MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES : FOCUS ON LAND AND WATER-MISRA, HARIKESH N. (EDITOR)

Natural resource management and sustainable development has, of late, assumed great importance, especially because of ecological crisis and environmental dangers which are looming large. Today the issues related to natural resource exploitation, consequences, their conservation, preservation and management leading to sustainable development have become the major thrust areas of teaching and research. Also, sustainability of natural resources, especially water and land resources, and their efficient use is one of the core programmes of Government of India’s Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–2017) for strategic development; this objective can only be achieved if the resources are used judiciously.

Although land and water resources—the focus of the present book—are vital for human survival and development, unfortunately both are under threat and are increasing strain worldwide. These resources have wide and significantly varying implications in rural and urban settlements, especially in India, where population has been continuously growing and, therefore, the demand of land and water is intensifying. This has necessitated urgent need for reviewing the availability of land and water resources and their conservation.

Besides dealing with the theoretical aspects, this compendium presents case studies on natural resources as well, which reveal ground realities at micro and meso levels too. Pedagogical features like maps, diagrams, satellite imageries and latest database of the primary and secondary nature distinguish this book from other works on the subject.

The book will be of immense use to postgraduate students and research scholars of geography and related disciplines such as rural–urban studies and environmental science. The thematic approach of the book provides reasonably good contents for cogitation to researchers. Policy makers, planners and academicians may also be benefitted while framing futuristic norms which may lead to sustainable development—the ultimate goal.

HARIKESH N. MISRA, PhD, is Emeritus Professor of Geography in the University of Allahabad. Currently he is President of the National Association of Geographers, India (NAGI).

He had the opportunity to be exposed to different facets of modern geography as US Government Senior Fulbright Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh (1976–77) and as Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow at Cambridge University (1988–99). His teaching and research experience spans over four decades as Lecturer in Geography Department, University of Allahabad (1969–1984), Reader (1984–1992) and Professor (1992–2011). He has been the founder Professor of Geography Department, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla during 1992–1997. Also, he served as Member, editorial board of Pariyojan, an International Journal of Planning and Policy Sciences (1984–1988), Progress in Human Geography, UK (1994–98) and as Editor of the Annals of the National Association of Geographers, India (2000–2011).

Dr. Misra has supervised more than 25 PhD students and has authored five books. Also, he has published 66 papers in national and international journals of repute. Some of his oft-quoted works relate to Popular Settlements, Rural–Urban Relations, Role of Small and Intermediate Towns, Informal Sector and Ruralisation of Indian Cities. His current thrust areas of research are sustainable development and natural resource management planning.