Book Review

Environment Concerns and Perspectives edited by Sudip Datta Banik, Saikat Kumar Basu and Amit Krishna De. Publisher: A.P.H. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, India. ISBN: 81-313-0170-2. 2007. Physical Description: xxiv+359p., Illustrations; Tables; Figures; 23cm. Book format: Hard cover. Language: English. Price: US $ 35.10, Indian Rs 895.

Reviewed by Dr. Sanjib Nandy*
Guyana Journal, September 2009
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Conservation of environment is of utmost importance for the existence of human civilization in the world. Designing for effective strategies to protect biodiversity is receiving considerable attention from scientists as well as policymakers. In this context, this timely peer-reviewed volume is a prized collector's item. The volume is multidisciplinary in scope and global in its outline aspect. This book is a result of collaborative efforts by researchers, academics, scientists, technologists, sociologist, environmentalist and government officials from India and Canada. This is a very important aspect of this volume as this provides the readers with glimpses of thoughts and views across a wide cross section of the global society in a well-rounded vivid display of major global environmental issues. The editors did an excellent job in bringing together a multitude of current thoughts, available technology, environmental principles and philosophies all under one roof in a single platform.

In addition to the Foreword, Preface and Introduction sections, this book is subdivided into three major sections. Section I contains six chapters, primarily discussing the protection of human heath and environmental hazard in a clear format that is understandable to non specialist readers. This section has nicely illustrated several critical environmental and health issues from different perspectives. In chapter 1, P.M. Mullick evaluates the potential of black tea for arsenic problem in eastern India and Bangladesh. In this part of the world black tea infusion is a common everyday beverage and it is a viable method for protecting against the genotoxic effects of arsenic from drinking water. In Chapter 2, P. Pushpangadan discusses important aspects of the biosafety issues related to the development of such advanced technology. Genetically Modified Organisms and Living Modified Organisms have adverse impact on the environment. C. Kim discussed some important biotic agents (like West Nile Virus and Ixodidae) and their impact on North American health and environment in a series of two articles (Chapters 3 and 4). In Chapter 5, Bisai et al. highlighted on the statistical analysis of maternal health parameters and environmental causal factors; while Mukherjee et al. in Chapter 6 reviewed bio-anthropological parameters of exposure to chronic arsenicosis in West Bengal, the most seriously arsenic-affected state in India.

Section II comprising six chapters explores the protection and conservation of natural environment. It presents detailed reviews on conservation of biodiversity and recognizes some management preferences that might promote the conservation values. Human impacts on global wildlife population in developed and developing country by S.K. Basu, is an important contribution in Chapter 7, highlighting the patterns and causal factors of vanishing wildlife across the globe. Case studies on forest conservation practices by R. Mitra (Chapter 8) is an interesting article and in and in Chapter 9 S. Das gives an overview about ecotourism in human society and the role of ecotourism in meeting the conservation of ecology specially in the Sunderban area. In Chapter 10, F. Nogarin highlights on the failures and success of the different biological conservation practices in developing and developed countries. The striking contrast in the conservation approaches and practices in different parts of the globe will provide the readers with the pros and cons of modern environmental management practices and how successful they have been in preventing extinction of endangered and vulnerable species. Water crisis and women issues and environmental sociology by P. Chakraborty in Chapter 11 provides thoughtful insights into the society of a developing country and indicates the direction we are going to develop a better environment for our future generations. Chapter 12 discusses the potential role of sustainable development in the world by S. Gupta. The editors have nicely arranged the articles in a dramatic series to highlight the problems and prospects of present day burning environmental issues.

The six chapters under Section III address the pros and cons of the environmental concerns and consciousness. In Chapter 13, K.E. Gaalan provides an overview on global environmental change and carbon dioxide exchange by model species of mosses in a Canadian perspective. Chapter 14, by M. Paul and S. Paul discusses prospects of bioplastic technology for managing our fragile ecosystem. In Chapter 15, S. Chaterjee highlighted the potentiality of scientific communications and its relationship with environmental protection. Nature based tourism plays one of the key role in sustainable development as an alternative to conventional mass-tourism. So that, promotion of nature based tourism in western Rarh of West Bengal and Jharkhand in eastern India, is the subject of Chapter 16 by R. Ray; while Santra et al. discuss the role of urban greening in conservation of ecology for human civilisation in Chapter 17. Such approaches have now been recognized as significant steps in the conservation and protection of environment. Lastly, in a very important study by A. Saha, on bio-statistical analysis for female nuptiality in India and Bangladesh, highlights the demographic problems and its relation to the environment in Chapter 18. Social customs and prejudices might have played a vital role in describing the nuptiality behavior in different religions.

All the contributors not only pinpointed several critical environmental issues through their active and engaging research, but have also provided affordable suggestions and solutions to those challenges. Most of the articles are well cited and edited and provide a good insight of several current ecological and environmental issues at different parts of the world.

A small but comprehensive preface and a leading introduction are assets for this book as this provides the readers with the tools for step in approach to travel across the accompanying pages.

Most of the articles are worthy of reading, but of special mentions are the articles on GMOs, West Nile Virus, arsenic poisoning, anthropogenetic impacts on vanishing global wildlife, ecotourism, environmental impact and assessment, sustainable development, urban greening, bioplastic technology and nature based tourism. Although few typographical errors have been noticed in the present volume, the quality of articles and the information provided are highly appreciable. The hardcover get up of the book is certainly going to attract the readers and a nice comprehensive index will help the readers to fish out any technical terms that they may hit upon while digging through the pages.

As stated in the beginning, this is a timely and valuable contribution that fills a conspicuous void in areas of regional as well as global environmental concerns. The various chapter authors and editors have done an excellent job for including different stake holders associated with the realms of ecology and environmental sciences, forestry, applied ecology, human ecology, environmental sociology, environmental philosophy, bioethics and conservation biology. This volume will certainly cater to the needs and aspirations of general environmental enthusiasts and readers, NGOs, extension specialists, policymakers and students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of related disciplines mentioned above. It will nicely fit in college and university libraries as reference for professionals and researchers in the related fields. The editors have expressed in the Preface of the book that they would come up with the “…..next volume in the not so distant future”. Hope to see another enchanting and scholarly piece of work from them in future.

*Department of Plant Science
Crop Development Centre
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan, Canada
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