Conservation of wildlife and habitats Books

Book SynopsisThe Great Spotted Woodpecker first bred in Ireland in 2009. Since then the author has followed the daily lives of this species, a family of whom had taken up residence in a windtorn Spanish chestnut tree near his home in the depths of County Wicklow. This unique and personal account of a family of woodpeckers raising their young brings the reader deep into the world of this fascinating species: a world of hope, love, death, new life and ultimately success. It explores the richness and diversity of the natural wonders found in County Wicklow against a backdrop of a more general overview of the species in Ireland. It includes a foreword by filmmaker John Boorman, and features illustrations by Killian Mullarney and Flemming Christoffersen with stunning colour photographs by Dick Coombes. This book is to be treasured by everyone – not just ornithologists, but those with an interest in the natural world around them.Trade Review‘As engaging an expression of a true naturalist’s passion as Ireland has produced ... So immediate and concerned is [the author’s] account that one comes to live it with him, if spared the scourge of midges that penetrate his dark and humid hide.’ —THE IRISH TIMES ‘We are visited by hope, joy, pathos, tragedy, suAs engaging an expression of a true naturalist’s passion as Ireland has produced … So immediate and concerned is [the author’s] account that one comes to live it with him, if spared the scourge of midges that penetrate his dark and humid hide. -- Michael Viney * Irish Times *One man’s passion brings to life the story of this once-extinct bird’s return to the Republic. -- John Quinn * The Sunday Times *This book, charting these new arrivals to our shore, captures the honesty and harshness of the life-cycle so well. If anything, it shows how even in the most arduous of environments, immense beauty is to be found. -- Daniel Seery * Dublin Inquirer *

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Book SynopsisChina and Taiwan have roughly one-eighth of the world's known species. Their approaches to biodiversity issues thus have global as well as national repercussions. Gerald McBeath and Tse-Kang Leng explore the ongoing conflicts between economic development, typically pursued by businesses and governments, and communities seeking to preserve and protect local human and ecosystem values. China and Taiwan have sharply different political and economic systems. In Taiwan, a public relatively more supportive of sustainable development, a free press, a more transparent decision-making process, and an autonomous civil society have influenced governance. Yet democratization has not guaranteed better environmental outcomes. In China, on the other hand, fragmentation of power and 'softer' forms of authoritarianism than in the Maoist era have created openings for NGOs, scientists, journalists, and officials seeking a sustainable future to participate in the environmental policy making process. The authors provide an explicit and comparative treatment of the national policies preserving rare, threatened, and endangered species and ecosystems. Considerable attention is paid to the actors involved in policy formation and implementation as well as to recent cases concerning biodiversity conservation in China and Taiwan.This comprehensive volume will appeal to students and researchers in the areas of political science, environmental science and politics, environmental activists in national and international NGOs, and members of multinational corporations working in developing countries.Trade Review'Written in a readable and concise manner, Governance of Biodiversity Conservation in China and Taiwan makes an interesting contribution to the study of Chinese environmental politics.' -- Kathleen Burton, The China Quarterly'McBeath and Leng's work on contemporary Chinese environmental governance and conservation provides an excellent overview of the key issues in the People's Republic as well as a timely comparison with environmental issues in Taiwan. . . McBeath and Leng's book is written in an concise and readable manner appropriate for undergraduate courses, while the breadth and depth of information makes it equally useful for graduate research. This book on China's environment makes a worthy contribution to contemporary conservation studies and policy issues, and should be essential reading for specialists and students working on biodiversity governance issues in China.' -- Jack Patrick Hayes, Pacific Affairs'This fascinating volume highlights the ongoing conflict between economic development and environmental protection in both mainland China and Taiwan. The authors value biological diversity and examine its loss and conservation from historical and comparative perspectives. Despite significant differences in institutional frameworks and environmental NGOs on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, the authors also note a similar approach to biodiversity conservation and the entailed success or failure. This volume is a must read for people who are concerned with the endangered global ecosystem. Students in public policy comparison may find this volume instructive in combining institutional analysis with behavioral observation.' -- Lin Gang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, People's Republic of ChinaTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. Historical Patterns 3. Current Status of Species and Ecosystems in China and Taiwan 4. Legal and Institutional Framework for Biodiversity Conservation 5. Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation 6. Business Organizations and Biodiversity Conversation 7. ENGOs, Civil Society and Biodiversity Conservation 8. Politics and Biodiversity Conservation 9. Conclusions Index

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Book SynopsisAfter decades of operating off-the-backfoot and protecting and conserving nature perceived as under threat, conservationists are becoming proactive and creative in the face of habitat loss, agricultural intensification and climate change. Beyond Conservation offers a revolutionary agenda for both managing existing wildlands in Britain and for expanding and connecting such lands. Central to this strategy is the imperative to 'rewild' or restore and repair damaged habitat and ecosystems, promote existing biodiversity and reintroduce vanished plant and animal species, while working to reconcile human needs and livelihoods and the needs of nature.Trade Review'Peter Taylor builds bridges between ecology, countryside policy and spirituality .... This book is novel in its breadth, and offers a sharp challenge to conventional thinking in conservation.' Bill Adams, University of Cambridge 'There is a new determination to be more pro-active, more creative and much bolder, and Peter Taylor's important book captures that mood brilliantly.' Chris Baines, Resurgence 'This is a vitally important and much needed book, which shows the way forward for a renewed and positive relationship between people and wild Nature in Britain. Lucidly and authoritatively covering topics ranging from the ecological role of our country's missing mammals to the healing power of natural forests, and drawing upon the work of practical projects already underway, Peter Taylor articulates an inspiring vision of a possible future Britain, replete with large core areas of wild, natural ecosystems. The book offers a beacon of hope to all those who draw spiritual sustenance from wild Nature, and is essential reading for anyone seeking a positive alternative to the ongoing biological depletion of our country' Alan Featherstone, Trees for Life 'Peter is an informed, passionate and compassionate guide. [This book] deserves to succeed firstly in provoking a necessary debate about the future for nature management on the basis of some perceptive ideas and a clear vision; secondly in challenging us all to see working with nature as an essentially soul-full process and thirdly in strengthening the steadily growing acceptance that allowing more space for wild nature, being less prescriptive, can happen anywhere we choose to let it. It will be read and enjoyed by enthusiasts for the wild [and] will also provide an excellent introduction to wild-land themes for students.' ECOS 26 (2), David Russell, former Head of Forestry at the National TrustTable of ContentsIntroduction * The wild side of natural * Coed Eryri * Caledon * Dartmoor * The potential for networks and corridors * Restoring ecological processes: regeneration of the core vegetation * Restoring ecological processes: the herbivore guild * Restoring ecological processes: bringing back the carnivores * The healing forest * The land in-between: wilding agriculture * Targeted habitat creation * Stepping stones to a wilder policy * Straight to the heart: a wildland strategy *

