World Ecological Degradation

* Book: Chew, Sing C. World Ecological Degradation: Accumulation, Urbanization, and Deforestation, 3000 B.C.–A.D. 2000. Rowman & Littlefield, 2001.

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Description

The first volume of Chew’s trilogy examines the long-term environmental consequences of human economic and urban development. Focusing on deforestation, soil depletion, and urbanization from ancient civilizations to the modern era, Chew argues that ecological degradation is not a recent phenomenon but a recurring pattern tied to cycles of accumulation and collapse. The book integrates historical, archaeological, and ecological data to demonstrate how human societies have repeatedly altered ecosystems, often with irreversible consequences.