Conservation of wildlife and habitats Books

Book Synopsis'A hugely useful and fascinating resume of rewilding - what it means, where it came from, why it's important and where it's going. Jepson and Blythe have done a masterly job, explaining the science behind rewilding in an accessible, honest and compelling way. It deserves to be widely read and become a book of great influence.' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding 'Compelling ... [a] succinct and objective account' Financial TimesRewilding is the first popular book on the ground-breaking science behind the restoration of wild nature.As ecologists Paul Jepson and Cain Blythe show, rewilding is a new and progressive approach to conservation, blending radical scientific insights with practical innovations to revive ecological processes, benefiting people as well as nature. Its goal is to restore lost interactions between animals, plants and natural disturbance that are the essence of thriving ecosystems.With its sense of hope and purpose, rewilding is breathing new life into the conservation movement, and enabling a growing number of people - even urban-dwellers - to enjoy thrilling wildlife experiences previously accessible only in remote wilderness reserves. 'De-domesticated' horses galloping across a Dutch 'Serengeti'; beavers creating wetlands in the British countryside; giant tortoises restoring the wildlife of the Mauritian islands; perhaps one day even rhinos roaming the Australian outback - rewilding is full of exciting and inspirational possibilities.Trade ReviewStraightforward and useful ... In offering hope rather than pessimism for humanity's care of the environment, Jepson and Blythe's well-explained primer will strike a chord with conservation-minded readers -- Publishers WeeklyCompelling ... [a] succinct and objective account * Financial Times *A hugely useful and fascinating resume of rewilding - what it means, where it came from, why it's important and where it's going. Jepson and Blythe have done a masterly job, explaining the science behind rewilding in an accessible, honest and compelling way. It deserves to be widely read and become a book of great influence. * Isabella Tree, author of Wilding *Rewilding ... makes a compelling case for the need to re-evaluate how we treat the planet and its natural resources. -- Stephen Moss

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Book SynopsisWatch a thousand years unfold in the life of one magnificent tree! A tiny acorn grows . . . into an enormous oak tree! It lives for a thousand years - then a new acorn sprouts, beginning the cycle of life all over again. With its rich, poetic rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this is a captivating celebration of nature and wildlife.

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Book Synopsis''One of the most influential books about the natural world ever published'' Paul Kingsnorth, Guardian''There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot,'' begins Aldo Leopold''s totemic work of ecological thought. Ranging from lyrical observations of the changing seasons over a year on his Wisconsin farm to his hugely influential idea of a ''land ethic'' signifying moral equilibrium between humans and all other life on earth, A Sand County Almanac changed perceptions of the natural world and helped give birth to the modern conservation movement.''An unequivocal statement of conscience that will carry down the generations ... his argument seems more urgently true now than ever'' The New York TimesTrade ReviewWise and lyrical meditations on environmental ethics, human and natural history, and the passage of time. Some measure of how fiercely good it is: a well-read, retired U.S. Army colonel once told me that he considered Leopold to be better than Shakespeare * Helen Macdonald *These beautiful essays, based on the restoration of an exhausted 80-acre farm in the sand country of central Wisconsin, are full of insights rooted in intelligent humility that inform naturalists to this day * Isabella Tree *A classic ... there are moments of soft beauty [and] his epigrams are whipcrack smart -- Robert Macfarlane * Wall Street Journal *A trenchant book, full of vigor and bite * The New York Times *One of the seminal works of the environmental movement * Boston Globe *

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Book Synopsis‘A poignant, practical and moving story of how to fix our broken land, this should be conservation's salvation; this should be its future; this is a new hope’ – Chris PackhamIn Wilding, Isabella Tree tells the story of the ‘Knepp experiment’, a pioneering rewilding project in West Sussex, using free-roaming grazing animals to create new habitats for wildlife. Part gripping memoir, part fascinating account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding is, above all, an inspiring story of hope.Winner of the Richard Jefferies Society and White Horse Book Shop Literary Prize.Forced to accept that intensive farming on the heavy clay of their land at Knepp was economically unsustainable, Isabella Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell made a spectacular leap of faith: they decided to step back and let nature take over. Thanks to the introduction of free-roaming cattle, ponies, pigs and deer – proxies of the large animals that once roamed Britain – the 3,500 acre project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife numbers and diversity in little over a decade.Extremely rare species, including turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons, lesser spotted woodpeckers and purple emperor butterflies, are now breeding at Knepp, and populations of other species are rocketing. The Burrells’ degraded agricultural land has become a functioning ecosystem again, heaving with life – all by itself.Personal and inspirational, Wilding is an astonishing account of the beauty and strength of nature, when it is given as much freedom as possible.Highly Commended by the Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize.Trade ReviewThis must be the most inspirational nature book of the year . . . a narrative of conservation, courage, vision and miracles... The story of what happened is thrilling . . . the Knepp Conservation Project is world-famous: a beacon of hope . . . Read this book and marvel. -- Bel Mooney, 'The Year's Best Books on Nature' * Daily Mail *Particularly timely . . . an excellent primer, and anyone who is interested in how we share the planet — what it looks like, what we eat, and what nature can teach us — should read this book. * Sunday Times *A poignant, practical and moving story of how to fix our broken land, this should be conservation's salvation; this should be its future; this is a new hope. -- Chris Packham, presenter of The Really Wild ShowI recently read Wilding, by Isabella Tree, where she and her husband take their over-farmed, not-profitable estate, and rewild it. Thousands of species return. It will have you in tears. Life exploding again - the reverse of most stories today. Hugely recommended. -- Caitlin Moran (on Twitter)The remarkable story of an astounding transformation. -- George Monbiot, author of FeralWilding shines brilliantly . . . . Isabella Tree writes [. . .] with infectious enthusiasm . . . The project she writes about so winningly . . . is inspirational – and inspiration is needed. * Evening Standard *A hugely important addition to the literature of what can be done to restore soil and soul . . . Tree writes with grace about a legion of doubts, obstructions and delays. The book contains moments of lyricism and revelation. -- Caspar Henderson * Guardian *Close to my book of the year. If there’s anything better, I haven’t read it yet . . . An uplifting story and points towards a different sort of farmed future. -- Marcus Berkmann, 'Best Books for Summer Reading' * Daily Mail *'Wilding is both a timely and important book . . . Isabella Tree imagines the last migrating turtledove departing Knepp and flying over a Europe “that is being recolonized by beavers, wolves, wolverines, jackals and bears.” And it is in that changing landscape that hope resides.' -- Tim Flannery * New York Review of Books *Every farmer (and perhaps every conservationist) in Britain needs to go and spend a day at Knepp. The Knepp ‘wilding’ project is a vitally important experiment for working out what we can do to let Nature back into our farmed landscapes . . . This book tells this vital story and deserves to be widely read. -- James Rebanks, author of A Shepherd’s LifeRead Wilding by Isabella Tree . . . Thrilling. -- India Knight * The Times *This honest, thoroughly researched and deeply hopeful book will appeal to everyone - especially farmers - who is concerned about how intensive farming practices are degrading the environment and how to restore nature to ravaged lands. -- Ten Of The Best Books About Climate Change, Conservation And The Environment of 2018 * Forbes *This inspiring and encouraging book demonstrates how nature can shake off the ravages of industrial farming and heal itself. -- John Meadley, founder of Pasture for LifeA thrilling, inspiring and deeply moving story of a wildlife revolution on an ordinary English farm, Wilding shows us what we have lost and what we could regain if we change our relationship with the countryside. -- Patrick Barkham, author of BadgerlandsWilding describes the inspirational story of a pioneering rewilding experiment that is changing the way we look at Nature, the countryside and conservation. Beautifully written, it marks the moment when the task at hand can no longer be about slowing down the inexorable decline of wildlife, but to begin the job of restoration. -- Tony Juniper, former Executive Director of Friends of the EarthAnyone with any interest in land – from a window-box to a National Park – needs to read this book. -- Simon Barnes, author of The Meaning of BirdsSo often we read of the countryside in shock and so seldom to we learn of its recovery. This is a pioneering, wonderful book, blooming with humour, practicality, science and lessons learned; a story whose heart beats in the same neck of the woods as Walden. Read Wilding and restore your belief in the return of nature. -- Nicholas Crane, author of The Making Of The British LandscapeCharming, inspirational and thought-provoking. Beautifully captures the magic and excitement of the Knepp rewilding project. -- Professor Dave Goulson, author of Bee QuestWilding is truly the most magnificent and inspiring book. -- Adam Nicholson, author of The Seabird's CryIsabella Tree’s riveting book captures the excitement of an immensely powerful new idea: that to save our beleaguered wildlife, we should move beyond conserving what remains – we should restore what we have lost. Fascinating in its detail and thrilling in its sense of possibilities, this is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of the natural world in the demanding times to come. -- Michael McCarthy, author of The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and JoyA compelling account of a brave and far sighted venture. At a moment when the future of our countryside hangs in the balance, Isabella Tree helps us understand how we become locked in by our personal experience and perspectives. A riveting, gloriously written read which expands our imagination, and fuels our commitment to reversing the cataclysmic decline of virtually all species, other than our own. -- Helen Browning, Chief Executive of The Soil AssociationI read Wilding at one go. It is both highly engaging and (equally important) very informative about a unique experiment in nature conservation, set in the context of the depressing decline in Britain’s wildlife. Wilding the Knepp Estate is one of the most exciting wildlife conservation projects in the UK, and indeed in Europe. It’s truly wonderful, and it fills me with hope. -- Professor Sir John Lawton, President of The Institution of Environmental Sciences, Chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 2005-11 and author of the 2010 report Making Space for NatureBrilliantly researched and scripted, this riveting and powerful book will revolutionise farming and nature conservation. -- Matthew Oates, National Specialist on Nature at the National Trust and author of In Pursuit of ButterfliesAt a time when we’re hammering the environment, this is a hopeful book about how the natural world can be reborn if we put the right creatures on our land, step back and let it flourish. -- Simon ReeveAn excellent book. -- Colin Tudge * Literary Review *Table of ContentsSection - i: Timeline Section - ii: Map of the Knepp estate Introduction - iii: Introduction Chapter - 1: Meeting a Remarkable Man under a Remarkable Tree Chapter - 2: At Odds with Everything Chapter - 3: The Serengeti Effect Chapter - 4: The Secret of Grazing Animals Chapter - 5: A World of Wood Pasture Chapter - 6: Wild Ponies, Pigs and Longhorn Cattle Chapter - 7: Creating a Mess Chapter - 8: Living with the Yellow Peril Chapter - 9: Painted Ladies and the Perfect Storm Chapter - 10: Purple Emperors Chapter - 11: Nightingales Chapter - 12: Turtle Doves Chapter - 13: Rewilding the River Chapter - 14: Bringing Back the Beaver Chapter - 15: Pasture-fed Chapter - 16: Rewilding the Soil Chapter - 17: The Value of Nature Section - iv: Appendix: Knepp Wildland Advisory Board Section - v: Sources Section - vi: Bibliography Acknowledgements - vii: Acknowledgements Index - viii: Index Section - ix: List of Illustrations

