Although animals have evolved over geologic time to Earth's constantly changing environments and the extinctions of certain species are normal, in no other time in the planet's history has the extinction rate climbed as high as it is today. Causes of this include destruction of wildlife habitat, pollution, overfishing, and poaching. Animals illustrates these urgent issues.

This informative volume comes at an important time, as countries look seriously toward alternative forms of energy and the problems that will result if they do not. This book focuses on Earth energy resources, such as renewable power from water, ocean energy, solar energy, wind energy, and biofuels, as well as non-renewable sources.

This volume focuses on the many aspects that make rain forests, temperate forests, and boreal forests such valuable natural resources and why we cannot live without them.

From mountains to deserts to forests to coastlines and grasslands, each landscape offers a wide range of goods and services. Lands addresses the important resource issues that we face today, as well as how to provide responsible stewardship of the land.

Minerals, metals, and elements are critical to society. This volume examines how minerals form and why they occur where they do. It focuses on civilization's fascination with these valuable commodities, and looks at mining and its development, as well as mineral resources found deep in the oceans.

This book focuses on the many aspects that make plants such a valuable resource. It examines the uses of plants and their importance, as well as the goods and services they provide to communities and our high standard of living.

Without the crucial resources of water and atmosphere, life would not be possible on Earth. Because of this, it is critical that they be managed and cared for. Water and Atmosphere focuses on issues that affect us now, and will affect us even more in the future.