Biological Extinction

The rapidly increasing human pressure on the biosphere is pushing biodiversity into the sixth mass extinction event in the history of life on Earth. The organisms being exterminated are integral working parts of our planet's life support system, and their loss is permanent. Like climate change, this irreversible loss has potentially devastating consequences for humanity. As we come to recognise the many ways in which we depend on nature, this can pave the way for a new ethic that acknowledges the importance of co-existence between humans and other species. Biological Extinction features chapters contributed by leading thinkers in diverse fields of knowledge and practice, including biology, economics, geology, archaeology, demography, architecture and intermediate technology. Drawing on examples from various socio-ecological systems, the book offers new perspectives on the urgent issue of biological extinction, proposing novel solutions to the problems that we face.

One of the first books to take an interdisciplinary approach to the important issues of biodiversity and biological extinction
Presents a diverse range of views on the issues of biological extinction from some of the leading academics of our time
Argues that biodiversity loss should join climate change on the public agenda as an issue that urgently needs addressing for our future well-being
Contains papers presented at a joint meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Science and the Pontifical Academy of Social Science and held at the Academy, Vatican City

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'This volume provides an informative reference for policy makers and practitioners, offering new perspectives on biological extinction that adopt principles of social justice and sustainability.' R. A. Delgado, Jr, Choice

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Product details

Published: October 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781108711814
Length: 462 pages
Dimensions: 228 × 152 × 22 mm
Weight: 0.77kg
Availability: Available

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Contents

Introduction Partha Dasgupta and Peter Raven
Prologue. Extinction: what it means to us Martin Rees
1. Extinction in deep time: lessons from the past? Neil Shubin
2. Biodiversity and global change: from creator to victim Timothy Lenton
3. The state of the world's biodiversity Stuart Pimm and Peter Raven
4. Extinction threats to life in the ocean and opportunities for their amelioration Jenna Sullivan, Vanessa Constant and Jane Lubchenco
5. Out of the soil: soil (dark matter biodiversity) and societal 'collapses' from Mesoamerica to the Mesopotamia and beyond Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach and Nicholas Dunning
6. The Green Revolution and crop biodiversity Prabhu Pingali
7. Population: the current state and future prospects John Bongaarts
8. Game over? Drivers of biological extinction in Africa Calestous Juma
9. Why we're in the sixth great extinction and what it means to humanity Partha Dasgupta and Paul Ehrlich
10. The consequences of biodiversity loss for human well-being Charles Perrings and Ann Kinzig
11. Terra incognita: in search of the disconnect Mathis Wackernagel
12. How do we stem biodiversity loss? Gretchen Daily and Stephen Polasky
13. Can smart villages help to stem biodiversity loss? Brian Heap, John Holmes and Bernie Jones
14. The new design condition: planetary urbanism + resource scarcity + climate change John Hoal.

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Contributors

Partha Dasgupta, Peter Raven, Martin Rees, Neil Shubin, Timothy Lenton, Stuart Pimm, Jenna Sullivan, Vanessa Constant, Jane Lubchenco, Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, Nicholas Dunning, Prabhu Pingali, John Bongaarts, Calestous Juma, Paul Ehrlich, Charles Perrings, Ann Kinzig, Mathis Wackernagel, Gretchen Daily, Stephen Polasky, Brian Heap, John Holmes, Bernie Jones, John Hoal

Editors

Partha Dasgupta , University of Cambridge
Partha Dasgupta is the Frank Ramsey Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Cambridge, Chair of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge. He was knighted in 2002 for his services to economics, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society, Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, and Member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He won the Volvo Environment Prize in 2002, the Blue Planet Prize in 2015 and the Tyler Prize in 2016.
Peter Raven , Missouri Botanical Garden
Peter Raven is the President Emeritus of Missouri Botanical Garden and the George Engelmann Professor of Botany Emeritus at Washington University, St Louis. He is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Foreign Member of the Royal Society, and Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He won the Volvo Environment Prize in 1992, the International Cosmos Prize in 2003, and the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal in 2018.
Anna McIvor , University of Cambridge
Anna McIvor completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, and has since worked as a post-doctoral research associate in the Departments of Zoology and Geography at the University of Cambridge.

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