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Book SynopsisThere has never been a better time to plant trees. As well as playing a vital role in the health of the natural world and of us humans, these essential life-giving plants also deliver a vast array of hidden benefits such as cooling shade, rainfall interception and carbon capture – but only if we plant the right tree in the right place. International tree expert Henrik Sjöman along with garden designer and passionate advocate for the environment Arit Anderson have created this visionary resource suitable for the world's temperate regions. It opens with a clear explanation of ecosystem services and how trees deliver them. Some trees excel at particular roles such as providing food for pollinators at times when it is scarce or filtering air pollution. Others have adapted in ways that allow them to cope with extreme conditions such as drought, low-nutrient soil and high winds. At the heart of the book is a unique A-Z Tree Directory representing more than 550 trees chosen for their ecosystem benefits, resilience and a host of other criteria that will ensure their continuing contribution to our future gardens and landscapes. A further quick-reference Tree Selection Table provides key attributes for each species at a glance. This important new tree selection guide marks a step change in approach that will lead to more trees reaching their full potential and a richer environment for future generations.

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Book SynopsisThis spectacularly illustrated book is the only complete guide to the wildlife and natural history of the vast and beautiful Antarctic region.Covering the Antarctic continent, the southern ocean, and the subantarctic islands, this guide illustrates all of the region''s breeding birds and marine mammals with stunning colour photographs. In addition to the colour plates, it features distribution maps and up-to-date species accounts expertly detailing abundance, seasonal status, and conservation prospects. The volume also covers numerous nonbreeding species, migrants, and vagrants. Regional chapters describe all of the subantarctic islands, in addition to most regularly visited sites in Antarctica, and are accompanied by maps of each area and photographs of each locale. These chapters present detailed information on geography, climate, geology, general ecology, and flora. They also address conservation efforts - past, present, and planned. The book concluTrade ReviewThis is the definitive single-volume guide to the birds and mammals of the vast Antarctic region...this will be invaluable to those interested in the region, whilst indispensable for those planning a trip south. * Good Book Guide *There is a very "live" feel to this book...However, [Shirihai's] style is sufficiently scientific to deliver the necessary detail...Most importantly, he promotes the love and protection of what should be one of the world's most cherished wild places. * W2 Books *This former Birdwatch Bird Book of the Year is in better shape than ever, and a must if you are visiting the region. * Birdwatch *Each species account in the book majors on identification, but also includes summaries if distribution and biology, conservation and taxonomy, and ocean-going birds and mammals get a range map. * Birdwatch *This is a brilliantly and copiously illustrated combination of field guide, handbook and travel guide. * Birds *

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Book SynopsisBat detector surveys are carried out by ecological consultants, researchers, conservationists and hobbyists. Understanding and categorising non-bat sounds in surveys offers the potential of knock-on benefits for informing development projects (e.g. other important records discovered within a site), as well as the possibility of associated conservation benefits. In recent years the number of people carrying out these surveys and recording calls with bat detectors has grown considerably. These surveys often generate vast amounts of audio recordings, resulting in the heavy workload associated with completing the sound analysis and reporting process. Those carrying out analysis can be distracted, intrigued or delayed owing to the occurrence of recordings that are unfamiliar and not identifiable to them. These recordings can relate to ‘difficult to ID’ bat species, but also, often, sounds not related to bats. This can be especially true when noise triggers such as insects, small mammals or birds look like bat-related noise. Therefore, only knowing what bats sound like is not enough. It is extremely useful to know what other sources of noise look and sound like within the same soundscape. This resource will help bat workers, in whatever environment they are in, to be more confident in recognising, categorising and dismissing other sounds. The book includes a substantial downloadable sound library (.wav format) that readers can listen to by ear or process through sound analysis software. Is That a Bat? also caters for sounds that are also heard by ear alone, in the field, during the hours of darkness. These scenarios often have bat surveyors intrigued or confused as to what they are listening to. Occasionally, knowing what these sounds are could be important, or at the very least, of interest. The first chapter caters for the subject overall, including suggestions from the author as to why the subject matter is of value. It also discusses bat-related calls (including social calls) with a view to offering comparisons against the other sources of sound discussed in separate chapters. Continuing through the book, there are chapters covering the following: small mammals; amphibians; insects; birds; electrical/mechanical noise; and other noise/nuisances. Within each chapter there are sub-sections about bat detector recorded sound, sound by ear, as well as advice on techniques and methods to reduce or increase the likelihood of recording other sounds. The book concludes with associated appendices, including a ‘Problem Solving Key’ to help those encountering an unfamiliar sound to narrow it down to the likely source. With technology advancing at pace, the technical ability of the analyst is of huge importance. With a wider perspective and more knowledge, those responsible for interpreting field encounters can be more confident when making decisions about sources of sound. Apart from that, ‘knowing stuff’ makes the job far more interesting and gives the bat worker a greater appreciation of the natural world within which they are working.Trade ReviewIn fact it is an invaluable read and reference for anyone identifying bats through sound analysis at any level, from beginners to the more experienced. .… This book succeeds brilliantly in encouraging appreciation of the rich and varied world of sound around us. These sounds can sometimes confound our attempts to accurately identify bat species from their calls but at the same time they greatly increase our scope for evaluating and enjoying the biodiversity around us (very timely in the context of current multi-taxa monitoring initiatives). It also makes an important contribution to helping raise standards in the acoustic identification of bats. -- Philip Briggs, Bat Conservation Trust.. this is the book highlight for me this year. -- Stuart Newson * BTO News *Very readable book... I expect to use it regularly as a source of reference. I recommend it not just to those members interested in bats and ultrasonics, but to the growing number of us doing nocmig, or using an Audiomoth or other long-term monitoring device. -- Simon Elliott * Wildlife Sound *… a nice overview of problems a non-expert in bat echolocation research might encounter during a nightly excursion, or when analysing their recordings. -- Martin K. Obrist * Bioacoustics *Without a doubt, anyone who intends to record bats in their natural environment, would do well with a copy of this book. -- Al Milano * batdetecting.blogspot.com *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Preamble: Before We Get Started Downloading Files from the Sound Library 1. Well, What On Earth Could It Be? 2. Terrestrial Mammals 3. Birds 4. Amphibians 5. Insects 6. Electronic & Mechanical 7. Weather, People & Other Nuisances References Appendix I Supporting Figures Appendix II Problem Solving Appendix III Useful Additional Resources Appendix IV Test Yourself Appendix V Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThe trillions of miles we drive each year are just as destructive to our natural environment as any of the better known threats, such as habitat loss or intensive farming. Traffication does for road traffic what Silent Spring did for agrochemicals: awakening us from our collective road-blindness and opening up a whole new chapter in conservation.

