It is impossible to ignore the connection between economic development and ecological sustainability-- overwhelming scientific evidence points to anthropogenic pressures slowly destroying life on Earth. The need for corrective action is, therefore, critical. This edited compilation studies the processes that are causing irreversible changes in the Earth's systems. It dwells primarily on the change in the ecosystems that sustain human beings and examines the drivers, direction, and magnitude of global change. The book not only studies the methods that enhance the reader's understanding of the impact of global change but also discusses mitigation strategies. The emphasis is on sustainability in a framework of development, with special attention to equity.