Because many people and ecosystems share—or constitute—any given place, they all have a stake in the outcome of what any of us do in regard to environmental problems. It is not surprising that issues are hotly contested given the many divergent interests, needs, and preferences of a community's members, much less those of people "downstream" who are affected by the consequences of our actions or of "outside" parties who play a part, including those who would speak on behalf of the ecosystems.
Thus, we not only must make careful individual decisions concerning the environment, but need to improve the way we operate socially, especially given the roles and responsibilities we have as environmental professionals, private-sector developers, public policy-makers and staff, or engaged citizens. To aid in resolving our environmental dilemmas, Mugerauer and Manzo focus on the decision making process. Their goal is to help readers become more aware of the worldviews, beliefs, and values that enter into the decisions they make and to better resolve differences with others. To guide readers in thinking about their own positions and how to approach ethical decisions, Mugerauer and Manzo employ a number of exercises and cases to investigate the choices and issues that different stakeholders face (for example, concerning sustainability). Additionally, the book presents alternatives in terms of formalized ethical principles, the major ethical theories, and professional codes of ethics.