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Book SynopsisAn Inspiring Memoir, for Fans of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Frans De Waal. In her enchanting memoir, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, tells the remarkable story from her animal-loving childhood to her career protecting endangered mountain gorillas and other wild animals. She is also the defender of people as a groundbreaking promoter of human public health and an advocate for revolutionary integrated approaches to saving our planet. In an increasingly interconnected world, animal and human health alike depend on sustainable solutions and Dr. Gladys has developed an innovative approach to conservation among the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and their human neighbors.Walking with Gorillas takes the reader on an incredible personal journey with Dr. Gladys, from her early days as a student in Uganda, enduring the assassination of her father during civil war, to her veterinarian education in England to establishing the first veterinary department for the Ugandan government to founding one of the first organizations in the world that enables people to coexist with wildlife through improving the health and wellbeing of both. Her award-winning approach reduced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on critically endangered mountain gorillas. In the face of discrimination and a male dominated world, one woman’s passion and determination to build a brighter future for the local wildlife and human community offers inspiration and insights into what is truly possible for our planet when we come together."Her story is amazing and I recommend this book to everyone interested in conservation, alleviating poverty, and the role of women in society. But perhaps most importantly it is a truly inspiring story of how one determined and dedicated woman overcame many setbacks and faced many dangers to follow and realize her dream. She has made a huge difference to conservation in Uganda and she is an inspiring example to young—and not so young—people everywhere." -- Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE and UN Messenger of Peace, from the foreword Trade Review“I recommend this book to everyone interested in conservation, alleviating poverty, and the role of women in society. But perhaps most importantly it is a truly inspiring story of how one determined and dedicated woman overcame many setbacks and faced many dangers to follow and realize her dream.”—Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE and UN Messenger of Peace (from the foreword) “This uplifting debut by conservationist Kalema-Zikusoka reflects on her upbringing in Uganda and career as a wildlife veterinarian. Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1970, the author was two years old when her father, a former cabinet minister, was abducted and murdered by the forces of then-president Idi Amin. She recounts devoting herself to her education and enrolling at the University of London Royal Veterinary College, becoming at age 26 Uganda’s first veterinarian specializing in wild animals. Vivid anecdotes detail the sometimes gritty nature of her work with endangered mountain gorillas, as when she describes using sugar to help reduce swelling around a gorilla’s prolapse. Through her work, she became “convinced that you couldn’t keep the gorillas healthy without improving the health and well-being of the people with whom they shared their fragile habitats” and began studying disease transmission between humans and primates. That research, she relates, enabled her to successfully advocate for Uganda’s adoption of the “One Health” approach to conservation, which recognizes that human hygiene and health lead to better welfare for plants and animals. The heartwarming narrative testifies to the good that one person can achieve and illuminates the complex interdependence between human and their environments. Admirers of Jane Goodall will love this. (Feb.)—Publishers Weekly “Her zeal for animals and gorillas in particular, as witnessed in this book, have lead Gladys to ground breaking innovations in conservation winning her global awards. This is an awe-inspiring walk by a remarkable lady who stands to be counted among women of incredible determination and purpose.” —HRH Nnabagereka, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata, Queen of Buganda Kingdom, Uganda “We eight billion humans are in a turf war with all other living species, one so lopsided that co-existing with them might seem a lost cause—until you meet Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. Her miraculous career, engagingly recounted here, has meant salvation for some of our rarest primate cousins and an inspiring reminder for us Homo sapiens of what imagination and persistence can accomplish,whatever the odds.”—Alan Weisman, author,The World Without Us andCountdown “Her vivid narration of the special relationship she has been able to cultivate with nature will leave you captivated and in an intense trance as she transports you to the deep woods of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and on an excursion that you will never forget.”—Kaddu Sebunya, CEO African Wildlife Foundation “With unwavering drive and passion, she transformed a childhood love of animals into a career as Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian and one of Africa’s leading conservationists. Filled with adventure and told with candor and heart, Walking with Gorillas is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary life.”—Thor Hanson, author ofHurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid,andThe Impenetrable Forest:My Gorilla Years in Uganda “Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is a true force of nature. Her riveting story of growing up in Uganda and overcoming challenges to pursue a veterinary profession, reads almost like fiction—full of adventure, drama, passion, and lots of big, furry primates.” —Meg Lowman, National Geographic Explorer and author of The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the 8th Continent in the Trees Above Us “In one of the world’s most challenging environments, Dr. Gladys has put her life on the line to protect one of the world's most spectacular—and spectacularly threatened species, the mountain gorilla. A story which will inspire everyone, everywhere!”—Dr. Mark Plotkin, The Amazon Conservation Team, author of Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice “A concise and compelling autobiography, from a resilient ‘bridge-builder’: Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. It has been said: ‘When you build bridges, you get walked on from both sides,’—so true for Gladys who has faced prejudice from her own culture, for being a woman and for being African. But Gladys is a trailblazer, risk-taker and innovative. We all share this planet and it takes a person like Gladys to reimagine conservation and build bridges between culture and communities so that we all survive together. Gladys is my hero, Uganda’s hero, Africa’s hero, and the world’s hero.”—Catherine Kreutter, author of Old Mzee books “Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is one of Africa’s greatest conservation ecoheroes. Her work on mountain gorillas and her innovative approaches linking this essential conservation activity with the health of human communities living in close proximity is truly ground-breaking and serves as a model for other projects around the world. It is wonderful to now have her story told in her own words in this inspiring and delightful new book.”—Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D., Chief Conservation Officer, Re:wild (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation) “Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka's pioneering efforts to save endangered gorillas by improving local human health have been an inspiration to conservationists around the world. Her new memoir details this incredible journey, including the adversity she had to overcome and what she's learned along the way. She artfully illustrates the complexities of conservation, sheds light on how protecting nature helps us protect ourselves, and offers insights that are applicable to conservation programs worldwide. I strongly recommend this book!”—Rhett Butler, Founder and CEO of Mongabay “Walking with Gorillas is an inspirational account of one veterinarian's unwavering effort to prevent disease spillover by promoting a "One Health" approach and always, above all, listening and prioritizing local community members’ voices to create a better world for humans, animals and nature. This decade began with grave reminder of the danger of diseases jumping from animals to people and back, something Dr. Gladys has been committed to protecting us and wildlife from during her entire professional life.”—Dr. William Karesh, Author Appointments at the Ends of the World, President, World Organisation for Animal Health Working Group on Wildlife “Uganda deserves to be better known for its astonishing wildlife. And I can think of no better guide than the nation’s first wildlife veterinarian. Meet Dr. Gladys and enter the incredible adventure that has been her life." — Dr. Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel “Infused with the remarkable spirit of purpose, compassion and innovative thinking that is synonymous with Gladys herself, Walking with Gorillas is an inspiring memoir that showcases the importance of community-based conservation through one of Uganda’s most determined voices for wildlife. A captivating look at the dangers that humans pose to our closest of relatives, this book gives a compelling insight into the role that healthcare and women in society play in the author’s pioneering ‘One Health’ approach – one that the future of conservation surely depends upon. Simply, a must-read.”—Edward Whitley, OBE, Founder of Whitley Fund for Nature, Author of Gerald Durrell’s Army “Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka’s book, Walking With Gorillas, is a walk through the forests and landscapes of her life and the lives of those who have influenced her choices as a veterinarian, a leader, partner and mother. Her method for building community and improving methods for protection of the forest has not only had an impact on the survival of our closest relatives the great apes, it has added a chapter to our understanding of how to build a thriving relationship with nature. Her wisdom is what we urgently need as we meet the challenge of declining biodiversity and deforestation, pandemics and climate change. If the measure of a life is one’s legacy, Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka shows in her book that being part of a lineage is also important. Her learning from her forebearers while creating communities that live in harmony with all sentient beings is a model for public health, economic livelihoods and field science.”—Tom Cummings, Tallberg Foundation jury leader and Member Club of Rome, Chair, BLab Europe, Global Alliance for Banking on Values, Author of Leadership Landscapes

