The exclusive role of natural ecosystems is a key factor in the
maintenance of the biospheric equilibrium. The current global crisis is
largely caused by their dramatic decline by 43% in the past hundred
years. Ignoring the immutable laws and limitations which determine the
existence of all living things in the biosphere could lead humanity to
an ecological catastrophe. This book presents the ecological,
demographic, economic and socio-psychological manifestations of the
global crisis and outlines the immutable laws and limitations which
determine the existence of all living things in the biosphere.
The authors are eminently qualified to write about the problems
associated with the global crisis and consider the causes behind
humanity's conflict with its environment. V. Danilov-Danilian, Associate
of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russia's former Minister of the
Environment, and K. Losev, professor at Moscow State university, are
leading Russian ecologists and I. Reyf is a journalist who specializes
in ecology and global development. Dr. Danilov-Danilian works on the
economics of nature management, economic and mathematical model
building, sustainable development theory and ecology. Dr Losev is the
chief researcher and head of the division of the VINITI. All the authors
have published numerous papers, articles and books on such subjects as
glaciology, hydrology, environment studies, global change and
sustainable development.