Restoring The Land: Environmental Values, Knowledge and Action

(Paperback)

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A multidisciplinary look at environmental issues. This provocative book brings together scholars and practitioners from many different disciplines. Philosopher and churchman, farmer and feminist, politician and agronomist-each considers environmental issues from a unique perspective. Part I explores the clash between the Western world's traditional belief in progress and development, and an emerging set of beliefs based on a new environmental ethic. Part II demonstrates that scientific knowledge is not always enough to solve an environmental problem-indeed, to a politician or a farmer, 'expert' knowledge may be less important than the attitudes of voters, consumers and the community; and Part III takes agricultural sustainability and the degradation of farming lands as a case study. The special concerns of the farming community and the practical difficulties imposed by the rural crisis are given due weight; and specific problems, such as salinity, are discussed in detail. To create a sustainable future, we must make a renewed attempt to define a human relationship with the spirit of the land. By drawing together authors with many different interests and backgrounds this book makes a valuable contribution to that dialogue. It will be of interest to all who are involved with land use and environmental decision-making, and to all readers who are concerned about Australia's future.

Author Bio

Ms Laurie Cosgrove is a Lecturer in Environmental Studies in the School of Environmental Planning at the University of Melbourne. Dr David Evans is Reader in Environmental Studies and Director of Environmental Studies at the University of Melbourne. David Yencken is Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at the University of Melbourne and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation. He is a former Chairman of the Australian Heritage Commission.