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Book SynopsisThe International Politics of Bird Conservation assesses international cooperation on migratory and endangered birds in different regions of the world. Robert Boardman illustrates that - although birds are protected in international treaties, by national legislation and through the projects of non-governmental organizations - the threats to many species have mounted. Threats arise from ecologically inappropriate agricultural and forestry practices, the spread of cities and the draining of wetlands, among other factors. The author focuses on regional cooperation between governments, NGOs and international organizations. It questions the effectiveness of international cooperation on the protection of birds, particularly migratory and endangered species. The rise of conservation-related scientific research and the historical evolution of bird protection efforts are discussed, as are regional developments in Africa, the Americas, the Arctic, Antarctica, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. The author concludes by identifying emerging trends in environmental governance and suggesting reforms to strengthen these arrangements.This book will prove a fascinating read for researchers, academics, organizations and specialists in a wide range of fields including: bird conservation and wildlife protection, environmental law and policy, global governance, regionalism and transborder cooperation.Trade Review'. . . this text is a useful resource for anyone interested in the history of nature conservation - and is usefully organised so that relevant chapters can be easily extracted from the whole.' -- Norman Dandy, Environmental PoliticsTable of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Framing Birds 2. The Biodiversity Project 3. Agenda-setting in the Early Years 4. Continental Contexts: North American Dynamics 5. Europe as a Conservation Polity 6. Development, Disparity, Diversity: North–South Encounters 7. Ecosystems of the Polar Regions 8. Niches of Governance References Index

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Book SynopsisTransfrontier conservation is a global concept which encompasses the protection of biodiversity spanning the borders of two or more countries in ways that support local economic development, international relations and peace. Nowhere is this more relevant but highly debatable than in Africa, which is home to a third of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, while at the same time hosting its poorest nations. This is one of the first books to account for the emergence of transfrontier conservation in Africa against international experiences in bioregional planning. The roles of the state and local populations are analysed, as well as the ecological, socio-economic and political implications.Table of Contents1: Perspectives on TFCA's: An Introduction 2: On the Ideological Foundations of Transfrontier Conservation Areas 3: Peace Through Ecology? A Soft Approach to Hard Realities 4: Local Initiatives and their Regional and Global Connections 5: Southern African Development Community: A Regional Catalyst 6: Silencing Community Struggles 7: The Renaissance of the Bush: The Reinvention of the Cape to Cairo Route in Contemporary Africa 8: Mapping Africa's Future 9: Postscript: Transfrontier Parks and the Legacy of Rupert

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Book SynopsisWith Britain’s islands holding more than three-quarters of the Earth’s stock of heather moorland, it is an extraordinary fact that it stands as one of the world’s rarest habitats. A landscape beloved by millions, it’s renowned for the tranquillity and solace it provides – however, this tranquillity is an illusion. Britain’s moorlands have, in less than a decade, moved from a position of benign consensus to the epicentre of the bitterest conflict within UK conservation. This insightful book sets out to examine and expose the hidden issues surrounding UK moorland conservation, giving a voice to the many people who work and live there and who feel that what they have to say is often ignored, if it’s even heard at all. The fate of our uplands is in our hands, and it is important that an alternative narrative, from the perspective of the practitioners who have cared for these places for generations, are considered. It may be that those with power chose to ignore these facts and sweep them away, but at least now they cannot say they didn’t know.Trade ReviewTackling the big questions, Moorland Matters is as ambitious as it is entertaining. Although the subject matter is hard-hitting, Ian Coghill’s wonderful turn of phrase and anecdotes would put the best after dinner speakers to shame.One of the most important books to be published on the heated subject of moorland management. This is a powerful book that every MP should read.They're a unique and wonderfully wild part of Britain's landscape. In this cri de coeur, one conservationist blasts back.This is a masterful book and it’s written in such a refreshing way. It offers such pragmatic solutions that the reasonable majority of which Coghill often writes cannot fail to appreciate the nonsense of the position taken by so many bodies and institutions in the current, toxic eco climate. -- Dominic Wightman * Country Squire *It is without hesitation I recommend this book... it is a volume long overdue and proves to be a wonderful tool in aiding knowledge growth to anyone with even a passing interest in country sports, the environment and ecology. Ecology affects us all, and books such as this should be treasured, for the learning opportunities they provide us with on our wondrous heather moorland. -- Ben Skipper * Baily's Hunting Directory *Far more than just an uncontrolled rant - it picks at the fabric of decisions being made about our uplands...I would highly recommend it to people on both sides of the debateTable of ContentsContents Foreword vi Glossary of abbreviations and acronyms ix Prologue xi Introduction 17 Moorlands matter 23 A burning issue 31 Does grouse shooting cause floods? 55 Never mind the quality, feel the width 67 Curlew calling 77 There must be an alternative 85 Tourism and eco-tourism Energy generation Increased pastoral activity 7. Let’s just leave it to nature 95 8. Predation and its control 103 9. The road to hell is paved with regulation 117 10. A licensing department and how not to run one 129 From simplicity to chaos Gulls and the advantages of countryside living Stoats, just when you thought it couldn’t get worse The end of the road 11. Raptors 151 12. The stoat’s tale 175 13. The tale of two vegetarians 185 The mountain hare The red deer 14. Ticks 195 15. The search for a level playing field 199 16. Grouse shooting and its community 211 17. Economics 223 18. Ethics and politics 227 19. What should happen 235 Epilogue 249 References and further reading 252

