3 comments about Nature's Services: Societal Dependence On Natural Ecosystems.

1. Es bien importante que se editen textos en estos temas de economía ambiental pues la subestimación del valor de los ecosistemas para la humanidad surge a partir del poco conocimiento de los ecosistemas, de sus sinergias y los diversos beneficios que brindan, muchos de ellos no reconocidos. Así, este libro aporta elementos importantes, para el proceso de optimización de la utilización de los ecosistemas, desde la perpectiva ambiental, filosófica y económica.



2. I haven't read this book. But I think that maybe it would be good if the only review --which is in spanish-- were translated. I'm supposed to be a native speaker, but I'm more like Tarzan...be that as it may, here's Francisco's review:

   This edition is important on the themes of environmental economy and the underestimation of the health of ecosystems, for humanity surges to break the little known of the ecosystems, of the synergies, and the diverse benefits they bring, much of which we don't know.
   So, this book approaches the important elements, for the process of optimizing the utilization of the ecosystems, from philosophic, environmental, and economic perspectives.

   I made it sound like stereo instrucions, sigh.




3. Are you interested in environmental issues, natural resource policy, or understanding how ecosystems silently enable our society to function? If so you must read this book.
   
   Almost 10 years has passed since this edited volume was published (edited by Gretchen Daily), and there has been considerable progress on some fronts. Accordingly and expectedly, some of the estimates of the values of services are out-dated, but there are crucial contributions here in the framework for understanding and characterizing such ecosystem services (the flow of benefits from ecosystems to people). This book sparked an immense scholarly and public interest in ecosystem services that has not even begun to peak. In order to enable our society to persist sustainably, we *must* understand our dependence on ecosystem services and incorporate this understanding into societal decision-making.
   
   Top-notch scholars contributed to this excellent volume, which continues to be cited frequently in first-rate academic papers and to cause ripples in broader society.

5 comments about Rubbish!: The Archaeology of Garbage.

1. "Rubbish" is a highly academic book about "The Garbage Project" at the University of Arizona's Anthropology Department. The main idea behind "The Garbage Project" is to gain information about society by analyzing garbage patterns in various locations.
   
   Despite being a book about garbage, the contents of the book are quite diverse. The book is divided into 4 parts. The first section, An Introduction to the Garbage Project, gives the background of "The Garbage Project", why it started, what they do, and what they hope to accomplish. This section also discusses how anthropologists use garbage to learn about ancient civilizations. The second section, The Landfill Excavations, discuss the basic theories of landfills, how the team takes samples from landfills, and discusses why biodegradation does not work in landfills. The third section, Interlude: Diapers and Demographics, I found to be highly entertaining. This section has a fascinating chapter on estimating the population of a neighborhood (as well as sex and age) based on the garbage collected from this neighborhood (a study done to initially help the Census Bureau). This section is also filled with useless information such as "There is a link between owning a cat and reading "The National Enquirer"". There is also a detailed discussion about disposable diapers in landfills. The final section, Garbage and the Future, was the most educational by far. This part discusses the serious shortcomings of citywide recycling programs and side effects people never hear about. There are also discussions on alternate garbage disposal methods, such as high tech incinerators used to generate electricity, as well as several other attempts at using technology to turn garbage into a useful product. The section and the book end with a chapter on reducing and addressing garbage disposal.
   
   I think this book will not be for everyone. The book reads like a Master's Thesis at times, rather long and seems to ramble. However, some parts of the book are exceptional (such as the chapter on recycling or "Closing the Loop") and are really an eye opener.
   
   I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in Environmental Sciences. Also, if you can manage to wade through pages of various scientific theories and facts, I'd highly recommend picking this book up! While a little slow reading at times, it is quite informative and I think a real eye opener.



2. This is an overview of the University of Arizona's continuing trash sorting project started in 1972 to document the lifestyle habits of the American public through observing what we eat, what we use in household goods, etc., and then throw out. Socio, political and economic behaviors become evident while recording the fascinating finds in daily trash digging, probing, and quantifying.
   
   This project also included studies at the now closed Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island in New York City where holes were bored all the way to the bottom of the fill and where the studies then took on a more ominous dimension of environmental impact discoveries such as: that the breakdown of trash, even over years, is a myth. The research showed that there is little biodegradation occurring due to compaction and lack of bacterial decomposition, so the researchers found completely intact and recognizable items from food to readable newsprint- even at the bottom of the heap where it was at least 50 years old- same type discoveries of intact trash heaps discovered in ancient Rome, Greece, etc.
   
   Most distressing of the discoveries in the landfill was the discovery of the huge quantity of "leachate"- a toxic liquid stew, that is leaking at the rate of a million gallons a day into New York Harbor.
   
   The book concludes with recommendations on alternatives to landfill as a means to dispose of trash plus recycling and lifestyle changes.
   
