Geoenvironmental Sustainability
Features
Summary
Industrialization, urbanization, agriculture, and resource exploitation are activities associated with a developing society. Geoenvironmental Sustainability focuses on such a society's geoenvironment and the natural capital that defines it. The book explains these elements in systematic detail, particularly with respect to their relationship to five thematic areas known as WEHAB: water and sanitation, energy, health, agriculture, and biodiversity - all factors identified as key areas of concern by the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
This significant reference addresses topics that include land environment sustainability pertaining to its interaction with the impacts generated by industrial and urbanization activities - in particular with various waste discharges; the magnitude of the problem of urbanization and industries; nonrenewable natural resources, typical case histories, and examples of sustainability actions; and the geoenvironmental perspective of the present status of where we are in the geoenvironmental sustainability framework, with a view that points toward where we need to go.
Providing a geoenvironmental perspective on the sustainability of the environment, Geoenvironmental Sustainability is an essential resource for those who are poised to meet the challenge of mitigating manmade threats associated with development.
Table of Contents
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Geoenvironment, Ecosystems, and Resources
Geoenvironment as a Natural Resource Base
WEHAB and the Geoenvironment
Sustainability
Concluding Remarks
References
CONTAMINATION AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL LAND MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Contamination and Geoenvironmental Impacts
Wastes, Pollutants, and Threats
Surface and Subsurface Soils
Pollutant Transport and Land Contamination
Geoenvironmental Land Management
Concluding Remarks
References
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Uses of Water and Its Importance
Characterization of Water Quality, Management, and Monitoring
Sustainable Water Treatment and Management
Concluding Remarks
References
URBANIZATION AND THE GEOENVIRONMENT
Introduction
Land Uses by Urbanization
Impact of Urbanization on WEHAB
Impact Avoidance and Risk Minimization
Mitigation and Remediation of Impacts
Concluding Remarks
References
NATURAL RESOURCES EXTRACTION AND LAND USE IMPACTS
Introduction
Sulfide Minerals and Acid Mine Drainage
Resource Extraction and Land Use
Sustainable Land Use
Remediation and Treatment of Mining Sites and Wastes
Concluding Remarks
References
FOOD PRODUCTION AND THE GEOENVIRONMENT
Introduction
Land Use for Food Production
Impact of Food Production on WEHAB
Tools for Evaluating Sustainability in Agriculture
Changes in Agricultural Practices to Reduce Impact
Concluding Remarks
References
INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY AND THE GEOENVIRONMENT
Concept of Industrial Ecology
Industry Activities and Geoenvironmental Interactions
Mineral Mining and Processing Downstream Industries
Agro-Processing Industries
Petrochemical and Chemical Industries
Service Industries
Contaminating Discharges and Wastes
Concluding Remarks
References
COASTAL MARINE ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY
Introduction
Coastal Marine Environment and Impacts
London Convention and Protocol
Quality of Marine Sediments
Rehabilitation of Coastal Marine Environment
Creation of a Natural Purification System
Sea Disposal of Waste
Coastal Erosion
Concluding Remarks
References
CONTAMINANTS AND TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY
INDICATORS
Introduction
Indicators
Assessment of Interaction Impacts
Pollutant Transport and Fate
Surface Complexation and Partitioning
Persistence and Fate
Prediction of Transport and Fate of Pollutants
Concluding Remarks
References
POLLUTANT IMPACT MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Soils for Pollution Mitigation and Control
Natural Attenuation Capability of Soils
Natural Attenuation and Impact Management
Lines of Evidence
Evidence of Success
Engineered Mitigation Control Systems
Concluding Remarks
References
TOWARD GEOENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Introduction
Exploitation and State of Renewable Natural Resources
Water and Soil Quality Indicators
Sustainability Attempts
Concluding Remarks: Toward Geoenvironmental Sustainability
References
INDEX
