Seeking Sustainability in an Age of Complexity [Paperback]

Harris weaves together a unique story of the complexity of global and regional sustainability.Using ideas from complexity theory, and its application in the areas of ecology, sociology and economics, this book shows just how complex the idea of achieving sustainability is, when applied at global and regional scales, and will be of interest to ecologists, sociologists and natural resource managers.Using ideas from complexity theory, and its application in the areas of ecology, sociology and economics, this book shows just how complex the idea of achieving sustainability is, when applied at global and regional scales, and will be of interest to ecologists, sociologists and natural resource managers.Seeking Sustainability in an Age of Complexity explains the difficulty of sustainability and why 'collapse' can occur. Using ideas from complexity theory, and its application in the areas of ecology, sociology and economics, Graham Harris weaves together a story showing just how complex the idea of achieving sustainability is, when applied at global and regional scales. This book will be of interest to ecologists, sociologists, economists, natural resource managers and scientists in State and local governments and those involved in water and landscape management.Preface; Dedication; Acknowledgements; 1. Preamble: the world we are in; 2. Complex systems; 3. New science, new tools, new challenges; 4. The complexity of ecology; 5. The generation of complexity; 6. Micro interactions and macro constraints; 7. A changing sense of place; 8. Complexity in created landscapes; 9. Catchment form and function; 10. Catchment loads - ecosystem impacts; 11. Change detection, monitoring and prediction; 12. Evidence, uncertainty and risk; 13. Modified landscapes: biodiversity; 14. Function in modified landscapes; 15. Environmental flows; 16. Evidence for global change; 17. Values and beliefs; 18. Managing environmental, social and economic systems; 19. Linking multiple capitals; 20. Communilc^