One of the fundamental issues raised when attempting to answer some of the key ecological / environmental issues of today, is whether we can make ecological predictions at a scale appropriate to the problems being addressed. This important text seeks to determine the nature of the processes, and the adequacy of ecological concepts and models; to address the practical problems of working at large scales, and the tools that are available; and finally to consider the social, economic and political issues associated with the application of ecological ideas in decision making and policy.