed questions for students, and definitions of technical terms, the book will be valuable at educational institutions offering master’s and BSc courses. The volume aims to deliver a new approach to practical learning around ecosystems, placed in the context that we are actually living in—uncertain climate conditions.

CONTENTS:
Preface

About This Book

Why Is This Book Needed?

Introduction

Part I: Fundamental Processes and Actors Sustaining Life on Earth
Chapter 1: A Quick Intro to the Actors
1.1. Contrasts Between Land- and Water-Based Ecosystems
1.2. Controls Over Ecosystem Processes
1.3. The Energy Budget of the Earth
1.4. The Atmosphere
1.5. Uneven Heating in Atmospheric Circulation
1.6. The Ocean and the Atmosphere
1.7. The Climate Influence of Vegetation
1.8. Vegetation Influence on the Atmosphere
1.9. Interannual Climate Variability

Chapter 2: Introduction to Soils-Ecological Principles
2.1. Soil Formation-Controls
2.1.1. State Factor of Parent Material and Soils
2.1.2. State Factor Climate and Soils
2.1.3. State Factor Topography and Soils
2.1.4. State Factor Time and Soils
2.1.5. State Factor Potential Biota and Soils
2.2. Controls Over Loss of Soil
2.3. Climate Influences on Erosion
2.4. Soil Profile Development
2.5. Soil Transformations
2.6. Soil Transfer Chemistry
2.7. Soil Losses
2.8. Soil Horizons and Classification
2.9. Soil Properties and Ecosystem Functions
2.10. Additional Notes on the Basics of Soil Structure
2.11. Some Notes on Permafrost
2.12. Permafrost and Carbon
2.13. An Aside on Resilience Thinking and Feedbacks

Chapter 3: Introducing the Biogeochemical Cycles
3.1. The Global Water Cycle
3.2. The Hydrologic Cycle in More Detail
3.3. Water Pools and Fluxes
3.4. Water and Turnover Timescales
3.5. The Nitrogen Cycle
3.6. The Sulfur Cycle
3.7. The Carbon Cycle
3.8. The Phosphorus Cycle

Chapter 4: The Hydrologic Cycle and Energy
4.1. The Energetics of Water Movement
4.2. Solar Radiation and the Albedo
4.3. Long Wave Radiation
4.4. More on Heat Fluxes
4.5. Latent Heat Flux-Heat Transfer from the Land to the Atmosphere
4.6. Spatial Configuration Effects

Chapter 5: Waters Within Terrestrial Ecosystems
5.1. Water Inputs
5.2. Water Movements Within Ecosystems
5.3. Water Storage and Movement in the Soil
5.4. Water Movement from Soils to Roots
5.5. Water Movement through Plants and Roots
5.6. Principles Related to Water Loss from Terrestrial Ecosystems
5.7. Changes in Water Storage

Chapter 6: Carbon Inputs to Ecosystems and Plant Carbon Budgets
6.1. Carbon Inputs to Ecosystems
6.2. The Bio-Chemistry of Photosynthesis

Chapter 7: Pelagic Photosynthesis, Where Light Is the Limiting Factor
7.1 CO2 Adequacy in Aquatic Systems
7.2. Nutrient Limitation on Phytoplankton Productivity
7.3. Photosynthesis in Streams and Along Shorelines

Chapter 8: Differences Between Aquatic and Terrestrial Photosynthesis
8.1. On Light Tolerances and Photosynthesis
8.2. Photosynthetic Capacity and Nitrogen Limitation
8.3. Photosynthesis Potential and Water Limitation
8.4. Photosynthesis and Temperature Effects

Chapter 9: On Assessing Photosynthesis for Terrestrial GPP
9.1. Photosynthetic Seasons

Chapter 10: Plant Carbon Budgets
10.1. On Plant Respiration
10.2. Notes on Net Primary Production (NPP)

Chapter 11: Marine NPP and Related Pelagic Dynamics
11.1. NPP in Lakes
11.2. NPP in Rivers and Streams

