Joseph D. Novak and Alberto J. Cañas wrote "The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct and Use Them" (http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryCmaps/TheoryUnderlyingConceptMaps.htm), an interesting paper explaining the use and benefits of concept mapping.

"Concepts maps are a graphical representation of knowledge" that allow the concept mapper to envision the main concepts, relationships between concepts and their limits. In other words, it allows us to validate and identify what we know and what we do not know.

Also, concept mapping is good for generating new ideas since it allows for exploring links between concepts that we perhaps did not initially visualize. I also find that concept mapping is an effective way of abstracting and theorizing. In their paper, Joseph Novak and Alberto J. Cañas, summarize some of the guidelines for concept mapping. However, these suggestions should not be taken as straitjackets rather than one of many paths in learning and creating knowledge. There are many paths leading to effective learning and knowledge building and they are all the right path as long as they work for you!

Ladies and gentleman, start your concept mapping!
(Free software for concept mapping available at: http://cmap.ihmc.us/conceptmap.html).

Democracy and the environment may be linked; although it is unclear in what way. The authors of this short document suggest that transitioning towards democracy might increase deforestation, pollution and exploitation of the environment. The reason, they argue, is that transitions are followed by chaos, uncertainty and fear, thus individuals tend to intensify the use of all resources they have at hand, including natural resources. Indeed, one might interpret that the authors are saying the individuals become less patient-due to uncertainty-and decide to consume more and faster today. This increase in the speed and level of consumption augments the consumption of natural resources and thus degrades the environment.

This document from the OECD provides a refresher on the basic principles of environmental economics. It begins by explaining the importance of the environment for any economic system by highlighting the benefits of sustainable growth and the negative consequences that production and consumption may have on the environment (negative externalities). Then, the authors provide a set of policy instruments used to reduce pollution and mitigate the negative effects on the environment of the economic apparatus. Later, an introduction to cost benefit analysis is provided as well as a brief discussion on the use of environmental indicators. Finally, this document provides a discussion on some of the global issues regarding the environment at that time (1991). Nevertheless, this is a good summary of a traditional environmental economics approach.