Earth Science

Old Fields: Dynamics and Restoration of Abandoned Farmland

    Edited by
  • Viki A. Cramer

Paperback

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Sale Price:
$29.00/拢24.00
Price:
$58.00/拢48.00
ISBN:
Published:
Oct 12, 2007
2007
Pages:
352
Size:
6 x 9 in.

Land abandonment is increasing as human influence on the globe intensifies and various ecological, social, and economic factors conspire to force the cessation of agriculture and other forms of land management. The 鈥渙ld fields鈥 that result from abandonment have been the subject of much study, yet few attempts have been made to examine the larger questions raised by old field dynamics.
 
Old Fields brings together leading experts from around the world to synthesize past and current work on old fields, providing an up-to-date perspective on the ecological dynamics of abandoned land. The book gives readers a broad understanding of why agricultural land is abandoned, the factors that determine the ecological recovery of old fields, and how this understanding contributes to theoretical and applied ecology.
 
Twelve case studies from diverse geographical and climatic areas鈥攊ncluding Australian rainforest, Brazilian Amazonia, New Jersey piedmont, and South African renosterveld鈥攐ffer a global perspective on the causes and results of land abandonment. Concluding chapters consider the similarities and differences among the case studies, examine them in the context of ecological concepts, and discuss their relevance to the growing field of restoration ecology.
 
Old Fields is the first book to draw together studies on old fields from both a theoretical and practical perspective. It represents an important contribution to the development of theory on old field dynamics and the practice of ecological restoration on abandoned farmland, and the broader implications of old field dynamics to ecology and restoration.