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As Earth’s resources burn, drown or succumb to death by tarmac, protecting
what remains becomes an ever madder scramble. Environmental law is an essential
tool for ordering the chaos, but it’s complex in itself. Anyone picking their
way through this thicket should pack a copy of the Concise Lexicon of
Environmental Terms (Wiley, £19.99, ISBN 0 471 96357 7). Editors Malcolm
Grant and Richard Hawkins sandwich their definitions, laws and organisations
between scientific abbreviations and acronyms, and a useful list of selected
rulings and directives from Europe. Not just legal eagles, but students,
editors, planners, architects and campaigners will find it a handy,
common-sensical companion.