In the face of growing anxiety about the environmental sustainability of the world, George Francis, a leading authority in the field of sustainability studies, examines initiatives undertaken in Canada over the past twenty-five years to protect some of our unique environments.

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 collaborative studies of sixteen landscape regions designated as “Biosphere Reserves” by UNESCO and fifteen regions designated as “Model Forests” by the Canadian Forest Service, the book also summarizes a number of smaller sustainability initiatives in regions across the country.

The author 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.

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George Francis is a distinguished professor emeritus in the School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. He is a seminal figure in the field of sustainability studies in Canada and was intimately involved in many of the projects described in this volume.

Striving for Environmental Sustainability in a Complex World … is an important and interesting look at various innovative ideas that have had varying degrees of success pertaining to living sustainably in Canada.

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