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Book SynopsisOnce described by Joanna Lumley as “the man with no fear”, Tristan Voorspuy spent his life living up to the legend. From his epic Cairo to Cape Town motorbike ride, to extraordinary wildlife encounters and many death-defying light aircraft near misses, Life on the Edge tells the extraordinary story of an adventurer and horseman determined to live life to the full. This was a life defined by a love of Africa, often shared with appreciative clients on Offbeat riding safaris, famous for lifechanging adventures and innumerable close shaves with dangerous big game. But Life on the Edge is also the story of compassion, conservation and, ultimately, tragedy. In the last two decades of his life, Voorspuy helped transform the overgrazed and drought-blighted Sosian Ranch in Northern Kenya into a celebrated game reserve, acclaimed tourist destination and successful cattle ranch. True to form, it was while defending this property that an unarmed Tristan was gunned down and killed, a murder that sent shockwaves around the world.Trade Review‘Captivating’ -- Country Life'Voorspuy’s story has been beautifully written by Adrian Dangar.’ -- Marcus Armytage, The Daily Telegraph‘A gripping story, funny, inspiring and sad.’ -- Charles Moore, The Spectator'From his epic motorbike ride from Cairo to Cape Town, to extraordinary wildlife encounters and many death-defying light aircraft near misses, Life On The Edge documents how Tristan was determined to live life to the full. It is also the story of compassion, conservation and, ultimately, tragedy.' -- Horse & Gemma Redrup Hound * Horse & Hound *'Apologies for the cliché but this was my ‘most anticipated book of the summer.’ Quiller books never disappoint and this was no exception. This is an awe inspiring, amusing and ultimately heart rendering biography, written by Adrian Dangar, friend and colleague of Tristan Voorspuy. Anyone who has experienced a riding safari, or who plans one in the future will devour this book. It is a bold, colourful tribute to Voorspuy, the man, the adventures and the surroundings, most definitely a life lived to the full.' -- Louise Broderick * Haynet *'...a powerful memorial to a great man that the World has to its great misfortune lost forever.' -- Peter Brook * Baily's Hunting Directory *'This book... is beautifully written and a most fitting tribute to a life well-lived, a life which left much that is both positive and enduring.' -- Simon Doughty * Guards Magazine *'Sometimes a life richly lived can be more enthralling than fiction. The true tale of African adventurer Tristan Voorspuy fits the bill... This book, rich with detail and beautiful photographs, is a fitting tribute.' -- Philip Bowern * Western Morning News *'Life on the Edge is the story of someone who "pranced" where the rest are destined to "plod"... Danger runs fast through Mr Dangar's book. One of Tristan's nine lives disappears in the wreckage of a terrifying gyrocopter incident and his penultimate one is lost as he's shunted along the ground by a hippo after being knocked from his horse. However, this is the story of a man in full. Its strength as a biography lies in its honesty; as well as bravery and endeavour, there are marital infidelity, flashes of arrogance and moments of snobbishness. Tristan met his death at the sharp end of an AK-47 during Kenyan socio-political unrest. It's hard, in some ways, to understand why he rode out to a lodge occupied by armed poachers, but most of us lack the sort of passion that Mr Dangar portrays so brilliantly — a passion, in Tristan's case, for a magical landscape and all the wild creatures that live there.' -- Patrick Galbraith * Country Life *'When Tristan Voorspuy was murdered trying to protect his property in Kenya in March 2017, it sent shockwaves around the world...using his diaries and the testament of family and friends, Voorspuy's story: Life on the Edge; has been beautifully written by Adrian Dangar.' -- Marcus Armytage * Daily Telegraph *'This tribute to him, by Adrian Dangar, his friend for 30 years, is a wonderful testament to a life lived with passion and enthusiasm. It affords the reader the opportunity to get to know the man so many called a friend, and pays fitting to a charismatic conservationist, who won a troop of friends... Voorspuy's life reads like a book. And a book you want to read. How fortunate that Dangar has made it such an eloquent one.' * The Field *'One of the questions I asked myself having read this book was: "What sort of life does someone need to live to merit a biography?" And does dying a tragic death somehow make the subject that much more worthy of one? Well I now have no hesitation in saying that, with or without such a violent end, Tristan's lives and passions indeed to deserve such a biography, and Adrian Dangar has written a very good one indeed.' -- Rupert Watson * Old Africa *'In this account (...), full of hair-raising escapades, Tristan strides across the page as a swaggering, fearless but compassionate man who took Africa to his heart and inspired everyone he met to share his enthusiasm for its wild beauty and the need to conserve it.' * BASC Magazine *Table of ContentsCONTENTSTristan Voorspuy’s Kenya ForewordIntroduction Baptism with Fire A Country Lad An Officer and a Gentleman Sussex to Cape Town No Going Back An African Romance A Parting of the Ways Building a Life in Kenya Stories from the Sky Of Lion and Buffalo Life on Safari A Nice Place to Live Paradise Found Of Elephants and Men Expanding Horizons Sosian Transformed At the Top of His Game Trouble in Paradise Game Over The Last Ride Epilogue Principal Characters Acknowledgements The Tristan Voorspuy Conservation Trust

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Book SynopsisRichly detailed and timely study on conservation, development and sustainability in Tanzania. Provides valuable insights into the successes and failures of the management and governance of wildlife, forestry and coastal resources. Responding to the urgent need to examine the outcome of interventions in governing natural resources, this book analyses different types of sustainability partnerships - with donors, governments, business, NGOs and other actors, and, crucially, assesses which result in better livelihood and environmental outcomes. The contributors, from a range of disciplines, compare 'more complex' partnerships to relatively 'simpler', more traditional top-down and centralized management systems and to location where sustainability partnerships are not in place. Within-sector comparisons allow a fine-tuned analysis that is formed of historical, location and resource-specific issues, which can be used as input for resource-specific policy and partnership design. Experiences and lessons can be drawn from comparisons across the three different sectors, which can be applied to natural resource governance more broadly. This book is openly available in digital formats under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND.Trade ReviewContested Sustainability responds to the urgent need in writings on conservation, sustainability, and development to attend more thoughtfully, systematically, and innovatively to how politics structures sustainability outcomes at multiple levels. This brilliant collection is required reading for students, scholars, and researchers globally. * Professor Arun Agrawal, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan *An insightful and highly accessible book that meticulously uncovers the complexity of partnerships touted as crucial for achieving sustainability. It challenges us all to interrogate sustainability networks and their environmental and socio-economic outcomes. -- Maano Ramutsindela * University of Cape Town *Impels all actors to read, reflect and interrogate the design of decentralization and devolution models and reassess their delivery strategy. -- Isilda Nhantumbo * Micaia Foundation *A substantial contribution to evidence and analysis of complex natural resource governance in the Global South. -- Fiona Nunan * University of Birmingham *A rich mixture of field research, presentations and discussions in meetings in Europe and Tanzania, this book is a treasure to be taken seriously. -- Chris Maina Peter * University of Dar es Salaam *This is an absolute gem of a book! The impressive and highly readable culmination of a six-year, interdisciplinary research project, it provides a fascinating insight into the dynamics, legitimacy, and environmental and livelihood impacts of complex sustainability partnerships across three sectors in Southwest Tanzania. The collaborative research approach presents in-depth case studies and sophisticated comparative analysis of rich quantitative and qualitative data that give a nuanced perspective on the question whether more stakeholder involvement is always better. A must-read for scholars interested in conservation, development, and livelihood improvements in the Global South. -- Janina Grabs * Esade Business School *An important contribution to the field ... as well as governance partnerships, the book provides valuable insights into the successes and failures of the management of wildlife, forests and coastal resources. -- J. Terrence McCabe * University of Colorado Boulder *Table of ContentsPART I: ISSUES, BACKGROUND, AND METHODS 1 New partnerships for sustainability Stefano Ponte, Christine Noe, and Dan Brockington 2 Conservation and development in Tanzania: Background, history, and recent developments Christine Noe, Asubisye Mwamfupe, Opportuna Kweka, Ruth Warimu John, Pilly Silvano, Faraja Daniel Namkesa, Robert Eliakim Katikiro, Rasul Ahmed Minja, Mette Fog Olwig, Dan Brockington, and Stefano Ponte 3 Design and Methodology Stefano Ponte, Christine Noe, Asubisye Mwamfupe, Opportuna Kweka, Kelvin Joseph Kamde, Mette Fog Olwig, Dan Brockington, Lasse Folke Henriksen, Ruth Warimu John, Pilly Silvano, Faraja Daniel Namkesa, Robert Eliakim Katikiro, Rasul Ahmed Minja, and Caleb Gallemore PART II: SECTORAL ANALYSIS 4 Sustainability partnerships in the wildlife sector in southeast Tanzania Christine Noe, RuthWarimu John, and Dan Brockington 5 Sustainability partnerships in the forestry sector in southeast Tanzania Asubisye Mwamfupe, Mette Fog Olwig, Pilly Silvano, Dan Brockington, and Lasse Folke Henriksen 6 Sustainability partnerships in the coastal resources sector in southeast Tanzania Opportuna Kweka, RobertEliakim Katikiro, Faraja Daniel Namkesa, Rasul Ahmed Minja, and Stefano Ponte PART III: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS 7 The legitimacy of sustainability partnerships in southeast Tanzania Rasul Ahmed Minja, Stefano Ponte, Asubisye Mwamfupe, and Christine Noe 8 The governance complexity of sustainability partnerships in southeast Tanzania: Institutional and network components Lasse Folke Henriksen, Caleb Gallemore, Ruth Warimu John, Faraja Daniel Namkesa, and Pilly Silvano 9 The environmental impacts of sustainability partnerships in southeast Tanzania Caleb Gallemore, Kelvin Joseph Kamde, Lasse Henriksen, and Dan Brockington 10 The livelihood impacts of sustainability partnerships in southeast Tanzania Caleb Gallemore, Kelvin Joseph Kamde, Asubisye Mwamfupe, Lasse Folke Henriksen, and Dan Brockington 11 Contested sustainability Dan Brockington, Christine Noe, and Stefano Ponte

