This work provides an in-depth perspective and update on special topics in Global Environmental Change in relation to Human Security. It offers an overview of new Joint Projects of the four International Global Change Programmmes and on research efforts in Germany. It is also an up-to-date report on emerging necessities in Global Environmental Change research, and a collection of suggestions for its future evolution.
Disparate perceptions and conceptual frameworks of the environment and the human-nature relationship often lead to confusion, constraints on cooperation, and even conflict in addressing urgent environmental research and policy challenges. These disparities stem from various factors, including cultural, religious, and ethical differences, scientific methodologies, political and social traditions, lifestyles, consumption patterns, and economic paradigms. The distribution of poverty and wealth between the global north and south reflects these disparities, complicating universal evaluations. This volume explores a wide range of factors influencing "Environment across Cultures," aiming to identify strategies for better understanding and managing these differences within future global environmental research and policy agendas. It seeks to bridge the gap between ecology and economy as well as between societies. Based on a scientific symposium, the book covers sections on Cross-Cultural Perception of Environment, Ethics and Nature, and Environment, Sustainability, and Society. Contributions come from renowned authors across various cultural spheres, aligning with the inter-cultural approach of this initiative.
This volume features revised presentations from the International Conference on "Understanding the Earth System: Compartments, Processes and Interactions," held in Bonn from November 24-26, 1999. Organized by the German National Committee on Global Change Research as part of the Bonn Science Festival 1999-2000, the event received generous support from sfg Strukturforderungsgesellschaft Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Ahrweiler mbH, which is gratefully acknowledged. Additional funding for workshops and publications came from the German Federal Ministry for Science and Research (BMBF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany's major research funding agency. The editors express their gratitude for the assistance, advice, and patience of those who contributed to this volume. The contributions aim to document debates on critical issues within the emerging field of earth system science and to encourage necessary scientific discussions. While efforts were made to maintain consistency in terminology, style, and quotation methods, the diversity of contributors has led to some discrepancies. The contents include a panorama of earth system analysis from both scientific and humanistic perspectives, starting with an examination of the transition from global change research to earth system science.
Aus dem Inhalt: Eckart Ehlers / Hermann Kreutzmann: High mountain ecology and economy: potential and constraints Georg Stöber / Hiltrud Herbers: Animal husbandry in domestic economies: organization, legal aspects and present changes of mixed mountain agriculture in Yasin Reinhard Fischer: Coming down from the mountain pastures: decline of high pasturing and changing patterns of pastoralism in Punial Eckart Ehlers: Pastoralism in the Bagrot: Spatial organization and economic diversity Hermann Kreutzmann: Livestock economy in Hunza: societal transformation and pastoral practices Matthias Schmidt: Pastoral systems in Shigar/Baltistan: communal herding management and pasturage rights Jürgen Clemens / Marcus Nüsser: Pastoral management strategies in transition: indicators from the Nanga Parbat region (NW-Himalaya) Hilturd Herbers: Why are mountain farmers vegetarians? Nutritional and non-nutritional dimensions of animal husbandry in High Asia
Im Anthropozän ist der Mensch (Stichwort: Klimawandel) ein entscheidender Faktor für die Entwicklung der Umwelt. Eckart Ehlers zeichnet die Veränderungen der Mensch-Umwelt-Beziehungen von frühgeschichtlicher Zeit bis heute nach und zeigt mit Texten, Originaldokumenten und Grafiken, wie sich die Geographie aus dieser Auseinandersetzung mit der Erde entwickelt hat.