Choice Review

A collection of papers concerned with the development and management of wetland environments in selected countries, this book originated as a seminar series held by the Department of Geography at Loughborough University in Great Britain. It was written by geographers in response to growing public environmental awareness, as the papers are concerned with the consequences of human interaction in the physical processes affecting geographical landscapes. Topics covered include the deforestation of river corridors in the US; the drainage and land use of wetlands in the UK; the reclamation of wetlands for agriculture in Europe; the French proposal to create an inland sea within the Sahara desert with water diverted from the Mediterranean Sea; mechanical soil conservation and small-scale irrigation from shallow groundwater in Africa; the impact of hydroelectric power in Quebec, Canada, and in Wales; and the development of the international Danube River basin. Each chapter is well written and contains a list of numerous references. From a historical perspective, a recommended acquisition for an academic library. -M. M. Fogel, University of Arizona