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES' BESTSELLER AND SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT BOOK OF THE YEARWINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT CONSERVATION AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE This is a book about abandoned places: ghost towns and exclusion zones, no man's lands and fortress islands and what happens when nature is allowed to reclaim its place.In Chernobyl, following the nuclear disaster, only a handful of people returned to their dangerously irradiated homes. On an uninhabited Scottish island, feral cattle live entirely wild. In Detroit, once America's fourth-largest city, entire streets of houses are falling in on themselves, looters slipping through otherwise silent neighbourhoods.This book explores the extraordinary places where humans no longer live or survive in tiny, precarious numbers to give us a possible glimpse of what happens when mankind's impact on nature is forced to stop. From Tanzanian mountains to the volcanic Caribbean, the forbidden areas of France to the mining regions of Scotland, Flyn brings together some of the most desolate, eerie, ravaged and polluted areas in the world and shows how, against all odds, they offer our best opportunities for environmental recovery.By turns haunted and hopeful, this luminously written world study is pinned together with profound insight and new ecological discoveries that together map an answer to the big questions: what happens after we're gone, and how far can our damage to nature be undone?More praise for Islands of AbandonmentExtraordinary Just when you thought there was nowhere left to explore, along comes an author with a new category of terrain Dazzling' SPECTATORA haunting look at how nature fights back Beautiful, evocative' SUNDAY TIMESFlyn's brave, thorough book sets out to explore places where angels fear to tread The result is fascinating, eerie and strange There is some thrilling writing here' KATHLEEN JAMIE, NEW STATESMANWonderful' ADAM NICOLSONExhilarating' DAILY TELEGRAPHTrade Review‘Extraordinary … Just when you thought there was nowhere left to explore, along comes an author with a new category of terrain – not scenes where man has never trod, but places where he has been and gone … Dazzling’Spectator ‘Exhilarating … A story of the extraordinary resilience of life in some of the most desolate, ravaged and polluted landscapes on earth’Daily Telegraph ‘Fascinating and brain-energising. It is full of detail and colour that sends one googling, to look up pictures and find out more. It is also an optimistic book … I’ll cling to that bit of unfashionable hope’The Times ‘Brave, thorough … The result is fascinating, eerie and strange … There is some thrilling writing here, a fine way with the telling detail, and a plea for radical revisioning of what we mean by “nature” and “wild”’Kathleen Jamie, New Statesman ‘Consistently rewarding, eloquently provocative … a brave book, in more ways than one’New Humanist ‘Scintillating … she writes beautifully … Flyn's research is meticulous, but what makes the book so extraordinary is the originality of her thought’The Herald ‘A thoughtful, fascinating read’Independent ‘Brilliant … Flyn paints vivid pictures … both clear and compelling’Daily Telegraph, five stars ‘Filled with understanding and adventure … Written with a beautiful attention to detail and a generous and imaginative frame of mind. The wonderful and surprising thing is how much reassurance and sense of possibility comes out of it at every turn’Adam Nicolson ‘Certainly a book of the year for me’ Sebastian Faulks ‘Cal Flyn takes us on a mercurial expedition into the strange lands of human surrender … Thoughtful, careful, fascinating, poignant, mysterious, surreal, compelling, pace pitch-perfect. I could go on … and on’Keggie Carew, author of Dadland

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Book SynopsisThe world is more astonishing, more miraculous and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings.Rare and magical book.' Bill BrysonA witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's most wondrous creatures.' ObserverExquisite and timely.' Maggie O'Farrell** Shortlisted for the Waterstones and Foyles Book of the Year **** Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing **In The Golden Mole, Katherine Rundell, the award-winning author of Super-Infinite and Impossible Creatures, takes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's strangest and most awe-inspiring animals, including pangolins, wombats, lemurs and seahorses. But each of these animals is endangered. And so, this most passionately persuasive and sharply funny book is also an urgent, inspiring clarion call: to treasure and act to save nature's vanishing wonders, before it is too late.Deeply affecting, intimate and wildly funny . . . I loved it.' Edmund de WaalA wondrous ode to nature's astonishing beauty and an elegy for all the life we are in the midst ofdestroying.' Amia SrinivasanAn exuberant celebration of everything from bats, crows and hedgehogs to narwhals and wombats . . . Rundell is incapable of writing a dull sentence.' ObserverThere is a constant joy in the book . . . A sense throughout of delight and wonder, and a reminder thatthese emotions also matter may even save us. This is the point.' New StatesmanKatherine Rundell''s book The Golden Mole was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 04-11-2023

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Book SynopsisThe enchanting second novel from the author of The Last Bear: the bestselling debut hardback of 2021 and The Times Children's Book of the Week, winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book AwardAn irresistible ocean-loving yarn' The TimesWinner of the Edward Stanford Children's Travel Book of the Year 2023Shortlisted for BAMB Indie Book Awards for Children''s Fiction 2023THEIR BOND COULD SET THEM FREE Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help.Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale ?Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi PinfoldTrade Review‘From the author of the bestselling The Last Bear comes another engrossing tale that blends ecological awareness with deftly plotted adventure’ Waterstones, Books of the Year 2022 ‘If you know any little ones curious about the world, then this tale of a young boy who bonds with a whale and grows by learning about its life and environment is a beautifully illustrated and touching read’ Wanderlust ‘The Last Bear, Hannah Gold’s award-winning debut, explored the intense connection between animal and child that can help with expressing pain and anxiety — and The Lost Whale reprises that theme’ Daily Mail ‘A winning book from a master storyteller’ Irish Independent ‘Unforgettable highly accomplished animal adventure about the connection between a boy and a whale, with strong ecological themes’ Fiona Noble Bookseller ‘A powerful and deeply moving story’ Daily Mail ‘The author’s passion for the natural world currently under threat makes their book outstanding’ New Statesman, Best Children’s Books of the Year ‘Lyrical page-turner’ Observer ‘An irresistible, ocean-loving yarn’ The Times ‘Simply beautiful – tender, heartfelt and hopeful with such crystal-clear storytelling. . . Rio and White Beak’s story will stay with me for a long time’ Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home ‘Beautifully crafted story of hope and healing’ Katie Heap, Scope for Imagination ‘Magnificent! The Lost Whale will lift your heart as high as the ocean is deep’ Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild ‘The most spellbinding read. I raced through this book, completely engrossed in Rio and his quest to find White Beak. My book of the year so far’ Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

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Book SynopsisAustere and immense, the Arctic region harbors a unique diversity of flora and fauna adapted to this harsh and unforgiving ecosystem including shrubs, grasses, mosses, sedges and lichens and a variety of hardy wildlife from the tiny lemming to the immense polar bear and bowhead whale. A region previously only visited by explorers, the Artic has attracted more and more tourists in the last decade. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by novice and expert explorers alike. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisDaphne Sheldrick''s best-selling love story of romance, life and elephants, An African Love Story: Love, Life and Elephants is an incredible story from Africa''s greatest living conservationist.A typical day for Daphne involves rescuing baby elephants from poachers; finding homes for orphan elephants, all the while campaigning the ever-present threat of poaching for the ivory trade.An African Love Story is the incredible memoir of her life. It tells two stories - one is the extraordinary love story which blossomed when Daphne fell head over heels with Tsavo Game Park and its famous warden, David Sheldrick. The second is the love story of how Daphne and David, who devoted their lives to saving elephant orphans, at first losing every infant under the age of two until Daphne at last managed to devise the first-ever milk formula which would keep them alive. ''Compulsively readable'', Mail on Sunday''An enchanting memoir'', TelegraTrade ReviewCompulsively readable...the more you hear about elephants from her, the more you wonder why they don't rule the world -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *An enchanting memoir...Baby birds, antelopes, elephants, rhinos and a civet cat all pass through Sheldrick's life -- Helen Brown * Telegraph *Wonderfully candid -- Charlotte Kemp * Daily Mail *Absorbing, moving...paints a vivid picture of an extraordinary life in the bush that will delight everyone * BBC Wildlife Magazine *Moving and magical...a fascinating story...touching, funny and written with warmth and compassion * Lancashire Evening Post *Inspirational. A heart-warming read for anyone interested in wildlife and conservation * Compass *Africa has never been more vividly described...I read it straight through and it nearly broke my heart...her warnings about the decline of wildlife should be heeded the world over -- Joanna Lumley

