"An Ecological History of Modern China is the first attempt at a comprehensive and conceptually coherent account of the process of development in modern China, from the perspective not of the economy but of the biophysical world. This book shows that development in China is desirable in many ways, but that there is a cost in environmental degradation. Specifically, the book addresses the question of how agricultural, industrial, and urban development have affected the resilience of China's ecosystems-their ability to withstand disturbances and further growth"--

Stevan Harrell is professor emeritus of anthropology and environmental and forest sciences at the University of Washington. He is the author of Ways of Being Ethnic in Southwest China (University of Washington Press, 2001) and An Ecological History of Modern China (University of Washington Press, 2023); and editor of the University of Washington Press book series Studies on Ethnic Groups in China.