Balancing Act: Environmental Issues in Forestry [Paperback]

J. P. Kimmins (Author), Hamish Kimmins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1997

In Balancing Act Hamish Kimmins calls for a balanced, more objective approach to forestry issues. He argues that these issues are too often debated without any common understanding of what forestry is really all about or about how forest ecosystems work. This new edition of the bestselling book has been revised to reflect new thinking about sustainable forestry and includes three completely new chapters. In the first few chapters of the book, the basic principles of forestry and ecology are outlined. The major issues facing forestry in the 1990s and beyond -- not only in British Columbia but worldwide -- are then discussed. These include clearcutting, slashburning, management chemicals, old growth, biological diversity, 'new forestry,' climate change, acid rain, the comparison between temperate and tropical forestry, long-term decisions in forestry, and the sustainability of various forest values. The new chapters look at the ongoing debate over the meaning of 'sustainable forestry,' 'respect for nature,' 'ecosystem management,' and ecosystem 'health and integrity.' This new edition of Balancing Act goes further in clarifying the issues at the heart of the forestry/environment debate. Readers will gain a new understanding of how our forest ecosystems work and how they can be managed sustainably.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kimmins presents the scientific principles related to forest ecosystems in a well-written and easy-to-understand style and format. He also identifies the importance of the social factors contributing to the forestry debate. Balancing Act provides an excellent foundation and up-to-date resource for both the novice and those more directly involved in the forestry/environmental debate. - Environmental Review I know of no other book that addresses the array of issues discussed in Balancing Act ... The careful, comprehensive, cohesive, and authoritative arguments presented by the author on the environmental issues facing forestry at the present time represent an outstanding contribution to the debate. - Roy E. Sutton, Senior Scientist, Forestry Canada Kimmins has presented a clear and easily understood description of the challenges, complexities, and problems facing forestry in today's climate of environmental awareness and concern ... Balancing Act should be closely read by foresters, environmentalists, and anyone who is interested in the forestry/environment debate. - C.A. Lee, Global Biodiversity

About the Author

Hamish Kimmins is a professor of forestry ecology in the Department of Forest Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He is past chairman of the BC Ecological Reserves Committee, was moderator of the National Forest Round Table, and has been a consultant to government, the forest industry and environmental groups on proposals for wilderness areas, parks, and ecological reserves, and on a variety of environmental issues in forestry.

Product Details

• Paperback: 305 pages
• Publisher: Univ of British Columbia Pr; 2 Sub edition (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0774805749
• ISBN-13: 978-0774805742
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,578,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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