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Book SynopsisIn the modern era, zoos and aquariums fight species extinction, educate communities, and advance learning of animal behaviour. This book features first person stories and scientific reviews to explore ground breaking projects run by these institutions. Large-scale conservation initiatives that benefit multiple species are detailed in the first section, including critical habitat protection, evidence-based techniques to grow animal populations and the design of community education projects. The second section documents how zoos use science to improve the health and welfare of animals in captivity and make difficult management decisions. The section on saving species includes personal tales of efforts to preserve wild populations through rehabilitation, captive breeding, reintroduction, and public outreach. The concluding section details scientific discoveries about animals that would have been impossible without the support of zoos and aquariums. The book is for animal scientists, zoo pTable of ContentsIntroduction Michael Hutchins, Robert J. Wiese and Brandie Smith; Part I. Programs and Initiatives: 1. Evolving approaches to zoo-based conservation Corinne J. Kendall and Richard A. Bergl; 2. Protecting an underwater rainforest: freshwater science in the Southeastern United States Anna L. George, Joshua R. Ennen and Bernard R. Kuhajda; 3. Headstarting as a conservation strategy for threatened and endangered species Patrick Thomas, Donal M. Boyer, David A. Oehler, Scott Silver and Lou Perrotti; 4. Strategic gene banking for conservation: the ins and outs of a living bank Rebecca J. Hobbs, Justine K. O'Brien and Rebecca E. Spindler; 5. The environmental education program at São Paulo Zoo (Brazil): perspectives and experiences for wildlife conservation Kátia Gisele de Oliveira Rancura, Camila Martins and João Batista da Cruz; 6. Conservation and education through dolphin research and eco-tourism Kathleen Dudzinski and Mary Ellen Mateleska; Part II. Captive Care and Management: 7. Lear´s macaw, Anodorhynchus leari, ex situ breeding program at São Paulo Zoo Fernanda Junqueira Vaz Guida, Regiane Vieira de Paiva Morais and Angélica Midori Sugieda; 8. Measuring welfare through behavioral observation and adjusting it with dynamic environments Jason V. Watters, Bethany L. Krebs and Eridia Pacheco; 9. Empowering zoo animals Stephanie M. Allard and Meredith J. Bashaw; 10. Transforming the nutrition of zoo primates (or how we became known as Loris Man and that Evil Banana Woman) Amy Plowman and Francis Cabana; 11. Tough questions, complex answers: American zookeeper responses in a nationwide survey about culling David M. Powell and Matt Ardaiolo; Part III. Saving Species: 12. Fly away home: a collaborative program to return rehabilitated black cockatoos to the wild in Western Australia Anna Le Souëf, Simone Vitali, Rick Dawson, Jill M. Shephard and Kristin S. Warren; 13. Back into European wildlife: the reintroduction of the northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) Johannes Fritz, Markus Unsöld and Bernhard Völkl; 14. The thin green line: medical considerations in fighting extinction of the Houston toad Lauren L. Howard and Paul S. Crump; 15. Condor conservation comes home to roost: the Santa Barbara Zoo's story Estelle A. Sandhaus and Rich Block; 16. Saving the black-footed ferret from extinction: in theory and practice Rachel Santymire; Part IV. Basic Research: 17. 'Largest breeding colony outside of Australia': linking koala ex situ and in situ research Jennifer R. Tobey; 18. Comparative cognition research in zoos Bonnie M. Perdue; 19. Learning about dolphins: an era of discovery in managed care Holli C. Eskelinen, Jill L. Richardson and Kelley A. Winship; 20. Contributions of zoo-based reproductive research to marine animal conservation Justine K. O'Brien, Karen J. Steinman, Gisele A. Montano and Todd R. Robeck; 21. Studying play in zoos and aquariums Sabrina I. C. A. Brando and Gordon M. Burghardt; 22. Krogh's principle and why the modern zoo is important to academic research Joseph R. Mendelson, III, Gordon W. Schuett and Dwight P. Lawson; 23. Does research have a place in the zoological garden? Terry L. Maple and Sally L. Sherwen; 24. Conclusion: cultivating science in world zoos and aquariums Meredith J. Bashaw and Terry L. Maple.

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Book SynopsisThe book sets out a prospectus for a new form of civilization patterned at every level to serve and sustain the biosphere. Starting with the deep philosophical flaw at the core of modernity, namely that the cosmos is devoid of ends of its own, it posits, as an alternative axis for civilization, that the cosmos indeed actively seeks its own existence, and that its self-realization is moreover internally structured via an impulse, amongst finite things, towards co-generativity. Termed ‘Dao’ in ancient China and often coded as Law in Indigenous and First Nations cultures, this innate template is here taken as a first principle for economic production in contemporary societies: basic modes of economic production must transition from antagonistic to synergistic – to a specifically biological form of synergy which involves not merely the imitation of natural systems but active collaboration with them. The fact that this first principle is so philosophically alien to the Western mind-set while yet finding strong resonances with Chinese tradition, might encourage China, as an emerging great power, to lead the world in crafting a contemporary form of civilization that is true to Dao.Trade Review‘For many of us working in the field of regenerative practice, Freya Mathews is the most important environmental philosopher writing today. In this book she sets out profound insights that challenge existing praxis as well as describing the new ways of thinking that will be necessary to shape an ecological civilization. It is hard to conceive of a more urgent task for humanity, and this book is sure to be one of the most illuminating for those that want to lead on that journey’ — Michael Pawlyn, co-author of Flourish: Design Paradigms for our Planetary Emergency and author of Biomimicry in Architecture.‘Freya Mathews has given us The Dao of Civilization, an intellectually stunning work that opens new ways of coping with the existential crises of climate change by uncovering the ancient and untapped earth-based philosophies of ancient Chinese Daoism and Australian Aboriginal thought. Mathews persuades us, in her highly accessible and engaging style, that we are anything but helpless in our confrontation with a dramatically changing environment. This is a trailblazing work that will upend the way we think about the world and our place in it’ — Thomas Michael, School of Philosophy, Beijing Normal University; author of In the Shadows of the Dao: Laozi, the Sage, and the Daodejing.In this brief but richly multilayered volume, one of the deepest ecophilosophers of our age, Freya Mathews, integrates different strands of her work into a cogent whole. Mathews shows how mutually beneficial symbiosis, a fundamental principle of life’s great abundance, might also form the foundation of a different kind of civilisation—an ecological civilisation—that could enable humans to flourish synergistically with all life. Tying these insights into the core principles of Daoist philosophy, Mathews offers a tantalizing hint of how China could conceivably shed its allegiance to the extractivism of global capitalism and instead lead the world on a path to a life- affirming future— Jeremy Lent, author of The Patterning Instinct: a Cultural History of Humanity’s Search for Meaning and The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom.Freya Mathews addresses huge themes with intellectual boldness and writes with enviable clarity and lucidity. The Dao of Civilization articulates a philosophy and practice for a human civilization in harmony with the planet. Essential reading for anyone concerned with environmental philosophy and the human place on Earth— Peter Reason, Professor Emeritus of Action Research at Bath Spa University, UK.In this wonderfully written and deeply insightful book, ecophilosopher Freya Mathews shows us how profoundly feelingful relationships with land in a range of ancient and modern traditions – especially Law in Australian aboriginal culture, the Dao from ancient China and the more recent biosynergy approach, can help us navigate towards a world in which we humans can at last find our rightful and fruitful place within the living fabric of our animate earth. After reading this book, Freya’s latest masterwork, I found myself praying that citizens and leaders of all stripes and colours all over the world will take its message deeply to heart, for nothing less gives us a chance of avoiding the worst of the ecological and climate mayhem which are the products of our modern nature destroying ways of living —Dr Stephan Harding, Deep Ecology Research Fellow, Schumacher College, Dartington UK; author of Animate Earth.Table of ContentsPart I A Philosopher’s Letter to President Xi Jinping: on the Meaning of Greatness; Part II By the Law of the Living Cosmos: Shanghai Lectures on Ecological Civilization; Introduction; Lecture 1; Lecture 2; Lecture 3; Lecture 4 Epilogue; Acknowledgements; General Bibliography; Index

