Sustainability Science

A new paradigm for 'use-inspired' research, informed decision making and development of science-based policy is emerging at the very heart of the global sustainability transition.  Sustainability science attempts to unravel the complexities of the coupled Human-Environment System and address the core sustainability challenges of the 21st century:?   Reconciling society's development goals with the planet's environmental limits?   Understanding the fundamental character of interactions between nature and society?  Advancing the social and technological knowledge related to sustainability, and using such  knowledge for action? Balancing social and environmental well-being, quality of life, and equity with wise-management and conservation of natural resourcesThe topics in this book focus on emerging research and policy in, a) sustainability science, b) the ecology of cities, c) landscape ecology - scale, spatial patterns, organizational levels, and ecological processes, and d) related topics in resource exploitation and management, the valuation of natural and social capital, habitat and biodiversity conservation, social learning, ecosystem based management, and integrated watershed-coastal zone management.