Dark Earths are a testament to vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may also answer how large societies could sustain intensive agriculture in an environment of infertile soils. This book examines their origin, properties, and management. Questions remain: were they intentionally produced or a by-product of habitation. Additional new and multidisciplinary perspectives by leading experts may pave the way for the next revolution in soil management in the humid tropics.

The International Dimension of Human Rights includes extracts of judgments, reports and opinions of international supervisory organs and domestic judicial tribunals, as well as the work of scholars in this subject. This casebook has been divided into seven chapters that deal with the following topics: basic notions of international law; the relationship between international law and domestic law; the right to an effective remedy; the right to liberty and security of persons and the right not to be tortured; the right to a fair trial; economic, social and cultural rights; and other aspects of international protection of human rights, such as the rights of women, the rights of indigenous peoples and environmental rights. The casebook also includes the most relevant international treaties on human rights adopted by the Inter-American, universal and European systems.