Sustainability: A Biological Perspective

Half title......Page 1
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
acknowledgement s......Page 13
1.1 Introduction......Page 15
1.2 Science and subjectivity......Page 17
1.3 Roots of sustainability......Page 23
1.4 Conclusion and structure of the book......Page 30
2.1 Introduction......Page 33
2.2 Green is the colour of sustainability......Page 37
2.3 Cropping systems and yield maximisation......Page 42
2.4 The niche: completion and co-existence in cropping systems......Page 56
2.5 Total factor productivity: a microcosm of sustainability......Page 65
2.6 Enhancing TFP: genetic modification......Page 74
2.7 Conclusion......Page 80
3.1 Introduction......Page 82
3.2 The enticing concept of maximum sustainable yield......Page 83
3.3 Managing with the logistic curve: the schaefer model......Page 93
3.4 Applying the Schaefer model......Page 99
3.5 sustainability, chaos and strange attractors......Page 106
3.6 Conclusion......Page 114
4.1 Introduction......Page 116
4.2 Energy, emergy and exergy......Page 119
4.3 Balancing inputs and outputs: material intensity......Page 129
4.3.2 Inventory analysis......Page 133
4.3.3 Impact assessment......Page 134
4.3.4 Interpretation......Page 135
4.4 The natural Steps: setting out rules for sustainability......Page 136
4.5 Gaia: our saviour?......Page 138
4.6 Corporate sustainability......Page 146
4.7 Conclusion......Page 153
5.1 Introduction......Page 156
5.2 Linking economics and environment......Page 157
5.3 Environmental Kuznets Curve: de-linking economic growth and environment impact?......Page 169
5.4 Sustainable livelihoods......Page 174
5.5 Conclusion......Page 182
6.1 Introduction......Page 185
6.2 Ecological footprint: the global repercussion of demand......Page 186
6.3 Food miles......Page 201
6.4 Sustainability indicators and indices......Page 204
6.5 Participatory sustainability......Page 213
6.6 Conclusion......Page 220
7.1 Introduction: the territory......Page 222
7.2 Making it matter: influencing lives......Page 227
7.3 Challenges ahead: some conclusions......Page 232
References......Page 236
Index......Page 260