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Book SynopsisWINNER of the 2023 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award Focuses on a much discussed and controversial aspect of conservation: the commodification of nature. Can the successful marketization of what is generally perceived as wilderness help to provide for biodiversity conservation, economic development and social emancipation? At a time of profound anxiety about the impact of human activity on nature and the catastrophic effects of climate change, the "sixth mass extinction", invasive species and rapidly expanding zoonotic diseases, this volume engages with the practices, discourses, and materialities surrounding the commodification of "the wild". Focusing on the relationship between commodification and wilderness, the contributors pay particular attention to commodification's newer iterations in which human management plays a significant role, such as wildlife-park tourism, trophy-hunting, and trade in herbal medicines, perfumes and luxury exotic food items. Dominant neoliberal approaches have aimed to address global environmental challenges through the commodification and marketization of nature: by valorizing nature, they claim, biodiversity can be safeguarded and "wild" landscapes protected. This, it is thought, will not only open up a new frontier of sustainable, non-exploitative, participatory capitalist expansion, but invigorate rural livelihoods, reduce poverty, and add important assets to otherwise vulnerable rural economies. This important book challenges this future trajectory. Investigating a broad range of cases across southern and eastern Africa, from the illegal sandalwood trade to legal trade in devil's claw and honeybush, to trophy-hunting and wilderness safaris, the contributors reveal the pitfalls and challenges of commodification, what this means for the continent and beyond. OPEN ACCESS: This title is freely available in digital format under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-NDTable of ContentsPART 1: INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction: Practices, discourses, and materialities surrounding the commodification of the 'Wild' Michael Bollig, Linus Kalvelage, Léa Lacan, Selma Lendelvo, Alfons Mosimane, and Romie Nghitevelekwa PART 2: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES 2.Fetishizing the 'Wild': Conservation, commodities and capitalism Clemens Greiner and Michael Bollig 3. Value Chains and Global Production Networks: Conceptual considerations and economic development in the 'Wild' Javier Revilla-Diez, Carolin Hulke, and Linus Kalvelage 4. Benefit Sharing and Biodiversity Commodification: A failed approach for social justice, equity and conservation? Rachel Wynberg 5. Transfrontier Conservation Governance, Commodification of Nature, and the New Dynamics of Sovereignty in Namibia Johannes Dittmann and Detlef Müller-Mahn PART 3: PLANTS FROM THE WILDERNESS FOR A GLOBAL MARKET: THE COMMODIFICATION OF NON-DOMESTICATED (WILD) PLANTS 6. Towards Pro-poor or Pro-profit? The governance framework for harvesting and trade of devil's claw (Harpagophytum spp.) in the Zambezi Region, Namibia Jessica-Jane Lavelle 7. Marginalisation and exclusion in honeybush commercialisation in South Africa Sthembile Ndwandwe 8. From Forest to National Resource: Forest conservation and state power in Baringo, Kenya Léa Lacan 9. Commodifying East Africa's Sandalwood: Organised crime and community participation in transnational smuggling of endangered species Eric Mutisya Kioko and Michael Mugo Kinyanjui 10. The Gum Arabic Business: Modernization of production in north-eastern Nigeria Hauke-Peter Vehrs and Ibrahim Maina Wazirii PART 4: COMMODIFYING WILDLIFE 11. Producing Elephant Commodities for 'Conservation Hunting' in Namibian Communal-area Conservancies Lee Hewitson and Sian Sullivan 12. Human-wildlife Interaction, Rural Conflict and Wildlife Conservation Ezequiel Fabiano, Selma Lendelvo, Alfons Mosimane, and Selma Kosmas 13.Hunting for Development: Global production networks and the commodification of wildlife in Namibia Linus Kalvelage PART 5: COMMODIFICATION AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS 14. Women in Rural Northern Namibia and the Commodification of Indigenous Natural Products Romie Nghitevelekwa, Selma Lendelvo, and Martin Shapi 15. Conservation, Traditional Authorities, and the Commodification of the 'Wild': a Namibian perspective Alfons Mosimane, Kenneth Matengu, and Michael Bollig 16. Commodification of Wildlife Resources in the Okavango Delta, Botswana Joseph E. Mbaiwa 17. Justice Dilemmas in Conservation Conflicts in Uganda Lioba Lenhart PART 6: CONCLUSIONS 18. Conclusions: Commodifying the 'Wild' - Where do we go from here? Michael Bollig, Linus Kalvelage, Léa Lacan, Selma Lendelvo, Alfons Mosimane, and Romie Nghitevelekwa