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Book Synopsis'Enthralling' Daily MailIn 1998, Françoise Malby-Anthony founded a game reserve with her late husband, dedicating their lives to the protection of these beautiful, troubled animals. The Elephants of Thula Thula is the profound, compelling story of their life's work.Françoise Malby-Anthony is the owner of a game reserve in South Africa with a remarkable family of elephants whose adventures have touched hearts around the world. The herd’s feisty matriarch Frankie knows who’s in charge at Thula Thula, and it’s not Françoise. But when Frankie becomes ill, and the authorities threaten to remove or cull some of the herd if the reserve doesn’t expand, Françoise is in a race against time to save her beloved elephants . . .The joys and challenges of a life dedicated to conservation are vividly described in this charming and moving book. The search is on to get a girlfriend for orphaned rhino Thabo – and then, as his behaviour becomes increasingly boisterous, a big brother to teach him manners. Françoise realizes a dream with the arrival of Savannah the cheetah – an endangered species not seen in the area since the 1940s – and finds herself rescuing meerkats kept as pets. But will Thula Thula survive the pandemic, an invasion from poachers and the threat from a mining company wanting access to its land?As Françoise faces her toughest years yet, she realizes once again that with their wisdom, resilience and communal bonds, the elephants have much to teach us.Trade ReviewFrançoise’s descriptions of the empathetic behaviour of elephants, both towards each other and towards the humans who love them, are beguiling * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisLord Purdey was shaking with anger. 'Bring back the lynx? Over my dead body!'The environmental protestors murmured, and Rory stepped forward. 'Your hunting has destroyed our hills and left them treeless wastes, devoid of wildlife. It's time that changed.''Listen, you lentil-eating cat lover,' Purdey barked through the megaphone, 'men like me own Scotland. If we want to kill anything that moves and turn the whole damn place into a theme park, we'll do it.'Someone from the group of protestors hurled a turnip. It struck Purdey and he crumpled to the ground. Just as the archaic class system he represents must eventually fall, Angus thought with a grin.In his first two bestselling books, The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, John D. Burns invited readers to join him in the hills and wild places of Scotland. In Sky Dance, he returns to that world to ask fundamental questions about how we relate to this northern landscape – while raising a laugh or two along the way. Anyone who has gazed at the majesty of the Scottish mountains will know this place and want to return to it. Now, as wild land is threatened like never before, it’s time we asked ourselves what kind of future we want for the Highlands.

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Book SynopsisA Wood of One's Own is a lyrical, beguiling and inspiring story; a potent reminder of nature's delicate balance, and its comforting and abiding presence.Trade Review'So beguiling... Pavey's writing is everywhere amiable' Times Literary Supplement'[In planting her wood] the satisfactions are many... her book is a gentle, generous extension of that... one all her readers can share in' The Lady'Pavey's love for her small patch of land shimmers off the page [in this] narrative of warmth, honesty and great spirit made all the more beautiful by Pavey's own lively and accomplished drawings... this lovely book is itself a gift encouraging country-dweller and townie alike to marvel at the infinite possibilities at the heart of a single tree' Daily Mail, Book of the Week'Captivating... If this book was not as much a pleasure to write as it is to read, I'll eat my hat and gardening glove... Pavey's unassuming memoir celebrates the imperfections of rural life and the virtues of spontaneity... the non-bravura style attractively illustrated with Pavey's black-and-white sketches makes this book a winner' Kate Kellaway, Observer‘A delightful account… with intriguing digressions into local history and culture. [Pavey] writes with warmth and spirit, and brings this space to life in all its detail of plants, trees and wildlife’ Penelope Lively‘A lovely story – a super book’ Steve Yabsley, BBC Radio Bristol and Somerset‘Draws together childhood memories, local history… and literary penumbra’ Sunday Telegraph‘A lyrical story of desire and determination, soft and gentle, warm and wise in a wicked world’ Camden New Journal‘Practical and full of helpful advice which has been artfully baked-in throughout. If someone asks you what you'd like for Christmas or a birthday don't hesitate to reply, A Wood of One's Own' Woodlands.co.uk

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Book SynopsisAn accessible and comprehensive guide to all things acoustic bat detection. This highly illustrated handbook provides an in-depth understanding of acoustic detection principles, study planning, data handling, properties of bat calls, manual identification of species, automatic species recognition, analysis of results, quality assurance and the background physics of sound. No other method of detecting bats is so popular and widespread in the context of environmental assessment and voluntary work as acoustic detection, and its increased use has driven the development of a large number of sophisticated devices and analytical methods. Acoustic detection has become a standard approach for establishing the presence of bats, carrying out species identification and monitoring levels of activity. The resolution, accuracy and scale with which these tasks can be done has risen dramatically with the availability of automated real-time recording. But anyone interested in acoustic recording will quickly recognise that there are still quite a few open questions about the limits and possibilities of acoustic detection. Clear definitions of how to handle the data are usually missing, for example, and there are no clearly described activity indices. In response to the lack of thorough information on the underlying science of acoustic detection, the authors present this handbook.Trade ReviewAcoustic detection has become a standard method for determining the presence of bats, and for species identification and monitoring. The resolution, accuracy and scale with which these surveys can be carried out has risen dramatically with the availability of automated real-time recording. Acoustic monitoring does have its limitations, however, and The Handbook of Acoustic Bat Detection addresses these by providing an in-depth understanding of the properties of bat calls, manual species identification, analysis of results and the background physics of sound. First published in German in 2018, this English translation includes new content that was not included in the original. * Conservation Land Management *This well-written and ably translated volume presents a thorough but accessible compendium on a timely subject. Runkel et al. give excellent coverage of highly technical systems applied to the biology of the animals. They explain methods with direct application to large-scale industrial developments, but never lose sight of the fundamental importance of the experienced observer who understands the animals and the environment. -- Winston C. Lancaster * The Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of Contents1 - Acoustic recording 2 - Examples of acoustic studies 3 - The planning of acoustic studies 4 - Manual and automatic acoustic recording 5 - Manual identification of species 6 - Automatic species recognition 7 - A comparison of identification methods 8 - The complexities of call analysis 9 - Criteria for detector systems 10 - Interpretation of the results 11 - Quality assurance of reports 12 - Nacelle monitoring – its benefits and its limitations 13 - Bat calls 14 - The physics of sound

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Birdwatcher's Yearbook Best Bird Book of the Year""Sixth Place for the 2022 BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year, British Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology""Ideal if you’ve ever wondered what wildlife you might find in the Patagonian steppe or what the difference between maquis and garrigue is."---Penny Sarchet, New Scientist Wild Wild Life"What a book this is – a Bible of the world’s habitats! The pictures are amazing, with a great variety of birds, mammals and habitats shown. . . . A brilliant guide for the traveller, though, and an enjoyable read."---John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine"Nature lovers are in for a treat if they’re looking for an easy to interpret, all-in-one ready reference that covers our entire planet’s major ecological habitats. . . . Anyone wanting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the habitats around them, be it from the confines of their narrowboat, or while travelling the world, would do well to invest in this book as a quick and reliable source of information."---Kevin Thomas, Towpath Talk"Hugely ambitious in scope, this guide aims to cover and describe all the main broad habitats of the world . . . . Such a compilation of information, mostly reflecting the experience of the authors, is a remarkable achievement."---Chris and Jude Gibson, British Naturalists Association"I found this book to be well laid out, clear, informative and interesting. I hadn’t previously considered habitats as something to really look at in close detail but this book has unexpectedly changed that and will likely make a surprisingly welcome addition to many other birders’ bookcases too."---Stephen Menzie, British Birds"[This] is a fun book, and it contains a wealth of information about habitats, wildlife, and biogeography. It’s certainly required reading for anyone embarking on a nature tour, and it also provides interesting perspective on the habitats on your home turf."---Stefan Woltmann, Association of Field Ornithologists"[An] astonishing book."---Donna Schulman, American Birding Association"Packed full of information that is concisely expressed. . . . A book that deserves a place in any birder’s reference library."---Raymond Jeffers, Neotropical Birding"Concise but informative text and easy-to-understand diagrams."---Stephen Menzie, British Birds and British Trust for Ornithology

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Book SynopsisLogs, stones and the like provide an interesting interface between the damp depths of the soil and the drier open ground surface, offering refuges for a fascinating array of animals. The communities of organisms that live beneath them are little noticed and even less studied, yet the potential for ecological work here is great. Some of the animals are relatively large and frequently not difficult to find. They exhibit a wide range of lifestyles – from slow slugs or snails to very fast centipedes, from generalist to specialist feeders and from herbivores to carnivores. With chapters covering the cryptosphere environment, species groups, identification, guidelines and ideas for further research, this much-expanded and updated new edition also includes extensive, easy-to-use, comprehensively illustrated keys. Ground-surface debris can be found almost anywhere, often presenting highly accessible microhabitats for study and bringing immediate rewards to the curious: here is the ideal tool to unlock these worlds.Trade ReviewThis second edition, at 352 pages (ca fourfold longer), is comprehensive and has been thoroughly updated using the most recent taxonomic divisions and information available... This book will interest those who are curious about hidden animals. Teachers would also appreciate this book, as it could be adapted for students from elementary to high school. -- Phyllis G. Weintraub, Community EcologyAn excellent and very useful book for naturalists, ecologists, ecological surveyors, or indeed anyone interested in knowing what lives in the hidden places of their garden. It caters well for the growing interest in and use of bug hotels and will help anyone establishing them to understand more about the animal communities they support. -- Alvin Helden, Anglia Ruskin University * In Practice *A great addition to the library of any wildlife enthusiast who may want to observe the world of the invertebrates around them. -- Danniella Sherwood * Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society *If you are keen or just interested in turning over logs and stones (which most naturalists seem to enjoy or should do) then this is the book for you and its definitely worth upgrading to the new edition. Easily recommended. -- Roy Stewart * British Naturalist *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Environmental conditions under logs and stones 3. The cryptozoa 4. Identifying the animals 5. Studying animals under logs and stones 6. Useful addresses and links 7. References and further reading Index

