forests

The modernization, the declinist, and the inclinist paradigms of the late twentieth century, despite their differences, all tended to frame environmental change in a unilinear Nature-to-Culture fashion, which in turn entailed homogenizing the agency, process, and outcome of environmental change. This article examines the characteristics of each paradigm, as well as some of the paradoxes that have arisen in their wake. Finally, it looks to alternative approaches.

Intended to address the alarming rate of deforestation worldwide, this series documents the efforts of indigenous peoples across the globe to find alternatives to exploitative and destructive forest practices.

This is the story of the Wayana people in French Amazonia, whose future is threatened following the arrival of gold miners.

For nearly a century, we have relied increasingly on science and technology to harness natural forces, but at what environmental and social cost?

Reinhold Reith, Carson Fellow from October 2009 to March 2010, talks about his work on ‘An Environmental History of the Early Modern Period.’

The author argues that the analysis of historical energy systems can provide an explanation for the basic patterns of different social formations.

An introduction to the seven papers in this issue of Environment and History. The papers are based on presentations to the seventh conference of the Australian Forest History Society, held early in 2007 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Only in recent times have serious historical studies been published about floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storm tides, forest-fires, and other natural disasters and their effects on human life.

Professional forest management in the Philippines is largely attributed to the ideas and endeavours of American foresters such as Gifford Pinchot, George Ahern and Henry Graves who were instrumental in establishing the Insular Bureau of Forestry in 1900 and in passing the forestry laws of 1904 and 1905.

While many saw the landscape transformation which followed the European settlement of New Zealand as firmly within the prevailing ‘doctrine of progress,’ this transformation was viewed with misgivings by others, who observed how deforestation led to erosion and floods, and advocated more prudent forest management.