Environmental History Resources

Selected publications

Articles & articles in books

Jan Oosthoek, An environmental History of State Forestry in Scotland, 1919-1970 (Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Stirling, 2001). Read Abstract or download as PDF.

K.J.W. Oosthoek, "Watervervuiling in de Groninger Veenkoloniën, 1850 - 1980", Tijdschrift voor Ecologische Geschiedenis, 2 (1997) vol. 2, 36-42.
Article based on MA thesis, 'Water pollution in the Groninger Ven Colonies, 1850-1980'. Published in the Belgium/Dutch Journal for Environmental History.
Abstract: Twenty Years ago the Ven Colonies in Groningen regularly came into the news. The problems around wastewater were controversial matter. Indeed, already in the 19th century people were aware of the water pollution in the Peat Colonies. But then the attitudes in the period between 1850 and 1980 have contributed to the speed with which the problems were solved. Eventually social, economic and technical developments combined, leading to the solution of the problem. See also Essays for paper based on dissertation.

K.J.W. Oosthoek, "The Logic of British Forest Policy, 1919-1970", In: Klaus Kubeczko (ed.), Transitions Towards a Sustainable Europe. Ecology - Economy - Policy. Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the European Society for Ecogical Economics (Vienna, 2000). Read paper (PDF) >>

K.J.W. Oosthoek & M. Roepers, "Beeldvorming van de vos door de eeuwen heen", in: Thoen, Erik et al (eds.), Jaarboek voor Ecologische Geschiedenis 1999, Vol. 2 (Academia Press, Gent, 2001), pp. 61-78.
Summary: The fox's Reputation Through the Ages. Published in the Dutch Yearbook for Environmental History 1999. This article explores the sources of the bad reputation of the fox by looking at classical texts and literature from antiquity to the present. It also seeks to to explain how these old perceptions are still fuelling the emotions surrounding discussions about fox hunting.
Read abstract or download as PDF.

Jan Oosthoek, "The stench of prosperity. Water Pollution in the Northern Netherlands, 1850-1980", in: Geneviève Massard-Guilbaud & Christophe Bernhardt (eds.), The Modern Demon. Pollution in Urban and Industrial European Societies (Clermont-Ferrand, 2002), pp. 179-194.

Jan Oosthoek, "Issues in European Woodland History", in: John Dargavel & Brenda Libbis (eds.), Australia's Ever-changing Forests V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Conference on Australian Forest History (Canberra, 2002), pp. 28-38.

Verena Winiwarter (ed.), "Environmental History in Europe from 1994 to 2004: Enthusiasm and Consolidation", Environment and History, 10(2004): 501-530.
With contributions by: Marco Armiero, Petra van Dam, Andreas Dix, Per Eliasson, Poul Holm, Leos Jelecek, Robert A. Lambert, Genevieve Massard-Guilbaud, Manuel Gonzales de Molina, Timo Myllyntaus, Jan Oosthoek, Christian Pfister and Lajos Racz.

Jan Oosthoek and Barry Gills, "Humanity at the Crossroads: The Globalization of Environmental Crisis", Globalization, vol. 2 (2005) 3,  283-291. Read Abstract or read paper (PDF).

Jan Oosthoek, "The Gleneagles G8 summit and climate change: a lack of leadership", Globalizations, vol. 2 (2005) 3, 443-446. Read paper (PDF).

Jan Oosthoek, "Thema's uit de Britse bosgeschiedenis", Leidschrift, Vol. 21 (2006) 1, 145-157.
Article charting British woodland history in special issue of Leidschrift on the history of culture and nature.

Jan Oosthoek, "The IPCC and the Ozone Hole: a Warning from History"’, Globalizations, March 2007, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 63-66.

Book(s)

Jan Oosthoek and Barry K.Gills (eds.), The Globalization of Environmental Crisis (London: Routledge, 2007).

This collection of essays addresses what is arguably the most pressing and urgent issue of our time - the continuing development of the global environmental crisis and the need for new and urgent responses to them by the world community.

The contributors include social scientists, environmental historians, anthropologists, and science policy researchers, and together they give an overview of the history of the globalization of environmental crisis over the past several decades, both in terms of the science of measurement and the types of policy and public responses that have emerged to date.

For more information visit Routledge or download flyer.

Book reviews

Jan Oosthoek, "T.C. Smout (eds.), Scotland since Prehistory. Natural change & human impact", In: Tijdschrift voor Ecologische Geschiedenis, vol. 2 (1996) 1, p. 30. Read English version or download as PDF.

Jan Oosthoek, “Ruddiman, William F., Plows, Plagues and Petroleum: How Humans took Control of Climate”, In: Environmental History, vol. 12 (2007) 1, 169-170. Read review on the History Cooperative site >>

Jan Oosthoek, "T.C. Smout, Alan R. MacDonald and Fiona Watson, A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland", Environment and History, vol. 13 (2007) 3, 370-372.

Jan Oosthoek, "Harold K. Steen, Jack Ward Thomas: The Journals of a Forest Service Chief", Environment and History, vol. 13 (2007) 3, 373-374.