Offering a cutting-edge, transdisciplinary approach to bio-physical and bio-cultural scales of sustainability, this Companion explores diverse understandings of the what, how, why and where questions of sustainability. It examines the key notion of how to optimize human quality of life whilst minimizing environmental suffering.

Integrating a range of disciplines through the social sciences, natural sciences and arts and humanities, this Companion focuses on the human component of sustainability, using a place-based and life-scape approach to environmental questions. Chapters analyze critical topics including: urbanization and city life, environmental conservation and rural landscapes, long-term interactions with natural life, climate change and the importance of mountain regions. Looking beyond an economic analysis of sustainability and well-being, this Companion incorporates cross-cutting social, cultural, judicial and spiritual dimensions of sustainability and regenerative development.

With a combination of international case studies and an interdisciplinary framework for understanding the topic, this will be an interesting read for those studying sustainability from a range of disciplinary bases including ecological economists, human ecologists and geographers. It will also be beneficial to urban planners and ecologists interested in how the profoundly impactful evolutionary trend towards the urban environment is impacting human geographies around the world.



Contributors include: B. Antaki, J. Balsiger, A. Barreau, S. Boillat, B. Boley, A. Borsdorf, F. Boyer, M. Bush, J.B. Campbell, M. Carré, R. Cheddadi, T.J. Christoffel, B. Debarbieux , M.E. Donoso-Correa, N. Dudley, W. Dunbar, F. Ficetola, L. François, L.M. Frolich, E. Guevara, J.A. González, A. Haller, C.P. Harden, D. Harmon, A.-J. Henrot, S.L. Hitchner, G.A. Holdridge, K. Huang, J.T. Ibarra, K. Ichikawa, E.A. Macdonald, C. Mena, C. Merchant, A. Michaels, C. Monterrubio-Solís, E. Müller, M. Navarro, H. Norberg-Hodge, M. Oliva, S. Padgett-Vasquez, S.E. Pilaar Birch, D. Quiroga, J.K. Reap, L.M. Resler, A. Rhoujjati, R. Rozzi, F.O. Sarmiento, J.W. Schelhas, Y. Shao, C. Stadel, P. Taberlet, K. Taylor, S.J. Walsh, K.R. Young, Z. Zheng, F.M. Zimmermann, S. Zimmermann-Janschitz