Conservation In Practice - Books

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A publication of the Society for Conservation Biology

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Spring 2003 (Vol. 4, No. 2)

Some books reviewed in our book review section are available through Amazon.com. To make your purchase easier we have included a link when available. When you purchase a book through this service on our website Conservation In Practice receives a portion of the purchase price.
The Conservation Handbook: Research, Management, and Policy Edited by William J. Sutherland Blackwell Science Ltd., 2000 Reviewed by Kathleen Snow This book covers everything from sexing lizards to writing press releases. The crisp writing and numerous international case studies make it a surprisingly readable reference guide for conservation field staff. Although there are many conservation biology texts available, Sutherland focuses his attention on what individuals can do to tackle problems in the field—and biology is only a part of the picture. In the world of politics, as the author points out, “the truth can be a real nuisance if it contradicts current beliefs, decisions and practices.” Thus, the latter half of this book provides advice for dealing with those political and practical problems such as fundraising, publicity, conflict resolution, and organizational management. Because of its comprehensive coverage and practical focus, this volume will be particularly useful in developing countries. The author has provided a unique incentive by arranging to donate a copy of The Conservation Handbook to workers in areas outside of the industrialized nations for each volume purchased. Back to Books Index >>
Road Ecology: Science and Solutions Edited by Richard T. T. Forman, Daniel Sperling, John H. Bissonette, Anthony P. Clevenger, Carol D. Cutshall, Virginia H. Dale, Lenore Fahrig, Robert France, Charles R. Goldman, Kevin Heanue, Julia A. Jones, Frederick J. Swanson, Thomas Turrentine, and Thomas C. Winter Island Press, 2003 Reviewed by Kathleen Snow Roads are the largest human artifact on the Earth. Almost four million miles of road cross the U.S. alone, and a number of European countries have even higher road densities for their land areas. Roads affect hydrology, soils, air quality, habitat, and animal populations in a myriad of ways. Given this impact, a book that addresses the intersection of transportation engineering and ecology is both timely and valuable. Although the effects of roads on the environment are much discussed, this volume focuses on bringing together information from disparate fields into a coherent framework, accessible to transportation planners as well as ecologists. Road Ecology succeeds in covering a broad range of topics from network analysis to design criteria for successful wildlife over- and underpass structures. Although the historical and legal sections focus primarily on the U.S. and Canada, a number of other examples are drawn from international contexts. This book is somewhat less successful in consistently making its chapter conclusions and recommendations specific enough to be useful. Nevertheless, Road Ecology is full of valuable data. It is also one of the first books on roads to step back and look at how we might redefine and teach the subject of transportation planning from a new and more ecological point of view. Back to Books Index >>
Rocky Mountain Futures: An Ecological Perspective Edited by Jill S. Baron, Forward by Paul R. Ehrlich Island Press, 2002 Reviewed by Kathleen Snow In the summer of 1860, more than 5,000 miners a week inundated the southern Rocky Mountains. Nearly a century and a half later, this same region is experiencing some of the fastest growth rates in the U.S. and Canada. In the face of this persistent pressure, what constitutes a “natural” ecosystem? What changes have already taken place in ecological processes and what will happen in the future? In this book, multiple authors provide an assessment of the cumulative effects of the past and present human activities that overlay this landscape like the layers of an onion. Although this reader would have liked to see more restoration cases, Rocky Mountain Futures is well documented and readable. It looks at future trends and provides recommendations for change. Although this book clearly discusses a specific region, it is an enormous region, encompassing seven U.S. states and the Canadian province of British Columbia. For those working in this area, Baron provides a valuable resource. Back to Books Index >>