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Book SynopsisDespite the 1989 global ivory trade ban, poaching and ivory smuggling have not abated. More than half of Tanzania's elephants have been killed for their ivory since 2007. A similarly alarming story can be told of the herds in northern Mozambique and across swathes of central Africa. But why the new upsurge? The popular narrative blames a meeting of two evils - criminal poaching and terrorism. But the answer is not that simple.Since ancient times, large-scale killing of elephants for their tusks has been driven by demand beyond Africa's range states from the Egyptian pharaohs through the industrialising West to the new wealthy business class of China. Elephant hunting in Africa is also governed by human-elephant conflict, traditional hunting practices and the impact of colonial exploitation and criminalisation.Ivory follows this complex history of the tusk trade in Africa, and explains why it is corruption, crime and politics, rather than insurgency, that we should worry about. In this ground-breaking work, Somerville argues that regulation - not prohibition - of the ivory trade is the best way to stop uncontrolled poaching.Trade Review'Part historical overview, part polemic and call for policy change, [Keith's] book is dedicated not only to those who gave or risk their lives to conserve elephants but also to "those who have the courage to question the ruling orthodoxy" that burnings and bans save elephants. The author's own appetite for questioning - from the "flexible meanings" of the word "poaching" to the high ideals and more nuanced realities of NGOs' work - makes for informative reading.' * Times Higher Education *'[A] meticulously documented record of an economic activity that has spanned millennia . . . Somerville has made a valuable contribution towards documenting the history of the ivory trade.' -- The Times Literary Supplement'Combating elephant poaching in Africa has become an international priority, attracting Hilary Clinton, Jackie Chan and Prince Harry to its cause. Drawing on decades of experience as a seasoned journalist, Keith Somerville eloquently writes about the politics of ivory poaching in Africa and shows why we should care.' * Dr Alex Vines OBE, Head of the Africa Programme at Chatham House and Senior Lecturer at Coventry University *'Keith Somerville has written a pioneering study in the field of wildlife conservation. Based on a formidable list of sources, the argument is well constructed and superbly expressed. The text will prove an invaluable guide to both scholars and those engaged in the struggle to preserve an asset of incomparable value.' * Professor Jack Spence OBE, Kings College London *'This is an urgently-needed book that strips away the myths around the fast-changing scene of ivory poaching. For this task there is nobody better than Keith Somerville, who has kept a beady eye on Africa for many years.' * Jasper Humphreys, Director of External Relations, The Marjan Centre for the Study of Conflict and the Non Human Sphere, Department of War Studies, King's College, London *'Somerville's analysis of the booming ivory trade under colonial rule is masterly: more firearms, more organized trading, and greater demand for ivory in the West meant escalated killing. He shows the more pernicious, lasting effect to be the alienation of indigenous people from control over wildlife, which happened when British game officials banned Africans from hunting while encouraging white trophy pursuers.' * Robert Eagan, Library Journal *'[A] devastating and majestic history of the supply chain from Africa. […] Somerville has produced the best academic account to date of the history of the supply side of this catastrophic trade.' * Joanna Lewis, Africa at LSE blog *'This excellent book clearly captures the reasons for killing elephants in Africa, and the perils we face in trying to save them. The historical and political dimensions of the phenomenon are often under-stated, but here corruption is shown to be at the heart of the ivory trade, and human conflicts have provided the arena in which large-scale corruption takes place.' * Lucy Vigne, ivory and rhino horn researcher *'This thoroughly researched volume delves into intricate detail regarding the historical and current status of elephants and ivory trading. An excellent addition to an advanced course or seminar on conservation biology, sustainable use, or wildlife policy.' -- CHOICE

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Book SynopsisSacred Natural Sites are the world's oldest protected places. This book focuses on a wide spread of both iconic and lesser known examples such as sacred groves of the Western Ghats (India), Sagarmatha /Chomolongma (Mt Everest, Nepal, Tibet - and China), the Golden Mountains of Altai (Russia), Holy Island of Lindisfarne (UK) and the sacred lakes of the Niger Delta (Nigeria). The book illustrates that sacred natural sites, although often under threat, exist within and outside formally recognised protected areas, heritage sites. Sacred natural sites may well be some of the last strongholds for building resilient networks of connected landscapes. They also form important nodes for maintaining a dynamic socio-cultural fabric in the face of global change. The diverse authors bridge the gap between approaches to the conservation of cultural and biological diversity by taking into account cultural and spiritual values together with the socio-economic interests of the custodian communities and other relevant stakeholders.Trade Review'This book is being published in the International Year of Biodiversity, which gives it special importance as an expression of the special relationship between people and the rest of nature. It offers us an opportunity to remind ourselves of the deep and meaningful relationships that many religions and faith communities have with nature, demonstrated by their devotion to sacred natural sites such as those described in these pages.' Julia Marton-Lef vre, Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland 'If science is to serve life on this planet, we need more than just intellectual rigour, we also need ethical vigour. That demands values. But what might inform these? One basis is that which human experience has termed 'the sacred'. For some, 'the sacred' is a hypothetical concept. For others, it is a function of empirical experience in consciousness. Either way, this milestone of a book shows that the impact on nature conservation can be hugely positive, inviting scholarly critique and appreciation.' Professor Alastair McIntosh, Centre for Human Ecology, University of Strathclyde, UK and author of Soil and Soul 'Sacred Natural Sites sports an international all-star cast and concise, no-nonsense chapters. The study of sacred natural areas has come of age, and this is the book to prove it.' Fikret Berkes, Distinguished Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Manitoba, and the author of Sacred EcologyTable of ContentsForeword Preface 1. Introduction: Sacred Natural Sites: the Foundations of Conservation Part I: Towards the Science and Spirituality of Sacred Natural Sites 2. Conservation of Biodiversity in Sacred Natural Sites in Asia and Africa: a Review of the Scientific Literature. 3. Sacred Mountains and Global Change: Impacts and Responses 4. Falling Between the 'Cracks' of Conservation and Religion: The Role of Stewardship for Sacred Trees and Groves 5. The Enchanted Earth: Numinous Sacred Sites 6. A Review of Sacred Natural Sites and Arguments for Developing Biocultural Conservation Approaches Part II: Sacred Natural Sites: Mutual Learning, Analysis, Planning and Management 7. Nature Saint and Holy Island, Ancient Values in a Modern Economy: The Enduring Influence of St. Cuthbert and Lindisfarne, United Kingdom 8. Tourism Meets the Sacred: Khumbu Sherpa Place-Based Spiritual Values in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal. 9. The Road to the Future? The Bio-cultural Values of the Holy Hill Forests of Yunnan Province, China 10. Uncovering the Intangible Values of Earth Care: Using Cognition to Reveal the Eco-spiritual Domains and Sacred Values of the Peoples of Eastern Kham 11. Ancestral Beliefs and Conservation: The Case of Sacred Areas in Bandjoun, West Cameroon 12. The Crocodile is our Brother: Conservation Management of the Sacred Lakes of the Niger Delta, Nigeria Part III: Sacred Natural Sites: International Recognition, Global Governance and Field Action 15. Sacred Natural Sites, Cultural Landscapes and UNESCO's Action 16. Synergies and Challenges for Legal Protection of Sacred Natural Sites in the South Pacific 17. The Cultural and Spiritual Values of Wetlands and their Sacred Natural Sites in the Ramsar Convention 18. Sacred Natural Sites, Biodiversity and Well-being: the Role of Sacred Sites in Endogenous Development in the Compas Network 19. Delos Initiative, Experience with Sacred Natural Sites in Technologically Developed Countries 20. Developing and Testing a Methodology and Tools for the Inventory of Sacred Natural Sites of Indigenous and Traditional Peoples in Mexico 21. Culture-based Conservation and Recovery of Sacred Groves: Experiences from the North Western Ghats, Maharastra, India Part IV: In our Own Hands: Living Culture and Equity at Sacred Natural Sites 22. Community-Based Ecotourism at Tafi Atome Sacred Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana 23. Sacred Valley, Conservation Management and Indigenous Survival: Uch Enmek Indigenous Nature Park, Altai Republic, Russia 24. Towards a Sustainable Management and Enhanced Protection of Sacred Marine Areas at Palawan's Coron Island Ancestral Domain, Philippines 25. Culture, Conservation and Co-management: Mapping Soliga Stake in Biodiversity Conservation in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, India 26. Devi as Ecofeminist Warrior: Reclaiming the Role of Sacred Natural Sites in East-Central India 27. Conclusion: Using Sacred Natural Sites to Conserve Nature and Culture

