The global environment is currently undergoing change on scales which may' with the benefit of
hindsight, be seen to exceed in speed most of those
hitherto experienced during human occupance of the
planet. Undoubtedly, some of these changes are natural,
reflecting the age-old rhythms of the ecosphere as
it makes its evolutionary journey through time. Some
changes, however are undoubtedly anthropogemcally
induced by the increased demands on fm1te resources
which arise from growing population numbers and.the
greater leverage which can be exerted on crucial points
of environmental systems by industrial societies