Global Environmental Change

Understanding the science and management of natural resources is fundamental for sustainable development. The rates of degradation of natural resource stock coupled with the nexus between environmental change, human well-being, and disaster vulnerability call for special focus on existing national policies and international frameworks on natural resources in developing countries. This book demonstrates the interconnectedness of landcover change, ecosystems degradation, loss of natural resource stock, and vulnerability of communities. It highlights how oil exploration activity, as a driver of ecosystems change, has indirectly and severely compromised environment and livelihood. It deals with sound environmental management as an important ingredient of disaster preparedness. It shows that policy instruments, statutes and regulations for environment are useless without critical threshold indicators. This book is useful for students taking courses in natural resource and ecosystems management, geo-environmental sciences and disaster vulnerability. It is also recommended for researchers and practitioners in environment and natural resources, coastal zone, and disaster management