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Book Synopsis10 years on from the first, groundbreaking, Planet Earth, we use the most incredible advances in technology and scientific discovery to bring you the most exciting and immersive picture of our world's wildlife yet. With over 250 breathtaking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, this is an extraordinary new look at the complex life of some of the most amazing places on Planet Earth. Each chapter reveals an environment – some never-before-seen, some astonishingly familiar – defined by a unique set of rules required for survival. From the most desolate desert to the depths of the jungle, from blistering heat and freezing cold to perpetual darkness and deadly UV, discover how a whole host of creatures have adapted to life in the most extreme conditions. And how they compete with one another to become the largest, the fastest, the most poisonous, or most devious - all in a bid to survive. Planet Earth II includes the first in-depth look at the urban environment, and the surprising range of behaviours occurring right under our noses, as well as some previously untouched island worlds. Filmed with remarkable 5k and infra-red technology, these are the challenges, the confrontations, and the triumphs of some of the most extraordinary creatures in the natural world, told from their perspective. This is our planet, as you have never seen it before.

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Book SynopsisA charmingly illustrated ode to increasingly threatened wildlife. The much-loved illustrations of Hannah Dale celebrate a new generation of wildlife around the world, including many endangered animals. Born to Be Wild features 50 charming portraits of new cubs, chicks and calves, some with the mother and father, some in their pride or tribe and some setting off on their own. Wildlife has never been under such threat from climate change, habitation loss and poachers and hunters. This book is a timely reminder of the beauty of the wild and the accompanying text explains how the parents undertake their role of nurturer in the wild. From orangutans to humpback whales, tigers to hedgehogs, penguins to elephants, and meerkats to koalas, Hannah Dale captures and preserves the essence of wildlife in this pocket sized book. A wonderful reference and beautiful little gift book for nature lovers.Trade Review‘Charming’ -- Leisure Painter‘Charmingly illustrated’ -- Craft Focus

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Book SynopsisThe barn owl is a 'flagship' species, at the top of the food chain, and its presence or absence is a good indicator of the health of the countryside. This is the enjoyable and informative story of the author's success in restoring this beautiful bird to areas of the country where its numbers had catastrophically declined. From an upbringing in the Lake District, the author developed a deep interest in natural history which became an all-consuming passion. As a 'licensed rehabilitation keeper', he cared for a wide range of injured and orphaned wildlife, giving individuals a second chance by returning them to the wild. He reveals how and why he later graduated to barn owl conservation. The author describes his many encounters with barn owls, from the acquisition of his first breeding pair; 'Barney', a completely humanised owl; to stories of the fascinating array of people involved in releasing, studying, and simply marvelling at this beautiful bird. Although there is a funny side to most situations, there are also the inevitable disasters and disappointments of conservation work, such as the accidental or deliberate sabotaging of releases or the killing of released birds. The reader shares in the author's disappointment and frustration at the sheer cost in time and money and his frequent self-doubt about the success of the whole exercise. However, there are descriptions of more enjoyable activities such as bird ringing, watching home-grown birds metamorphose from ugly pink scraps into creatures of ethereal beauty, and the seemingly limitless energy and enthusiasm of countless landowners and volunteers who are totally committed to the reintroduction of the barn owl. After almost 20 years, there is now evidence of a marked increase in barn owl numbers in areas where the author has worked. During this period, he bred and released around 250 birds, put up nest boxes and advised on barn owl-friendly approaches to land management. These activities helped to reverse the decline in population as areas were repopulated and also created reservoirs of wild breeding barn owls, whose offspring colonised other under-populated parts of the country. The return of the barn owl not only heralds a brighter future for the British countryside, but also shows, at a time of great public concern about the state of planet Earth, that the negative effects of human activity on the environment can be reversed with effort, goodwill and determination.Trade Review'An enjoyable book, written in an enthusiastic, light, easy style and crammed full of anecdotes that bring life to the subject. A good read.' Scottish Birds ' - a well written story of how Paul Hackney became committed to doing something about the plight of the barn owl. - This book will serve as an inspiration to those who may be called to help preserve one of our most beautiful owls in the future.' Peregrine ' - the entertaining and highly educational account - ' The North Staffordshire Magazine 'The barn owl is one of the glories of the British countryside... Paul Hackney, who became fascinated by barn owls... ...is now helping to repopulate Britain's woodlands by breeding them in captivity. ... There are fond memories, too, of Barney, a female barn owl who was a household companion for 15 years'. The Critics

