Book Review.
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THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL |
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Title :
Book Review. |
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Author :
A. Baer |
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Abstract:
Harold Brookfield, Lesley Potter, and Yvonne Byron: In Place of the Forest: Environmental and Socio-economic Transformation in Borneo and the Eastern Malay Peninsula, United Nations University Press, Tokyo, New York, 1995. 310 pages. This book results from a project of the United Nations University on critical zones in global environmental change, part of a program on human and policy dimensions of global change. The authors explore the question of sustainability of the ongoing environmental changes in Borneo and nearby areas, but not for the first time. They have written extensively on deforestation, land use, and development, from Malaysia to Melanesia. They find the principal constraints on environmental health in Borneo to be population growth and economic growth, with the latter heavily dependent on natural resources. The early chapters discuss population densities, geology, soils, forest types, climatic history, political history, traditional lifestyles, mining, oil and coal extraction, cash crops, urbanization, and the timber industry. In Chapter 4 the authors begina closer look at “issues of endangerment and criticality,” starting with forest clearance and loss of biodiversity. In particular, they voice support for enlarging and adequately protecting conservation areas, such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
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| DOI: XXXX |
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How to cite:
A. Baer. (1998). Book Review. The Sarawak Museum Journal, LIII (74): 213-214 |
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References
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