Sustainability and "pragmatic' environmental history

Abstract

This article presents the notion of "pragmatic' environmental history. Put succinctly, this is environmental history which, as well as being of inherent interest and furthering the development of the discipline, makes a positive and practical contribution to environmental management and the quest for ecological sustainability. The argument here is for a more active embracing of the sustainability debate, and more positive involvement in day-to-day environmental management. The aim is to contribute directly to pressing societal concerns, and to improve the prospects of environmental history itself. The perspective is Australian. The article discusses the definition of environmental history, and how it relates to the modern agenda of sustainability. It briefly notes some recent Australian work, and identifies principles for environmental history. One principle - relevance - is further developed, using some Australian examples. -from Author Show more