Footprints in the Jungle: Natural Resource Industries, Infrastructure, and Biodiversity Conservation [Hardcover]

Ian A. Bowles (Editor), Glenn T. Prickett (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0195125789 | ISBN-13: 978-0195125788

Tropical forests have seen a tremendous growth in logging, mining, and oil and gas development over the past decades. These industries and their infrastructure, including roads and power lines, have a tremendous impact on the environment and often conflict with the growing concern for conservation, particularly the conservation of tropical biodiversity. However, development in the tropics is extremely important economically, both for developing and industrialized nations, and Footprints in the Jungle is an invaluable reference in this important and highly politicized debate. This volume looks at new approaches that lessen the impact of development. It collects numerous case studies by project managers, advocates, and researchers from major international companies, development agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations. It also examines the environmental and social impact of resource development, proposes a rigorous "best practices" approach, and analyzes a number of challenging technical, environmental, social, and legal issues.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This volume seeks to 'stimulate debate about...developing natural resources in a manner that safeguards biodiversity and respects the interests of local communities' while also recognizing the need for some preserves that are off-limits to development. Numerous case studies illustrate best practices for developing resources in ways that minimize environmental problems. Cited references are current, typically from the 1990s. Recommended for all academic libraries. Undergraduates through professionals." -- C.E. Buckley, Choice, Oct 2001

"Near the Kaw Mountains in French Guiana, about 1.5 million ounces of gold wait to be claimed by an international mining conglomerate and an anxious government. Unfortunately, the gold is embedded in 17 million tons of clay; how can the gold be filtered out without destroying the incredibly diverse flora and fauna of this region? This problem is one faced by many developing countries with environmental concerns properly tempered. This book presents a special perspective on this dilemma. . .Essays by 38 authors are dived into specific topics. . .Each of these sections provides plenty of practical detail and commentary, making this book almost a cookbook of environmentally appropriate recipes for development."--Chicago Botanic Garden

About the Author

Ian Bowles is the Director of Environmental Affairs for the National Security Council and Associate Director for International Policy, COuncil on Environmental Quality. His research focuses on the role of development agencies and the private sector in biodiversity conservation. He also served as a legislative assistant on international and environmental issues.
Glenn T. Prickett is Senior Vice President for Environmental Leadership in Business at Conservation International, where he develops strategic partnerships to promote conservation with major international corporations in a wide range of fields. He has also served as Chief Environmental Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195125789
• ISBN-13: 978-0195125788
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,128,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Private Sector in Environmental Protection, October 29, 2001

By 

S Chen "S Chen" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Footprints in the Jungle: Natural Resource Industries, Infrastructure, and Biodiversity Conservation (Hardcover)

Business which is based on profit maximization is usually considered to be in conflict with the goals of environmental protection. This contradiction can be even more severe when the business owned by private sectors in developed countries extend their activities in far-away underdeveloped areas. The book looks at the environmental protection from business perspectives, especially extractive industries' involvement in biodiversity conservation. It explores numerous cases ("best practices") showing how business interests reconcile with environmental protection goals. The dynamics of various stakeholders was investigated to illustrate how the business strategic calculation of benefit and cost has been shaped by other stakeholders. According to the authors, there are two major reasons of why business starts to voluntarily involve in environmental protection: corporate reputation (intangible value) and eco-efficiency (tangible value). The book is a big contribution to the empirical studies of how business operation has been shaped by environmental protection and vice versa. I recommend the book to environmental experts, project managers and corporate environmentalists.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Private Sector in Environmental Protection, October 29, 2001

By 

S Chen "S Chen" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Footprints in the Jungle: Natural Resource Industries, Infrastructure, and Biodiversity Conservation (Hardcover)

Business which is based on profit maximization is usually considered to be in conflict with the goals of environmental protection. This contradiction can be even more severe when the business owned by private sectors in developed countries extend their activities in far-away underdeveloped areas. The book looks at the environmental protection from business perspectives, especially extractive industries' involvement in biodiversity conservation. It explores numerous cases ("best practices") showing how business interests reconcile with environmental protection goals. The dynamics of various stakeholders was investigated to illustrate how the business strategic calculation of benefit and cost has been shaped by other stakeholders. According to the authors, there are two major reasons of why business starts to voluntarily involve in environmental protection: corporate reputation (intangible value) and eco-efficiency (tangible value). The book is a big contribution to the empirical studies of how business operation has been shaped by environmental protection and vice versa. I recommend the book to environmental experts, project managers and corporate environmentalists.