James Carrier and his group of international researchers tackle the complex factors affecting people's understandings of their environment-not just the natural environment, but landscapes shaped by humans, and the social and cultural contexts. The authors consider the impact of local events with detailed analyses, but also evaluate the political-economic forces that operate at regional and global levels. This book will be an excellent resource for policy-makers, researchers and instructors in environmental use and conservation, anthropology, geography, and political ecology.