In order to understand man’s special relationship with his environment it is necessary to review his more recent evolution briefly. With greater powers for subduing nature and harnessing natural resources for his own ends, mankind has shown alarming growth in numbers. At first alarming growth in numbers. At first the growth rate was slow. The environment has not only been greatly affected by man’s agricultural activities, but also by industrial development. This book is analysing the tremendous technological achievements of the past century which have brought many benefits, including a rising standard of living, but has not our environment suffered? How far industry polluted the air, water and land? How much is being done to keep these essential parts of the ecosystem unharmed? The book gives a vivid picture of all such phenomena.