   For another enlightening read on all things trash, there is Elizabeth Royte's "Garbage Land"- a personal story of discovery of what her family's trash footprint is and where everything including recyclables ends up- a real eye-opener and an entertaining read!



3. I never thought reading about garbage would be interesting - well, okay, actually I did, otherwise I would have never read this book. I mean that I didn't suspect the book would be so darn interesting. Garbage really sheds a strong light on the culture that generates it. Just think, your garbage tells us a lot about who you are. Future archaeologists are going to love digging through our old garbage in a few thousand years. Oh, what a story it will tell.



4. Great book. Rathje is a engaging figure that delivers a good story - the story of our garbage.
   
   Highly recommended.



5. Rathje's and Murphy's RUBBISH! is insightful and engaging. Their anecdotes about the ironies of environmental movements rallying behind particular causes (like McDonald's styrofoam clam shells), and their analyses of popular misconceptions about waste provide, great food for thought for policy makers and for environmentally-minded individuals concerned about the problems with waste and its disposal. Along the way, the authors demonstrate the utility of archaeological knowledge for dealing with current social challenges. This book is a really great read!

3 comments about Construction Cleanup: A Guide to an Exciting & Profitable Cleaning Specialty.

1. I was considering starting a cleaning business and did a lot of research, this book kept coming up as a "needed" book, that I should purchase. I did purchase the book and have learned so many valuable lessons from it. It is well worth the money and I would recommend it to anyone who is going into the "construction cleaning" business.



2. I'm in the process of building a home and thought this book would give me some good tips to clean up after each trade (plumbers, electricians, etc.) finished their job. It did! A good reference book, not just for "professional" cleaners, but for everyday use.



3. Didn't read it was to busy and forgot where i put it.hope to find and read soon/

2 comments about The Miracles of Barefoot Capitalism: A Compelling Case for Microcredit.

1. The authors wonderfully describe a system of helping underprivileged people (usually women) to use their talents in ways that contribute to health and happiness in their communities, their families, the world at large, and others who will learn from that experience and change their own lives through the microcredit system. As this system expands it will help bring stability to third-world countries and contribute to world peace as a result. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in helping others and understandinhg other cultures.



2. This is a wonderful book full of mind and heart expanding stories of people making it in the third world. Anyone with an interest in learning about positive global forces at work should read this book. The book also brings together information on Microcredit activity from many organizations and provides a terrific handbook of resources. It is extremely well written and quite entertaining with some great pictures.

2 comments about America's Wetland: Louisiana's Vanishing Coast.

1. This is not only a very beautiful coffee table book on Louisiana's wetlands, its wildlife, and people; but it couldn't have come at a more critical time. The chapter entitled "America's Atlantis" on New Orleans predicts exactly what happened to this great American city. If you've ever wanted to know more about not just our vanishing coastline, but also about Louisiana's unique culture, this is THE book!



2. This was a great book! I was especially impressed with the interview they did concerning what would happen to New Orleans if the levees broke. (This was written pre-Katrina.)
   
   Definately a great book for yourself or for a gift.

No comments about Ecotherapy: Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth.

No comments about Ethical Sourcing in the Global Food System.

1 comments about Environmental Management Quick and Easy: Creating an Effective ISO 14001 EMS in Half the Time.

1. I have never written any reviews, so why this one? It's that I was thrilled to read a book that stand true to its title `Environmental Management Quick and Easy'. Besides being a quick and easy read, the author does a wonderful job in explaining in very comprehensive terms every aspects of EMS. The book is organized into 3 Parts. Part 1 explains in details every section of the standards, Part II look after Design and Deployment and Part III wrap up EMS improvements. As a bonus the book accompanied CD-ROM contains tools, cheklist and template - Sample Audit Check List, Aspect Identification checklist, Environment Briefing survey, Environmental Bulletin, Excel Work Book, Project Plan, Management Review Agenda, Project Charter and Project Communication Plan - in brief all ingredients required to boost up your EMS implementation.
   
   If you happen to be part of the EMS team in your organisation like me, look no further, you have a clear winner here, go and grab it, the CD itself worth more than the price of the book. It deserves 6 stars.

1 comments about Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair.

1. I finished the book the other night. It was my favorite bedtime reading material! I really learned a lot about wetland drainage, which I found fascinating. It was really brought home this spring when I uncovered drain tiles in an old field that hadn't been farmed in over 70 years. For anyone who wants to understand the landscape they are looking at and especially those who are interested in wetlands it is a must read.

1 comments about The Triple Bottom Line, Does It All Add Up?: Assessing the Sustainability of Business and CSR.

1. The book contains the contribution of many renowned authors from the Academic and Practitioner's world. This is a very good help to the understanding of the Triple Bottom Line Framework.