Royston, Michael G.

RERO DOC Digital Library

84 Environmental Conservationof attempts to bring scientific vigour to the measure-ments that were made, and to use the emerging data togenerate interesting and fruitful hypotheses. Time andagain, the reader has the feeling that this study sets thestandard for the many others of its type which are badlyneeded, for practical as well as academic purposes; inaddition, the book will be of considerable use forteaching in numerous subjects, especially ecology andenvironmental science.A fascinating glimpse into the minds (and hearts?)of the Authors is given in their 'Epilog', which consistsof two-and-a-half pages of quotations from AldoLeopold's Sand County Almanac: The inclusion of thismaterial leaves me in no doubt that the lessons from thisstudy—and especially the data from the watershedmanipulation experiments which are to come in latervolumes^—are meant to be applied in the service ofenvironmental conservation.IanG. Simmons(Bristol, United Kingdom)Systems Analysis of Mediterranean Desert Ecosystemsof Northern Egypt (SAMDENE), by MOHAMED AAY AD. (Progress Report No. 4, Vol. II: Animal andSocio-economic Studies.) University of Alexandria,Alexandria, Egypt: 27 X 21 X 2.3 cm, variously (i.e.sectionally) paginated (mimeogr.), figs & tables, stiffpaper cover, [no price indicated], 1978.This is a collection of reports of work in progress(volumes on plant studies and soil studies/climaticrecords have also been published) on the impact ofvarious land-use types upon desert ecosystems. VolumeII contains sections on vertebrates (Mammals andReptiles); invertebrates (epigeal and soil fauna);NationalParks and nature protection in the northwestern coastalzone of Egypt; chemical analysis of animals; the flow ofenergy in the western desert, and socio-economic aspects.The contributions consist either of primary datawhich will be of interest only to specialists, or outlinesof possible study programmes (e.g. the last three topics)without any new substantive material. Nowhere isthere any systems analysis of the type we have come toexpect for instance from the Van Dyne school, and wemay suppose that this will appear in a subsequentvolume.Ian G.Simmons(Bristol, United Kingdom)Greenhouse Management, by J. J. HANAN, W. D.HOLLEY & K. L. GOLDSBERRY. (Advanced Series inAgricultural Sciences 5.) Springer-Verlag, Berlin—Heidel-berg-New York: xiv +530 pp., figs & tables, 24 X 17 X2.7 cm, DM 94 or US $47, 1978.The advance in greenhouse technology in the lasttwenty years has been unprecedented, and the presentvolume is a major specialist work produced by threeexperts from the Department of Agriculture, ColoradoState University. It is comprehensive in its scope andbrings together the economic and technological aspectsof a subject that should be of more than minor interestto students of environmental conservation.The object of growing in greenhouses is to producehigh-yield crops under ideal and controlled environmen-tal conditions. It has become a highly complicatedmatter, with its own special technology; but, as theEditors point out, for many years the greenhousegrower, manager, and student, have lacked an up-to-date textbook. This has now been provided in a volumethat can be confidently recommended to all those whoare involved in this vocation.The book is well-indexed and there are comprehen-sive references. Perhaps some of the illustrations couldhave been of better quality, for a lack of clarifyingdetail is often associated with the reproduction ofblack-and-white photographs. This does nothing, how-ever, to diminish the overall value of this work, whichwould find a ready place on the bookshelves of all whoare involved in this expanding industry.Clifford B. Holliday(Lausanne, Switzerland)Energy and Reality: Three Perceptions, by JAMESW. BENSON. Institute for Ecological Policies, 9208Christopher Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030: 38 pp.,20.6 X 19.5 X 0.3 cm, paperback, $1.50, 1977.Environmental Impact of Nuclear Power-Plants. Pro-ceedings of a Conference held 26—30 November 1974,Edited by R. A. KARAM & K. Z. MORGAN. PergamonPress, New York-Toronto—Oxford-Sydney-Braun-schweig-Paris: ix + 546 pp., figs & tables, 28.5 X 21.5X 3.5 cm, US$35, 1976.The intimate interactions between energy andenvironment are nowhere better exemplified than by theperceptive observations of James Benson, from whomwe have the following:A. The energy problem is essentially a problem ofdeveloping new supplies to meet the ever-expandingenergy demands of a growth-oriented consumersociety: simultaneously, conservation technologyneeds to be adopted to reduce wasted energy.B. The energy problem is basically a matter ofincreasingly intolerable social, environmental, andeconomic, costs of continued energy usage. Energydemands need to be cut, with changes made equitableby supporting legislation.C. The energy problem is but one manifestation of afar more fundamental crisis involving nothing lessthan the basic assumptions and goals of all industri-alized societies. Radical changes in our values andinstitutions must be made soon in order to move toa more democratic and ecologically sustainable soci-ety and to avoid global catastrophe.The environmental impact of nuclear power-plantswas the subject of a conference held at the School ofNuclear Engineering of the Georgia Institute of Tech-nology, which, despite being overshadowed by morerecent events—such as the Harrisburg and Three MileIsland incidents—provides a broad survey of the issuesof plant-site selection, ecology, radioactive waste,thermal pollution, the preparation of environmentalimpact statements, and cost—benefit analysis.This rather heavy diet is relieved by enlightened andenlightening contributions from such notable figures asEugene P. Odum and Beatrice E. Willard, which make itworth returning to.Michael G. Royston(Nr Geneva, Swtterland)https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900006974Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 12:30:24, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at

Book Review: Energy and Reality: Three Perceptions: Energy and Reality: Three Perceptions, by BensonJames W.. Institute for Ecological Policies, 9208 Christopher Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030: 38 pp., 20.6 × 19.5 × 0.3 cm, paperback, $1.50, 1977

Book Review: Energy and Reality: Three Perceptions: Energy and Reality: Three Perceptions, by BensonJames W.. Institute for Ecological Policies, 9208 Christopher Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030: 38 pp., 20.6 × 19.5 × 0.3 cm, paperback, $1.50, 1977

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

RERO DOC Digital Library