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Book SynopsisTobin Mitnick, JewsLoveTrees creator and shameless tree lover, leads you, the tree-curious, through the wonderful world of North American trees with fact, opinion, and humor. In Must Love Trees, Mitnick invites you to share his deeply personal connection to our forest companions in ways that expand the storied genre of nature writing. From an imagined dialogue with the world’s oldest bristlecone pine, to the minutiae of tree huggability, to the emotional toll of taking up the practice of bonsai, this fresh take into the world of trees is divided into three equally humorous and insightful sections. The first section discusses Mitnick’s personal opinions and relationship with trees while the second section describes the science behind trees (from tree botany to tree biology to tree ecology). In the final section, Mitnick answers the question: Who would these trees be if they all attended high school together? Tobin’s detailed description of a tree in action and his thorough run-down of our most-treasured North American trees (all 100 of whom happen to be classmates at “Tree High North America”), makes this compilation an original and occasionally outlandish guide for both the budding and seasoned tree-lover.Must Love Trees features beautiful drawings of a vast selection of North American trees, including: Renowned icons like the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Beloved favorites like the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) Historical tragedies like the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Menacing creepers like Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) Unsung wonders like the Common Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba) Part textbook, part memoir, and part comedy, Must Love Trees is the most complete—and most unconventional—story of our forest pals ever told.Table of ContentsIntroduction What You Can Expect from This Book Prologue An Imagined Dialogue with Methuselah, the Oldest (?) Tree in the World 8 Part I My Personal Experience with Trees and Thoughts Derived Thereof CHAPTER 1 My Everyday Tree-Sperience CHAPTER 2 “Arbor-Culture” CHAPTER 3 Bonsai — a Wonderful Way to Torture Oneself CHAPTER 4 Around the House and Neighborhood CHAPTER 5 Look on My Pine Cone Home, Ye Mighty, and Despair! CHAPTER 6 Climate Change and Trees Part II A Tree, Basically CHAPTER 7 Tree Botany CHAPTER 8 Tree Biology CHAPTER 9 Tree Ecology Part III A Slightly Opinionated Guide to North American Trees CHAPTER 10 Spotting Your Tree Pals at the Big Game: How to Use the Tree Guide CHAPTER 11 Gymnosperms CHAPTER 12 Angiosperms CHAPTER 13 UNPOPULAR TREE OPINION: These Two Beloved Trees Are Not Trees Epilogue An Imagined Dialogue Between Myself and a Magnolia Tree Glossary References and Further Reading Acknowledgments About the Author

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Book SynopsisIn her wise and elegant new book, Jane Goodall blends her experience in nature with her enthusiasm for botany to give readers a deeper understanding of the world around us.Long before her work with chimpanzees, Goodall''s passion for the natural world sprouted in the backyard of her childhood home in England, where she climbed her beech tree and made elderberry wine with her grandmother. The garden her family began then, she continues to enjoy today. SEEDS OF HOPE takes us from England to Goodall''s home-away-from-home in Africa, deep inside the Gombe forest, where she and the chimpanzees are enchanted by the fig and plum trees they encounter. She introduces us to botanists around the world, as well as places where hope for plants can be found, such as The Millennium Seed Bank, where one billion seeds are preserved. She shows us the secret world of plants with all their mysteries and potential for healing our bodies as well as Planet Earth.Looking at the worl

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Book Synopsis______________''Remarkable ... Emma Marris explores a paradox that is increasingly vexing the science of ecology, namely that the only way to have a pristine wilderness is to manage it intensively'' The Wall Street Journal''Ms Marris''s book is an insightful analysis of the thinking that informs nature conservation'' - The Economist''What may be the most important book about the environment in a generation'' - Idaho Statesman______________A paradigm shift is roiling the environmental world. For decades people have unquestioningly accepted the idea that our goal is to preserve nature in its pristine, pre-human state. But many scientists have come to see this as an outdated dream that thwarts bold new plans to save the environment and prevents us from having a fuller relationship with nature. Humans have changed the landscapes they inhabit since prehistory, and climate change means even the remotest places now bear the fingerprints of humanity. Emma Marris argues convincingly that it is time to look forward and create the "rambunctious garden," a hybrid of wild nature and human management.In this optimistic book, readers meet leading scientists and environmentalists and visit imaginary Edens, designer ecosystems, and Pleistocene parks. Marris describes innovative conservation approaches, including rewilding, assisted migration, and the embrace of so-called novel ecosystems.Rambunctious Garden is short on gloom and long on interesting theories and fascinating narratives, all of which bring home the idea that we must give up our romantic notions of pristine wilderness and replace them with the concept of a global, half-wild rambunctious garden planet, tended by us.______________''Marris is a whip-smart writer . . . already being compared to the greatest environmental writers and thinkers of the past century, Rachel Carson and Aldo Leopold'' - San Francisco Chronicle______________

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Book Synopsis''The future of all life on this earth depends on our willingness to take action now'' David AttenboroughThe official companion to the ground-breaking Netflix original series.With a foreword by Sir David Attenborough, breathtakingly beautiful still photography, specially commissioned maps and graphics, and compelling text expanding on the remarkable TV stories and giving the reader a depth of information that is impossible on screen, this companion book presents a whole new view of the place we call home.Featuring some of the world''s rarest creatures and previously unseen parts of the Earth from deep oceans to remote forests to ice caps, Our Planet takes nature-lovers deep into the science of our natural world.Revealing the most amazing sights on Earth in unprecedented ways, alongside stories of the ways humans are affecting the world''s ecosystems, from the wildebeest migrations in Africa to thTrade ReviewAstonishing book...full of beautiful photographs * Radio Times *Featuring some of the world's rarest creatures and previously unseen parts of the Earth - Our Planet travels deep into the science of our natural world. Revealing the most amazing sights, alongside stories of the way humans are affecting the world's ecosystems - this book is part of a vital global conversation about protecting and preserving the planet. * Compass Magazine *A treat on your coffee table and a fine companion to any binge watch of the series * Wanderlust *Breathtaking photographs * Radio Times *Revealing the most amazing sights on Earth, alongside stories of the way humans are affecting the world's ecosystems, this book places itself at the forefront of a global conversation as we work together to protect and preserve the planet. * Catholic Times *

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Book SynopsisAs environmental problems grow larger and more pressing, conservationists have had to adapt. With a shrinking window of time to act, they are turning to broad approaches to combat continental- and global-scale crises of biodiversity loss, invasive species, and climate change. Pathways to Success—the long-awaited successor to the classic volume Measures of Success—is a modern guide to building large-scale transformative programs capable of tackling the complex conservation crises we face today. In this strikingly illustrated volume, coauthors Nick Salafsky and Richard Margoluis walk readers through fundamental concepts of effective program-level design, helping them to think strategically about project coordination, funding, and stakeholder input. Chapters in the first part of the book look at all aspects of designing and implementing large-scale conservation programs while the second part focuses on how to use data and information to manage, adapt, and learn from program strategies. In addition, the authors offer practical advice for avoiding pitfalls, such as formulaic recipes and simplistic silver-bullet solutions that can trip up otherwise well-intentioned efforts. Abundant graphics help to explain and clarify concepts presented in the text, and a glossary in the back matter defines technical terms for the reader. Pathways to Success is the definitive guide for conservation program managers and funders who want to increase the scale and effectiveness of their work combating biodiversity loss, climate change, and other pressing environmental issues.Table of ContentsForeword Aileen Lee Preface Taking Conservation to Scale in Complex Systems About This Book Acknowledgements Introduction Focus of This Book How This Book Is Organized Overarching Themes Sources and Further Information PART I. Designing and Implementing Your Program Chapter 1. Framing and Assessing the Situation Clarifying Your Purpose Understanding the System in Which You Are Working Developing a Shared Situation Model Situation Model and Situation Pathway Examples Sources and Further Information Chapter 2. Planning Your Strategies Understanding Your Overall Impact Trajectory Finding Key Intervention Points in Situation Models Identifying Candidate Actions Creating Strategy Pathways to Show Theories of Change Developing Your Approach for Going to Scale Determining Your Program’s Investment Approach Sources and Further Information Chapter 3. Operationalizing and Implementing Your Program Setting SMART Goals and Objectives Analyzing Trade-Offs and Conflict Turning Your Strategic Plan into an Actionable Work Plan Assembling a Programmatic Investment Portfolio Awarding Contracts and Grants That Enable Adaptation Sources and Further Information PART II. Using and Expanding Your Evidence Base Chapter 4. Synthesizing Existing Evidence Determining Investment in Evidence Based on Your Burden of Proof Identifying Critical Claims Requiring Evidence Compiling Evidence Sources and Assessing Claims Sources and Further Information Chapter 5. Monitoring and Adapting Developing Your Monitoring Plan Monitoring Your Strategy Effectiveness Defining and Measuring Long-Term Program Success Analyzing Data and Using the Results to Adapt Reporting to Your Team and Stakeholders Exiting Responsibly Sources and Further Information Chapter 6. Promoting Collaborative Learning Contributing to the Global Evidence Base Developing Collaborative Learning Programs Building the Discipline of Conservation Sources and Further Information Some Final Words Glossary Keys to Diagrams Used in This Book About the Authors Index

