Peatlands and Environmental Change

Due to an awareness of peatlands as a diminishing resource,peatland conservation and rehabilitation has become an importantstudy area. Peatlands and Environmental Change offers a newapproach by considering peatlands as a whole ecosystem, and therebyprovides a better understanding of the importance and theconsequences of the functioning of peatlands.

Contents include:






* Peat and peatlands
* Peat landforms and structure
* Peatland hydrology and ecology
* Origins and pest initiation
* Peat accumulation
* The peatland archive: palaeoenvironmental evidence
* Autogenic change
* Allogenic change
* Peatland - environmental feedbacks
* Values, exploitation and human impacts
* Conservation management and restoration Preface and Acknowledgments.

PART I: INTRODUCTION.

Peat and Peatlands.

Peat Landforms and Structure.

PART II: PEATLAND PROCESSES.

Peatland Hydrology and Ecology.

Origins and Peat Initiation.

Peat Accumulation.

PART III: CHANGES IN PEATLANDS.

The Peatland Archive: Palaeoenvironmental Evidence.

Autogenic Change.

Allogenic Change.

Peatland -
Environment Feedbacks.

PART IV: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

Values, Exploitation and Human Impacts.

Conservation Management and Restoration.

References.

Index. "...an ideal introduction to peatlands..." (Journal of Soils & Sediments, Vol.2, No.3, 2002)

"...a welcome and timely addition..." (Land Degradation and Development, November/December 2002)

“...a comprehensive summary of peatland science...it will broaden specialists' and students' knowledge..." (International Journal of Environment Studies, Vol.60, No.2, 2003)

"…certainly a book that should be on the shelves of all peatland researchers…" (Environmental Conservation, Vol.30, No.1, 2003)

"...This text is a welcome addition to the peatlands bookshelf .... It will also be required reading for anyone embarking on research into Holocence peatlands environments, past or present...." (Journal of Quaternary Science, July 2003)

"...a welcome and timely addition to the library...highly recommended..." (Land Degradation and Development, 2002)

Dan Charman is the author of Peatlands and Environmental Change, published by Wiley.

Peatlands and Environmental Change provides a comprehensive summary of peatland science. The emphasis is on peatlands as dynamic parts of the landscape that are undergoing constant change as a result of processes of peat accumulation and development, as well as through human activity and climatic variability.

The book is divided into four parts that look in turn at the nature of peatland classification and terminology, hydrological and ecological processes and peatland growth, changes in peatlands and their influence on the environment, and resource management issues. Each chapter is supported by examples from all the main peatland regions and site types including New Zealand, Australia and the tropics, as well as Europe and North America.

Peatlands and Environmental Change is an ideal introduction to peatlands for those developing an understanding of these ecosystems, and for specialists who wish to broaden their knowledge.