Wildfire Hazards, Risks, and Disasters (Hazards and Disasters)

The world is undergoing unprecedented changes in many of the factors that determine its fundamental properties and their in- ence on society. These changes include climate; the chemical c- position of the atmosphere; the demands of a growing human population for food and ?ber; and the mobility of organisms, ind- trial products, cultural perspectives, and information ?ows. The magnitude and widespread nature of these changes pose serious challenges in managing the ecosystem services on which society depends. Moreover, many of these changes are strongly in?uenced by human activities, so future patterns of change will continue to be in?uenced by society’s choices and governance. The purpose of this book is to provide a new framework for n- ural resource management―a framework based on stewardship of ecosystems for human well-being in a world dominated by unc- tainty and change. The goal of ecosystem stewardship is to respond to and shape change in social-ecological systems in order to s- tain the supply and opportunities for use of ecosystem services by society. The book links recent advances in the theory of resilience, sustainability, and vulnerability with practical issues of ecosystem management and governance. The book is aimed at advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students of natural resource management as well as professional managers, community leaders, and policy makers with backgrounds in a wide array of d- ciplines, including ecology, policy studies, economics, sociology, and anthropology

Why are firefighters so universally valued? How is it that a home can burn to the ground, yet the owners still bring the responding firefighters milk and cookies, give them hugs, and tell them thank you? While much can be written about the fire service in a post-9/11 world, one truth is constant: their customers love them. Why is that? Are there lessons for leaders or managers that can be extracted from this profession and applied to general organizational life? What would your organization gain if your customers loved you, your products, and your services? Author and management consultant Kevin Baum explores these questions and more in Lessons from the Line. Adding his twenty years' experience as a professional firefighter and chief officer to his work with organizations around the world, Kevin drills into the unique profession of firefighting to build a practical tool for organizational and leadership development-the Firefighter Model. A unique blend of management and leadership practices, this innovative model can be applied to organizations of any size, with any mission, in any place. Lessons from the Line is a fast-paced, real-world look at organizational life from the firefighter's perspective that will give you the tools to create an organization of heroes.