From the Back Cover
The risks and consequences of environmental change are increasing, leading to massive losses in terms of ecosystems and having a huge impact on human populations. As such, global thinkers, environmentalists, scientists and policy makers are focusing on finding solutions and ways to sustain life on Earth. Anthropogenic impacts on the climate system can only be mitigated by the restoration of existing natural resources and the sustainable development of the environment and society.
This book discusses the potential of green technology in waste management, wetland restoration, presenting the latest developments in the field of bioenergy, green ecology, bioremediation and microbial management. Wetlands are one of Earth's most important ecosystems, and they provide valuable services to human societies, such as minimizing the impacts of floods, acting as a carbon sink, and offering water purification as well as recreational opportunities. Wetlands may be natural or constructed, and the effectiveness of wetland services largely depends on the diversity of macrophytes affecting the algal production, plant biomass and nutrient status of the system. In addition, they are one of the richest microbial ecosystems on earth: the rhizosphere, soil and water interface enhances wetland services with implications ranging from phytoremediation to microbial bioprospection. However, in order to function properly, they need to be effectively redesigned, reengineered, protected and maintained.
The book addresses the dynamic relation between three global concerns: environmental pollution, resource exploitation and sustainability. It describes the utilization of resources like wastes (municipal, industrial, agricultural, mine drainage, tannery, solid, and e waste), plants, algae and microbes for production of renewable biofuel, biofertilizers and other value added products to achieve the goal of sustainable development. The book also discusses the current and future trends in employing wetlands in improving water quality. In addition it presents the latest international research in the fields of wetland science, waste management, carbon sequestration and bioremediation.
Highlighting a broad spectrum of topics and strategies for achieving a sustainable environment, the book offers researchers, students and academics insights into utilizing resources in a sustainable way.
Atul Kumar Upadhyay is a scholar in the field of environmental science. He completed his PhD in the field of phytoremediation and constructed wetland technology at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow jointly with Kumaun University, Nainital, India. He also holds a postgraduate Botany degree from Dr. RML Avadh University, Faizabad, India. Dr. Upadhyay's research interests include the construction and design of wetland and plant-based management of water and soil pollution as well as river water rejuvenation, wastewater treatment, wetland design and soil management. He has published a number of research papers, articles and chapters in respected national and international journals. Currently, Atul Kumar Upadhyay is working as a Postdoctoral Fellow (Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, India) at the department of Environmental Science, BBAU (a central university), Lucknow, India, investigating various aspects of sustainable phytoremediation and bioenergy production.
Ranjan Singh is a senior PhD student at the Department of Environmental Science at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (a central university), Lucknow, India. He received his B.Sc. (2012) in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry from VBS, Purvanchal University, India, and his postgraduate degree (2014) in Environmental Science from VBSPU, Jaunpur. His research interests include plant physiology, stress physiology and phycological-based biofuel production, with a focus on the role of biomarkers of abiotic stress in microalgae and its biofuel production potential. He has published original research and review articles in peer-reviewed high impact journals along with many national and international book chapters and magazine articles on wetland management, biofuel crises and sustainable management of pollutants in soil and water.
Devendra Pratap Singh is the former Head and Dean of the School for Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India. An eminent scholar in the field of environmental science, he holds a PhD from the Department of Botany at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. He has worked extensively in the area of wastewater treatment, microbiology, stress physiology, bioremediation and alternative energy options. He has received several honors and awards, including more than 135 research publications in high impact factor national and international journals. He has delivered invited lectures at various seminars and symposia and has served as a principal investigator for several government-funded projects. Dr. Singh has published five books in the field of environmental microbiology and biotechnology, stress physiology and sustainable management of soil and water.