Chapter 12: Terrestrial NPP and Related Physical Controls
12.1. On the Allocation of NPP
12.2. Effects of Seasonal and Diurnal Rhythms on NPP Allocation
12.3. The Turnover of Plant Tissue
12.4. Photosynthesis Capacity and Pollutants

Chapter 13: Decomposition and Its Relationship to Ecosystem Carbon Balance
14.1. Basic Actors in the Decomposition Processes
14.2. Controls and Factors Affecting Decomposition
14.3. Notes on Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
14.4. Heterotrophic Respiration and SOM
14.5. Temporal Linkage of Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles
14.6. Net Ecosystem Production

Chapter 15: Carbon Fluxes in Aquatic Ecosystems
15.1. Stream Carbon Fluxes
15.2. Notes on Stream Carbon Budgets
15.3. Carbon Fluxes From Lakes
15.4. Oceanic Carbon Fluxes

Chapter 16: Trophic Dynamics -- Bringing Processes Together
16.1. Controls in Trophic Systems
16.1.1. Bottom-Up Controls: Energy Re-Allocation Response
16.1.2. Top-Down Controls
16.2. Re-Balancing Acts
16.3. Trophic Effects on Nutrient Cycling in Grazing Scenarios
16.4. Trophic Efficiency and Energy Flow
16.5. Notes on Food Chains and Nutrient Transfers
16.6. Notes on Detritus-Based Trophic Systems

Part II: Ecological Functions as Life-Sustaining Services
Chapter 17: Framing of Human Well-Being in the MA
17.1. Additional Major Points of Principle from the MA Executive Summary

Chapter 18: Ecosystem Functions/Services List and Concerns over their Continued Support for the Human Species
18.1. Provisioning Services
18.2. Regulating Services
18.3. Support Services
18.4. Cultural Functions/Services

Chapter 19: Spotlight on Two Insect-Dependent Ecosystem Services: Natural Pest Control and Pollination
19.1. Habitat Change
19.2. Pollution
19.3. Biological Factors
19.4. The Risks of Using Non-Native Species for Biological Control
19.5. Designing Appropriate Habitats for IPM
19.6. Selected Pollinator Groups and Their Status
19.7. The Effects of Fires
19.8. Diseases
19.9. In Need of Urgent Attention—the Bumble Bees
19.10. Other Wild Bees
19.11. Honey Bees

Chapter 20: Pricing Damage to Ecosystem “Services” Business Externalities, and How Economic Events can Affect Valuations
20.1. The Classical Economics Filter on Ecosystem Services
20.2. Post-TEEB Actions
20.3. The Grabbing of Land for Food Production
20.4. A Conversion Story

Part III: Regenerative Solutions
Chapter 21: Focal Point One: Wetland and Peatland Restoration
21.1. Wetlands as Keys to Regeneration
21.2. Wetlands and Water: Specific Conclusions from the Millennial Ecosystem Assessment
21.3. On Remedial Actions

Chapter 22: Focal Point Two: Bringing Back Mangroves
22.1. Biological Adaptations and Mechanics of Inter-Tidal Living
22.2. Mangrove Biology
22.3. Mangrove Fauna
22.4. Cyclone Nargis: Waking Up to the Importance of Mangroves
22.5. Mangroves and Carbon Sequestration
22.6. Mangroves and Climate Change

Chapter 23: Focal Point Three: Rewilding
23.1. Norming Wilderness -- Example of the Rewilding Earth Institute
23.2. Bedrock Ecological Criteria for Identifying Potential Wilderness Sites
23.3. Four Rewilding Examples
23.4. The Knepp Project in the United Kingdom
23.5. The Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Scotland
23.6. The Pleistocene Park Project in Russia
23.7. The Al Baydha Desert Project in Saudi Arabia

Chapter 24: Focal Point Four: Regenerative Agriculture
24.1. Background
24.2. Regenerative Agriculture
24.3. Agroecology
24.4. Silvopasture
24.5. Pasture Cropping
24.6. Keyline Design
24.7. Permaculture Thinking
24.8. Syntropic Farming

