The contribution of economic thought and method to environmental
management needs practical illustration. Too few books on the subject
achieve such an outcome. This book is among the notable exceptions. That
economics can provide a powerful vehicle for communicating an integrated
understanding of the often diverse scientific findings germane to
environmental im- pact assessment needs to be illustrated convincingly.
This book does just that. But it does more. It speaks across cultures:
not to transfer know-how from one culture to another, but rather to
activate an effective exchange of insights from one locale on the planet
to another. As such, it is a genuine contribution to the great en-
vironmental exhortation of our times - think globally, act locally. Too
often the people best placed to make such contributions are too
committed to practical outcomes and making a living doing so. Just
occasionally, however, they can be persuaded to make the special effort
required to communicate globally. In this book, David James has once
again orchestrated the contributions of vir- tuoso performers. In doing
so he has emulated the contribution he sustained throughout the
International Drylands Project and preparation of the books written with
John Dixon and Paul Sherman: The Economics ofDry/and Management and Case
Studies in Dry/and Management (Earthscan, London). Taken together with
his recent work as Special Commissioner for the path- breaking national
Forest and Timber Inquiry for the Australian Government, we have a body
of work characterised by great worthiness, integrity and true global
significance.
