Collections

Africa. This collection is centered on the environmental, economic and social challenges faced by the people of Africa. The goal is to draw attention to the magnitude and complexity of the challenges faced by the African continent in general and each of the countries in particular. The impact of these challenges goes beyond Africa which has one the world’s widest environmental, economic, and social disparities between the countries.

Aldo Leopold. The collection on Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) highlights the life and work of this important and influential figure in the fields of ecology and conservation in twentieth century America. A prolific writer, he is best known as the author of A Sand County Almanac, a slim book of essays that has become an environmental and literary classic. This collection is intended to provide readers with a sense of who Aldo Leopold was, the range and extent of his professional contributions and writing, and the influence he has had – and continues to have – on the practice and philosophy of conservation.

Biodiversity hotspots. The collection on Biodiversity hotspots contains detailed descriptions of some of the world's most important areas of biological diversity as identified by Conservation International. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5 percent of the world’s total) as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat.

Climate change. The collection on Climate change presents a compilation of objective information about climate and climate change. In addition to more complicated topics such as climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation, this collection also includes basic information about factors that contribute to Earth’s climate and the natural climate change that has occurred in the past. By providing information on the fundamentals of climate and climate change science, we aim to help readers develop a better understanding of the challenges that climate change poses to human society and to the planet as a whole.

Coral reefs. The collection on Coral reefs contains information related to coral reef geology, ecology, decline and conservation. The collection was designed to be a comprehensive resource for students, teachers, reporters, scientists, and the general public.

Ecology.The collection on Ecology contains information related to the field of ecology, the science of interactions among living organisms and their environment. Ecology is a dynamic, rapidly advancing field of fundamental importance to human society’s intimate interaction with the natural world. Understanding the scientific foundations of ecology is accordingly critical to an informed citizenry at all levels, beginning with early childhood education. This collection is designed as a resource for students, teachers, and the general public. Articles can be accessed and used individually or in combination as the basis of a course on fundamental principles of ecological science.

Ecoregions. The collection on Ecoregions holds the results from several of the most widley used systems to delineate ecoregions. These include the work of Dr. Robert G. Bailey, a geographer for the U.S Forest Service; the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group (CEC), a joint United States, Mexico, and Canada collaboration;  James Omernik and colleagues at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Environmental and Social Issues in Economics. The collection on Environmental and Social Issues in Economics contains wide-ranging articles on the environment and society from faculty and staff from the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University. Topics include trade and the environment, the economics of fisheries and climate change, environmental taxation, macroeconomics and the environment, among others.

Howard T. Odum. The collection on Howard T. Odum contains material on the life and work of Howard T. Odum, one the twentieth century's most influential scientists who made pioneering contributions to systems theory, ecosystem ecology, ecological engineering, environmental science, and ecological economics. The Collection contains biographies, tributes, timelines, publications, and other resources.

Large Marine Ecosystems. The collection on Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) contains descriptions of the world's LMEs produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Large marine ecosystems are areas of the ocean characterized by distinct bathymetry, hydrology, productivity and trophic interactions. 

Latin America and the Caribbean. This collection focuses on environmental and social issues in the complex and diverse political, cultural, and environmental framework of Latin America and the Caribbean.  As a one of the highest biodiversity “hot spot” of the world, this collection attempts to address this complexity by profiling each country and ecosystem.

Natural World Heritage Sites. The collection on Natural World Heritage Sites contains descriptions of sites on the World Heritage List for natural or mixed natural and cultural reasons. These profiles are compiled and maintained by the United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre on behalf of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Net Energy: Concepts, Issues, and Case Studies. The collection on Net Energy: Concepts, Issues, and Case Studies contains material on the history, concepts, methods, and applications of net energy analysis. Entries include applications to fossil fuels and renewable energy systems.