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Book SynopsisLife with Birds uncovers the fascinating story of our interdependence with birds. The author weaves an amazing web of inter-relationships, from the Parsi funeral in Mumbai where birds of prey eat the dead; to collecting eider down from nests in Iceland and standing on the once body-strewn battlefield of Agincourt where birds won the day for the English army. From the earliest days of human existence we have exploited birds; for food, for their feathers, to satisfy our blood lust, to entertain us with their beauty, to inspire our art, our advertising, classical music, popular songs and much more. Cage birds are kept for their beauty and song but this book also investigates the repugnant illegal rare bird trade, and the organised crime it has spawned involving around 1.5 million birds a year. Criminals will go to unbelievable lengths when smuggling rare birds for sale and the 1.5m birds in this annual trade threaten the survival of several exotic species. Since time immemorial birds have exploited us too. Birds can use our homes to make theirs and can ruin farmers' crops in minutes. Some of the most impressive birds have set up home on high-rise buildings, exploiting the city slicker pigeons that live off discarded fast food and much else. Life with Birds contains intriguing examples of the huge range of interactions between birds and people. How undercover law enforcement in the US is tackling a cruel and bloodthirsty 'sport'; how birds are being used to smuggle drugs into a prison and across borders; controversial practices such as bird sacrifice in religious ceremonies; and how some Kenyan tribesmen are guided by a bird to find a food they both value. Many myths, magic and religious practices involving birds are exposed such as whether they can predict deadly mining disasters; whether they have killed anyone; and whether the eerie night-time calls in the precipitous mountains of Madeira are the souls of shepherds who have fallen to their deaths. If you have ever wondered what a nest made solely of bird saliva, considered a delicacy in some countries, tastes like or whether you knew Chairman Mao's 'kill a sparrow' campaign in the 1950s resulted in many millions of Chinese dying of starvation, Life with Birds will provide enlightenment as well as a hugely enjoyable read.Trade Review'Each chapter begins with a personal anecdote, set around Smith's own encounters with bird's places, and peoples, ranging from the USA to Iceland, Egypt to India, France to Thailand, Libya to Spain, as well as his home ground, and it is from these foundations that are the chapters evolve into rewarding, energetic explorations of our relationships with birds. ...Smith has sought out an array of lesser-known examples, and his text is worth mining for these alone. ...I can only recommend Malcolm Smith's Life with Birds as a vivid tour through examples old and new, familiar and unfamiliar, and as a valuable introduction to our wider cultural interrelationships with the birds.' IBIS 'This is a fascinating book... ...it leaves you with a genuine sense of the richness of the many points of contact we have with birds...' Scottish Birds '...it is refreshing to read this account, where the balance is maintained with numerous examples of how birds have learned, or evolved, to exploit us and our human landscapes and structures. ... A refreshingly balanced look at the relationships between us and the birds around us.' BTO 'Malcolm Smith has done an incredible job in analysing and summarising the many ways in which birds and people interact with each other. ... The author has amassed a treasure-trove of facts and figures... ... In a style which moves easily between anecdote, statistic and historic or other truth he succeeds admirably in conveying the breadth and depth of all the things we do to and with birds. ...it is packed with the curious and the thought-provoking. Its fascination itself mirrirs and endless fascination that we have for birds.' ECOS '...a thorough and all-embracing examination of our interdependence with birds: our exploitation of them and their expoitation of us. ... Malcolm Smith's intriguing narrative is both informative and constantly engaging.' Birding World '...Malcolm Smith's fascinating book, gives a vivid vignette of the islanders' relationship with birds, one of countless such case studies... ...his book is a terrific read.' Cage & Aviary Birds '...the book covers this fascinating relationship and, although rather more about the domestic relationship than the rural lore of wildbirds, it still covers a lot of ground. ...people will find this thoroughly entertaining and informative.' Fatbirder '...he ranges widely across the field of direct human-bird interactions. ... I'm sure any reader will find something new.' Natur Cymru '...zips around the world picking up subline and rediculous, sobering and frivolous facts from all its corners. Truly bulging with bird-lore, this makes for an engrossing read for all ornithology enthusiasts'. NHBS Blog

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Book SynopsisAn appealing book that rightfully raises the profile of the kestrel. It provides an extensive picture of this delightful falcon, including its lifestyle and the factors that affect its breeding success and survival. This is based upon almost 40 years' monitoring of the kestrel in south-west Scotland and further afield by the author and colleagues, giving a flavour of the integrated approach to monitoring and conservation. As well as the wealth of factual data, there are entertaining anecdotes and stories both from the author's experiences and from the wider media coverage of this raptor over the years. The reader is taken to exotic locations such as the Seychelles, Mauritius and the Cape Verde Islands to see the endemic island kestrels which have always held a great fascination for the author. Latest figures show an alarming decline of 36% in the kestrel population in the UK, with even more dramatic falls such as 64% in Scotland. The fieldwork techniques which play such an important role are detailed in a composite breeding season. The kestrel is not portrayed in isolation and the bird's current circumstance is tied into the bigger picture of raptor conservation and the struggle against sustained persecution. The author reflects upon the political, economic and conservation issues that have dominated this field in the past few decades and through this personal and well-informed account the reader gains access to the world of the kestrel.Trade Review'Profusely illustrated, the book shows kestrels hatching and in natural habitats across the globe, from Scotland to the Seychelles. His collection of enthusiasts' notes finds kestrels everywhere - even Downing Street'. The Critics '...this fascinating and absorbing book written by a dedicated expert. Over 40 years the author has assembled a wealth of information... ...is easily read and contains large numbers of excellent photographs...' Scottish Birds '...has some fascinating stories... ...Riddle gives a vivid account of clashes between kestrels and such powerful raptors as peregrine falcons and goshawks'. Feather Report, The Times '...If you want to know about kestrels then this is the book for you... ...a well-documented history of the many species ... is one of the best accounts on the subject I have read'. Highland News, The Star and Lochaber News 'An appealing book that rightfully raises the profile of the kestrel. It provides an extensive picture of this delightful falcon. ...through this personal and well-informed account the reader gains access to the world of the kestrel'. NHBS '...an appealing portrait of this beautiful bird and explores the problems it faces...' Daily Mail '...personal and well-informed account gives valuable insight s into the private life of this delightful falcon. ...he combines a wealth of facts with entertaining anecdotes and experiences'. Ayrshire Post '...celebrates this species of falcon. Profusely illustrated, the book shows kestrels hatching and in natural habitats across the glove, from Scotland to the Seychelles'. The Critics '...the long- awaited sequel to Seasons with a Kestrel. ...a fascinating account of the author's journey to see the endemic island Kestrels and meet the people directly involved in their conservation. ... Exciting and intriguing anecdotes ... captivate the reader and provide an informative and colourful overview ... of these magnificent Kestrels. ... Gordon Riddle's passion for Kestrels is apparent throughout this well-balanced, richly illustrated and readable book, which also shows what it takes to be a truly excellent fieldworker. I recommend it wholeheartedly'. IBIS

