Environmental management is concerned with the understanding of the structure and function of the earth system, as well as of the ways in which humans relate to their environment (Barrow, 2005). Environmental management is therefore concerned with the description and monitoring of environmental changes, with predicting future changes and with attempts to maximise human benefit and to minimise environmental degradation due to human activities. Environmental management is about decision-making - and it is especially concerned with the process of decision-making in relation to the use of natural resources, the pollution of habitats and the modification of ecosystems. It is a political activity because those decisions - about resources, pollution and ecosystems - are never neutral or objective; on the contrary, they are value laden and they reflect the exercise of power by particular groups over others.

AAE associated experts attempt deliberately to steer the process of development in order to take advantage of opportunities; attempt to ensure that critical environmental limits are not exceeded; work to reduce and mitigate environmental issues; and are concerned with increasing the adaptability and resilience of human societies in the face of environmental change, variability, unpredictability and hazards.