Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-86034-5 - Environmental Disasters, Natural Recovery and Human Responses - by Roger del Moral and Lawrence R. Walker
Table Of Contents

Contents




Preface and acknowledgements page vii
 
1 Introduction: a crescendo of destruction 1
1.1 Disturbance and human interactions 1
1.2 Disturbance and recovery 9
1.3 The future is now, time is short 11
 
2 Natural disturbances: synergistic interactions with humans 14
2.1 Introduction 14
2.2 Disturbance types 15
2.3 Definitions 17
2.4 Gradients of severity 18
2.5 Infertile habitats 20
2.6 Fertile habitats 20
2.7 Disturbance interactions and linkages with humans 22
 
3 Infertile and unstable habitats 27
3.1 Introduction 27
3.2 Porous volcanic materials 28
3.3 Dunes 40
3.4 Glaciers 55
3.5 Lessons from infertile, unstable habitats 70
 
4 Infertile and stable habitats 72
4.1 Stable habitats develop slowly 72
4.2 Lava 73
4.3 Cliffs 87
4.4 Lessons from infertile, stable habitats 98
 
5 Fertile and unstable habitats 100
5.1 Introduction 100
5.2 Landslides 101
5.3 River floodplains 114
5.4 Lakeshores 126
5.5 Salt marshes and mangroves 132
5.6 Lessons from fertile, unstable habitats 142
 
6 Fertile and stable habitats 144
6.1 Introduction 144
6.2 Fire 145
6.3 Hurricanes 159
6.4 Grazing 167
6.5 Lessons from fertile, stable habitats 176
 
7 The lessons learned 178
7.1 Introduction 178
7.2 Nature recovers 178
7.3 Humans intensify disturbances 179
7.4 How humanity alters the equation 179
7.5 Natural models provide lessons 181
7.6 But the rules have changed 181
7.7 Lessons we can apply 182
7.8 Guide to rehabilitation 183
7.9 A plea for biodiversity 186
7.10 The future 187
 
Glossary 189
Illustration credits 200
Index 201
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