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Book SynopsisExplores our species role as a source of both discord and balance in Serengeti ecosystem dynamics. This book shows how the people and landscapes surrounding crucial protected areas like Serengeti National Park can and must contribute to Serengeti conservation.

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Book SynopsisA lavish edition of Katherine Rundell's gloriously illustrated and fascinating bestiary, featuring three new additions to the treasure trove of vanishing wonders.''Exquisite and timely.'' Maggie O''Farrell''A rare and magical book. I didn''t want it to end.'' Bill Bryson''A witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's wondrous creatures.'' Observer''A total miracle.'' Max PorterA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES AND FOYLES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITINGThe world is more astonishing, more miraculous and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings.A pangolin's tongue is longer than its body. It keeps it furled in a nifty pouch near the hip.A swift flies 200,000 miles in its lifetime. That's far enough to get to the moon and back -- then back to the moon.There's a fable that storks deliver babies. In fact, the Nazis used them to air-drop propaganda.A lavishly illustrated compendium of the staggering lives of some of the world's most endangered animals, this sumptuous, expanded and updated edition of The Golden Mole is a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck to fall for the likes of the wondrous pygmy hippo, the seahorse, the narwhal and, as astonishing and endangered as them all, the human.Katherine Rundell''s book The Golden Mole was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 03-11-2023---------Readers love The Golden Mole:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Sometimes you stumble across a book and you know you''ll always treasure it. This is that book!''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Beautiful in every detail ... a book to go back to time and time again.''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''A love letter to the animals of our world. A beautiful read.''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Beautifully written, intelligently researched and full of wonder.''⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''A most topical and relevant book, beautifully presented and written with depth and humour.''

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Book SynopsisWith a new introduction by the author Some thousands of years ago, the world was home to an immense variety of large mammals. From wooly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers to giant ground sloths and armadillos the size of automobiles, these spectacular creatures roamed freely. Then human beings arrived. Devouring their way down the food chain as they spread across the planet, they began a process of voracious extinction that has continued to the present. Headlines today are made by the existential threat confronting remaining large animals such as rhinos and pandas. But the devastation summoned by humans extends to humbler realms of creatures including beetles, bats and butterflies. Researchers generally agree that the current extinction rate is nothing short of catastrophic. Currently the earth is losing about a hundred species every day. This relentless extinction, Ashley Dawson contends in a primer that combines vast scope with elegant precision, is the product of a global attack on the commons, the great trove of air, water, plants and creatures, as well as collectively created cultural forms such as language, that have been regarded traditionally as the inheritance of humanity as a whole. This attack has its genesis in the need for capital to expand relentlessly into all spheres of life. Extinction, Dawson argues, cannot be understood in isolation from a critique of our economic system. To achieve this we need to transgress the boundaries between science, environmentalism and radical politics. Extinction: A Radical History performs this task with both brio and brilliance.Trade ReviewPraise for the first edition: “Ashley Dawson’s slim and forceful book … makes a case for being the most accessible and politically engaged examination of the current mass extinction … a welcome contribution to the growing literature on this slow-motion calamity.” —Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Yale University, in the Los Angeles Review of Books “Dawson's searing report on species loss will sober up anyone who has drunk the Kool-Aid of green capitalism. For a bonus, readers will learn a lot from his far-sighted, prehistoric survey of extinction.” —Andrew Ross, author of Creditocracy and the Case for Debt Refusal “Dawson has summed up the threat to our fellow species on Earth with clarity, urgency and the finest reasoning available within the environmental justice literature. He explains how capital's appropriation of nature cannot be 'offset,' nor solutions found in financialization. Fusing social and ecological challenges to power is the only way forward, and here is a long-awaited, elegant and comprehensive expression of why the time is right to make these links.” —Patrick Bond, Professor of Political Economy, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and author of Politics of Climate Justice: Paralysis Above, Movement Below “A succinct and moving account of the co-evolution of capitalism, imperialism, and climate change. Dawson demonstrates not only how capitalism created climate change but also why the former must be challenged in order to halt the latter. Offering not only critique but also solutions, this rousing book is a great tool for anti-capitalists, climate change activists, and those still making sense of the intrinsic connections between the two.” —Jasbir Puar, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director Women's and Gender Studies, Rutgers University, author of Terrorist Assemblages “Historically grounded, densely researched, fluidly written, Ashley Dawson’s book on extinction is a powerful and painful exploration of human civilization's environmental irrationalities. Yet Dawson does not see annihilation as inevitable and he even points towards an alternate path.” —Christian Parenti, author of Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence

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Book SynopsisNot since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery - Richard Dawkins In this book a master scientist tells the great story of how life on earth evolved. E.O. Wilson eloquently describes how the species of the world became diverse, and why the threat to this diversity today is beyond the scope of anything we have known before. In an extensive new foreword for this edition, Professor Wilson addresses the explosion of the field of conservation biology and takes a clear-eyed look at the work still to be done.Trade Review"Not since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery" - Richard Dawkins"

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Book SynopsisFrom African American to Asian American, indigenous to immigrant, "multiracial" to "mixedblood," the diversity of cultures in this world is matched only by the diversity of stories explaining our cultural origins: stories of creation and destruction, displacement and heartbreak, hope and mystery. With writing from Jamaica Kincaid on the fallacies of national myths, Yusef Komunyakaa connecting the toxic legacy of his hometown, Bogalusa, LA, to a blind faith in capitalism, and bell hooks relating the quashing of multiculturalism to the destruction of nature that is considered "unpredictable" -- amongst more than 35 other examinations of the relationship between culture and nature -- this collection points toward the trouble of ignoring our cultural heritage, but also reveals how opening our eyes and our minds might provide a more livable future. The Colors of Nature comes in four alternating-color covers: red, yellow, green, and blue.

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Book SynopsisThis collection includes Jim Corbett's unpublished writings on man-eaters, nature, and his beloved Kumaon, personal letters, articles written for newspapers and gazettes by his contemporaries, and letters exchanged between Corbett and his publisher showcasing the development of his bestselling books-all from the archives of the Oxford University Press.Table of ContentsPUBLISHER'S NOTE ; TIMELINE ; PREFACE: 'HOW I CAME TO WRITE ' ; A LIFE WELL LIVED: AN INTRODUCTION TO JIM CORBETT BY LORD HAILEY ; SECTION ONE: THE UNPUBLISHED CORBETT-THE NIGHT JAR'S EGG ; 'ONE OF US' ; FROM MY JUNGLE CAMP ; THE RUDRAPRAYAG LETTERS ; CORBETT ON THE MAN-EATING LEOPARD OF RUDRAPRAYAG ; THE MAKING OF CORBETT'S MY INDIA: CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS EDITORS ; 'SHOOTING' TIGERS: CORBETT AND THE CAMERA ; WILDLIFE IN THE VILLAGE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL APPEAL ; AN ENGLISHMAN IN INDIA ; LIFE IN KENYA ; SECTION TWO: CORBETT AND HIS AUDIENCE-'THE ARTLESSNESS OF HIS ART' ; THE MAN REVEALED: CORBETT IN HIS WRITINGS ; THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF JIM CORBETT: LETTERS AND REVIEWS ; DELIVERANCE FOR RUDRAPRAYAG: REACTIONS TO THE SLAYING OF THE MAN-EATING LEOPARD BY CORBETT ; CORBETT'S INFLUENCE: MAN-EATERS OF KUMAON AND THE CHHINDWARA COURT CASE ; EPIGRAPH

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