Environmental Management in Australia, 1788-1914 by J.M. Powell (Secondhand Book)

Description SECOND HAND BOOK During the period 1788-1914 the Australian environment was irrevocably altered for future generations. Complex ecosystems were totally destroyed or rendered unproductive from any viewpoint and the attitudes of the Australian public towards the native fauna, flora and landscapes, and to a lesser extent towards the ‘built environment’ of rural and urban settlement, became deeply entrenched. As far as possible the failures of environmental management during these formative years must be seen through the eyes of the people of the day; it is also vitally necessary to examine the counteracting processes by which certain groups and individuals gradually won some success in contributing towards the ‘improvement’ and ‘modernization’ of what was then an ‘under-developed’ country by promoting important principles of conservation and resource appraisal, and by injecting what they called ‘efficiency’ and ‘expertise’ into the working of public policy. Until very recently the environmental values and attitudes of Australian Society scarcely differed from those of the nineteenth century. The historical-cultural approach explored in this book contributes a valuable documentation of our progress towards the present dangerous position, in which we seem content either to blame the politicians or seek answers of the bureaucrats. Deliberately focusing on the south-eastern crescent where most Australians have sought a living, Dr Powell has selected a small number of themes in urban management and in the management of land, forest, and water resources. He emphasizes the conflicting aims within the emerging nation and highlights the importance of placing the Australian story in wider perspective, drawing special attention to the significance of contemporary British and American experience in environmental management. This brief interpretative essay synthesizes a wide range of material in its presentation of the first introductory history of environmental management in Australia. It is primarily intended to service tertiary-level courses in environmental studies, in the physical and social sciences as in humanities. Specifications: Condition: Fair. General wear to binding and sleave. As well as a few ink markings on the sleeve Publisher: Oxford University Press Year: 1976 Format: Hardcover Pages: 191 ISBN 10: 019550478x