Antarctic futures : human engagement with the Antarctic environment /

Antarctic Futures, based on a session held during the Oslo Science Conference (Norway) in 2010, focuses on the impact of human activities and regional environmental change in the polar regions, especially the strategies necessary to establish management priorities to protect polar ecosystems in light of rapidly increasing human activity in the Antarctic. Chapter 1, "Setting the Scene: Human Activities, Environmental Impacts and Governance Arrangements in Antarctica," is followed by 14 chapters organized into four sections with summaries. Part 1 explores the past, present, and future of Antarctic species and ecosystems, which are under protection because of the Antarctic Treaty System and other international agreements. Part 2 reviews three Antarctic regions, examining the varying environmental situations, management models, and strategic planning needs for making holistic predictions about the entire Antarctic region. Part 3 considers what is used and valued in the region from the perspectives of Antarctic stakeholders, e.g., NGOs and scientific researchers. The conclusion in part 4 synthesizes the aforementioned chapters to propose future possibilities for sustaining and protecting the Antarctic environment. Broad and thoughtful in its approach, this work is a noteworthy addition to the expanding canon of analyses of the human impact on and the future of Antarctica. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. H. Doss Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago