"As the quickening pace of ecological change around the globe increases our anxiety about the long-term sustainability of the Earth's ecosystems, internationally renowned sustainability studies authority George Francis provides a timely synthesis of Canada's response to a growing global crisis. With rich and varied insight, spirited prose, and a deep and personal engagement with the material, the author documents the challenges faced by those who manage complex sustainability projects. Focusing mainly on long-term collaborative studies of sixteen landscape regions in Canada designated as "Biosphere Reserves" by the UNESCO international "Man and the Biosphere" program, and another fifteen regions designated as "Model Forests" by the Canadian Forest Service, Francis also summarizes a number of smaller endeavours in regions across the country. The author's unique perspective is rooted in his intimate involvement in many of the initiatives he details. Project participants cope with situations that are sometimes unpredictable, often frustrating, and, in certain cases, transformative. The volume concludes on a hopeful note, looking forward to a future of solutions--those considered, proposed, promoted, and in some cases already implemented by groups striving to create sustainable societies in an increasingly complex world."--