Chapter 25: Focal Point Five: Ecosystem Repair and Restoration
25.1. Ecosystem Restoration as a Global Institutional Practice
25.2. The Idea of Ecosystem Restoration Camps
25.3. Selections from John D. Liu’s Words

Chapter 26: Focal Point Six: Marine Ecosystem Restoration
26.1. Artificial Reef Construction
26.2. The Case of Kelp
26.3. The Vertical Farming of Kelp-Combining Restoration and Ethical Business
26.4. Some Last Words

Index

About the Authors / Editors:
Authors: Gabrielle Harris
Freelance Writer and Editor

Gabrielle Harris lives in rural France, working as a freelance writer, editor ,and self-appointed “guerrilla gardener,” filling in unclaimed barren spaces with new soil for micro-organisms and insects, greenery and food for bees, unexpected developments for human education and continuing to “infect” people she meets with curiosity about everything from compost to carbon drawdown. Gabrielle studied Chinese at SOAS, London University, majoring in early Chinese philosophy and later pursued postgraduate studies in history and economics at Nanjing University in China. During her long career, she has been a journalist, researcher, manager, translator and facilitator (in English, Chinese, and French), a development project director, designer, and entrepreneur. She wrote the first book on Bank Automation in China in 1988 when she worked at the China division of International Data Corporation, and later wrote or co-wrote many papers on methodologies and tools facilitating inclusive finance. In 2012, Gabrielle was awarded as an “Outstanding Person Working in Financial Inclusion” by the China Microfinance Institution Association. In 2019, she published Non-Orthodox Economics and their Social and Environmental Drivers, which links the history of classical economics and its critics with our current environmental problems and the economic frameworks that do take into account the environment of the Earth as an integral part of the economic system. Gabrielle Harris has been deeply committed to studying the environment since 2007, when her friend John D. Liu began to focus on the importance of fertile, water-retaining soils and the accumulation of organic matter as the key to human and animal well-being. Also feeding into her understanding were the insights of her dear friend Josef Margraf, whose final mission and work was to turn rubber plantations in Southwest China into biodiverse spaces, up until his untimely death in 2010. Gabrielle lived and worked in China from 1980 until the end of 2014. Set in perpetual motion by her two mentors, Gabrielle studied permaculture with Geoff Lawton and many other experts, and these days she continues to learn about all aspects of regenerative practices, especially those that build fertile soil communities and retain water. She has become convinced of the efficacy of permaculture-oriented systems thinking in tackling and reversing humanity’s self-inflicted problems. Much of her knowledge of restoration of ecosystems came from observing and working with the roll-out of China’s “ecological policy” in rural China. These policies paid farmers to plant soil-anchoring trees and to refrain from plowing, grazing or planting non-perennial crops on land that was steeply sloped. The comeback of wild vegetation slowing water and soil loss was dramatic. These policies had, in turn, been informed by the strategies and positive feedbacks in the restoration of the Loess Plateau; the largest soil erosion-control project in the world (filmed throughout its 10-year first phase by John D. Liu). Gabrielle continued applying these lessons during her 10 years of anti-poverty work with low-income semi-literate farmers in Western China, using financial inclusion as a powerful learning and incentivizing platform. Anti-poverty work associated with water capture and soil rebuilding are still her major preoccupations.

Erik van Lennep
Writer and Teacher

Erik van Lennep is a “practical ecologist” who writes about, teaches, and practices eco-design, ecosystem restoration, ecological forestry, and regenerative agriculture, often with one hand on his laptop keyboard while the other wields various planting tools. He currently produces a podcast series, Designers of Paradise, based on “kitchen table” style conversations with practitioners of Regenerative Agriculture, hoping to motivate his listeners to start planting as well. He has worked in community development, human rights, and environmental nonprofits much of his 45-year career and was instrumental in launching two global movements: protection of tropical rainforests and land rights for indigenous peoples. Other activities have included creation of an arts and ecology based after-school program for children ages 7–12, and “Cultivate,” the national sustainability training center for Ireland. Erik’s formal training includes an undergraduate degree in botany and a master’s degree in Ecosystem Restoration and Permaculture Design.

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