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This article presents a commentary on ecological and environmental degradation in Indonesia, considering various recently published articles and research papers. The rapidly deteriorating forest environment in Indonesia has been a major concern for environmentalists in recent years. It is expected that the next ten years will see the degradation of all remaining lowland forest and the extreme fragmentation of upland forest. The number of species that will be lost forever is unknown but is sure to be great. The field of conservation biology is having a new hope of restructuring in the field of environmental engineering. According to the author, the finding of new hope is also therefore fundamental to the healthy functioning of the community of researchers and activists. Many people find hope in the young, who have not yet become fixed in their acceptance of materialistic values. In Indonesia great numbers of children belong to pecinta alam, that is, nature lovers, clubs. Most members eventually seem to grow out of their active involvement in such clubs and nongovernmental organizations, as they face the challenges of making a living in a poor country.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The author reflects on the goal of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB). The author says that SCB is a global community of conservation professionals who work to advance the science and practice of conserving Earth's biological diversity. She talks on her goal as the publication's editor-in-chief, which is to maintain the standards of scientific quality, applicability to management and policy.

The article responds to the paper "Framing Sustainability," by David Orr in this issue. It is agreed that Abraham Lincoln is an excellent example of the ways and means by which a leader causes change. It is pointed out that the issue of sustainability is best framed as a comprehensive change in people's habits, lifestyles and values. Like the issue of slavery, sustainability is concerned with the way of life and of creating wealth. Thus, it will require people to develop a new culture. This will be a difficult task because there is wide gap between the culture of growth and the culture of limits.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article responds to the paper "Framing Sustainability," by David Orr in this issue. Orr is right in claiming that the peoples of the world are now engaged in a discussion about the issues on sustainability and that no national leader has yet provided the framework for an appropriate vision of sustainability. However, this is not merely a conversation. This is a fight because many of those who are against it wield great power. The actions in the U.S. Senate regarding legislation affecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge whereby the proposal to allow oil drilling in the refuge has not been allowed to pass will reverberate throughout history.

An editorial is presented on the publishing of social science research in the journal "Conservation Biology." Topics discussed include changes brought by humans in ecology such as biodiversity loss; the role of human-nature relationship in sustainable development and globalization, that has enhanced human relationships with the natural environment; and the role played by social sciences in the conservation of nature.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article presents information on developments of protected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the years. DRC, reportedly, has a comprehensive system of protected areas, highly motivated national personnel, and a considerable record of conservation achievement. However, human population increased rapidly from 30.7 million people in 1984 to 54 million people in 1999, with rapidly growing rates of poverty in regions of high biological diversity. The gross national product decreased from $150 per capita in 1995 to $110 per capita in 1998. Between 1990 and 2000, the gross national product decreased by 43.7%, or an annual decrease of 5.6%. According to researchers, Protected areas are the backbone of biodiversity conservation globally and in the DRC.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Features a case study of the graduate program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology at the University of Maryland. Objective and design of the curriculum; Graduate credits; Required core courses; Applicant pool; Admission process and matriculating pool; Students' source of funding; Graduates and their employment; Call for further study.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A minimum necessary condition for sustainability is the maintenance of the total natural capital stock at or above the current level. While a lower stock of natural capital may be sustainable, society can allow no further decline in natural capital given the large uncertainty and the dire consequences of guessing wrong. This “constancy of total natural capital” rule can thus be seen as a prudent minimum condition for assuring sustainability, to be relaxed only when solid evidence can be offered that it is safe to do so. We discuss methodological issues concerning the degree of substitutability of manufactured for natural capital, quantifying ecosystem services and natural capital, and the role of the discount rate in valuing natural capital. We differentiate the concepts of growth (material increase in size) and development (improvement in organization without size change). Given these definitions, growth cannot the sustainable indefinitely on a finite planet. Development may be sustainable, but even this aspect of change may have some limits. One problem is that current measures of economic well-being at the macro level (i.e., the Gross National Product) measure mainly growth, or at best conflate growth and development. This urgently requires revision. Finally, we suggest some principles of sustainable development and describe why maintaining natural capital stocks is a prudent and achievable policy for insuring sustainable development. There is disagreement between technological optimists (who see technical progress as eliminating all resource constraints to growth and development) and technological skeptics (who do not see as much scope for this approach and fear irreversible use of resources and damage to natural capital). By maintaining natural capital stocks (preferably by using a natural capital depletion tax), we can satisfy both the skeptics (since resources will be conserved for future generations) and the optimists (since this will raise... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an evaluatory note regarding an article by J.L. Newton and E.T. Freyfogle in this issue. They have pointed out the origins of the term sustainability and its serious defects when used as a goal for conservation. Among those defects is the arrogant presumption inherent in the implication that it is up to us to manage and sustain the planet and that we are capable of doing the job. According to both the authors, this presumptuousness lends a self-contradictory tone to sustainability which is particularly noticeable in the oxymoronic phrase sustainable development. sustainability is sometimes mentioned in association with the conservation of forest ecosystems and the conservation and restoration of wetlands, connected to flood management and the maintenance of ensured supplies of unpolluted fresh water.

Discusses a current model for sustainable development that is allegedly based on faulty science and faulty logic. Faults of a sustainable development model; Importance of considering environment, social well-being and economy; Consideration of environment at a different, more significant level.

Discusses the need for tropical forest conservationists to work with indigenous peoples in managing their environments sustainably. Recognition of indigenous people's right to self-determination by international bodies; Improvements in international human rights law and conservation standards; Field experiences and examples from South Venezuela; Pressures on biodiversity from local communities.

The article focuses on the importance of implementing the payments for reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) scheme to reduce forest loss and carbon emissions. It states that the scheme will provide financial incentives for developing countries to address the problems associated with deforestation. If implemented, it suggests that REDD could generate up to 13 billion dollars annually for the improved management and conservation of tropical forests. It also notes that a REDD mechanism could place the first widespread restrictions on tropical forest conversion.

The article offers information on the proposed creation of consultative group on biodiversity in the United States. The proposal is a joint effort by the National Academy of Sciences and Agency for International Development. Selected members of the consultative group includes nine philanthropic foundations with interests in the conservation programs. The group will boost the sharing of information, identification of priority concerns and programs in developing countries in biological diversity conservation.

The article focuses on a report released by the Office of Technology Assessment of Congress on the management of renewable resources on the United States-affiliated tropical islands. The establishment of self-reliant economies in the Caribbean and Pacific islands depends on the sustainable development of resources. The island ecosystems and marine species they support are capable of sustaining high levels of productivity. Financial aid from the United States exacerbated the dependence on federal funding for employment and public welfare services.