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Book SynopsisThe UN's Lone Ranger tells of law enforcement and diplomacy. It is also the first book, written from an international perspective, about a subject that warrants much greater attention, if the world's most threatened species are to be safeguarded for future generations. John Sellar describes why organized crime has turned to robbing nations, especially in the developing world, of their animals and plants and how this is bringing several species to the brink of extinction. It illustrates, in words and images, how criminal networks recruit, equip and direct poachers and wildlife contraband couriers; arrange the smuggling of species and products, often involving transportation across many borders and several continents; use bribery and violence against law enforcement personnel; and the nature of the markets in which illegal-origin wildlife is being consumed. Sellar, once described as 'the world's leading authority on wildlife crime', also reflects frankly, and sometimes critically, on his service as a UN official, the way in which national law enforcement bodies are reacting to these crimes and the support provided by international agencies. He identifies what he believes are significant gaps in the current responses and suggests ways in which they might be plugged. He recounts several of his incredible experiences; visiting anti-poaching officers on the roof of the world, the Tibetan Plateau, and bizarre late-night hospitality from KGB officers.Trade Review'...Sellar blends a dry wit with hard-bitten experience to vividly illustrate the difficulties facing CITES in the coming years. ...deserves close attention from those with a keen interest in the CITES regime and the wider problems posed by environmental crime...' RECIEL -------------------- 'John Sellar tells a good tale. This readable book is a memoir by the Scottish policeman who went on to spend 14 years as 'the UN's Lone Ranger'... ...found himself in some astonishing situations in far-flung corners of the world... Anyone seeking a better understanding of how criminals are driving endangered species towards extinction should read this book... ...an entertaining read, if enforcement agencies were to act on the recommendations therein, far fewer poachers and smugglers would go unpunished, and far more endangered species might survive'. Ian Redmond OBE; Ambassador, UNEP Convention on Migratory Species; Chairman , Ape Alliance. -------------------- '...a very personal insight into John's assessment of the challenges faced and the promising opportunities that exist in the fight against wildlife crime.' Huntly Express -------------------- '...this book is an eye-opener. The author's unique knowledge of international wildlife trade is set out in an easy-to-read style, with anecdotes drawing on his scottish policing background. This is a book that should be read by everyone involved in - or even with an interest in - wildlife conservation. It should also flag up to the world the very real risk of imminent extinctions'. Wildlife Detective The Blog of Alan Stewart -------------------- '... He is an excellent storyteller... Sellar's book is a fascinating one, because there is a limited awareness of the nature and scale of wildlife trade... ...is a riveting read and I would highly recommend the book to anyone with even a passing interest in wildlife and animals.' Sancuary Asia -------------------- 'The first value of this book is therefore to bring a much greater understanding of just how seriously we should address wildlife crime. ...chapters will certainly grab your attention and raise your eyebrows. ...the story he tells is fascinating reading. ...his messages have significant reflections and deserve careful consideration. Given the current escalation in elephant and rhino poaching, this book could not have come at a more appropiate time. By reading it, we should have a better understanding about the scale of wildlife crime, its complexity and the desperate need to bringing the illegal decimation of the world's wildlife to a halt. I believe John's book contributes to that evalution'. SWARA -------------------- '...the dedication and enthusiasm of the author is never in doubt and exemplified by the many accounts of his incredible experiences. ... The long, excellent series of colour photographs tell their own story... ...a very welcome addition. This book about the illegal trade in wildlife is recommended to any general reader or anyone interested in wildlife and a concern for its future'. Ray Collier, Highland News Group -------------------- '...is about his time with the UN and describes why organised crime has turned to robbing nations of their natural resources and how this is bringing several species to the brink of extinction. ... This is an interesting book and a good read. It is very much a personal account...' Environment -------------------- '...a personal narrative and overview of efforts to combat international wildlife crime from the perspective of a law enforcement insider. I do not know of any other comparable account. ... The strength of this book is in how Sellar describes bringing his experience and skills as a Scottish cop to the international wildlife poaching frontlines. ... This book is required reading for international wildlife managers. There are many lessons in this book for wildlife law enforcement personnel. ...I found great value in the book...' The Journal of Wildlife Management

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Book SynopsisBack from the Brink is an antidote to a world that seems full of stories of wildlife doom and gloom. Amongst all the loss of habitat and the animals and plants that are in spiraling decline, it's easy to forget that there are a huge number of positive stories too; animals threatened with extinction, such as the gigantic European Bisonextinct in the wildhaving their fortunes reversed and their futures secured. This is the story of some of these successes. How the Humpback Whale, in seemingly terminal decline because of commercial whaling, is today recovering naturally, getting back to the numbers that swam in our oceans before they were viciously harpooned. Others have needed considerable help such as the enigmatic Arabian Oryx, the origin of the unicorn myth, that was reintroduced to the fabled Empty Quarter deserts of Arabia where over a thousand again roam. These are stories of enormous personal courage, dedication and patience by those protecting animals like the Black Rhino; of reinstating damaged or destroyed habitats for predators such as the enchanting Iberian Lynx; and of reintroducing birds such as America's tallest, the Whooping Crane, to places where they once thrived but had long gone. Back from the Brink recounts the struggle to win the support of local communities to accept and bolster the populations of some of our largest animals such as the Mountain Gorilla and the magnificent Siberian Tiger, both of which once seemed destined for extinction. The re-introduction of the Wild Turkey, extirpated from most American states by early white settlers, was successful because of biologists' ability to learn from early mistakes. The gorgeous Large Blue butterflyextinct in England by the 1970swould not be thriving today without the incredible investigation that unraveled its complex living requirements, a lesson in detection that would have challenged Scotland Yard's finest. And others, like the gentle, lumbering Florida Manatee, its numbers recovering very slowly in part due to enormous public support. It's the kind of care and consideration that Man needs to share to make our planet a richer place for us all.Trade Review'An antidote to wildlife doom and gloom, this book shows that it's possible to turn the tide of species decline. It's full of conservation success stories, valuable lessons and inspiration for the future'. Wildlife World -------------------- '...the wide-ranging approach of Back from the Brink gathers stories of personal courage, conservation efforts, special challenges, and world encounters in the effort to bring back animals from places where they had once thrived. ...a solid pick for any science and nature collection.' California Bookwatch -------------------- '...it's wonderful to hear any tales of animals that have been saved, and of the fantastic individuals who go to great lengths to help them'. The Weekly News -------------------- 'The knowledge, experience and raw passion for conservation that Dr Smith possesses is exuded in 'bucket loads' in this book coupled with factual up to date information on the plight of some of the world's most endangered species. ...a supremely interesting read...' ECOS -------------------- 'Anyone with the remotest interest in conservation should read this book now. ...weaves some wonderful stories into this statement of hope. ... Buy it. In doing so you will contribute to that spirit.' SWARA -------------------- '...a good read filled with interesting facts and stories. ...a worthwhile addition to the library'. Shooting and Conservation -------------------- '...high level of detail in very readable prose, together with a wealth of excellent full colour illustrations and a useful locations map. ...will be read from end to end by anyone with an interest in the survival and conservation of the magnificent fauna of our fecund planet'. John O' Groat Journal -------------------- '...beautifully illustrated...' L'Ornithologue and Natuur.oriolus -------------------- '...a fascinating book covering a range of animals world-wide whose declines have been halted and reversed. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in animals at risk on this planet'. Alan Stewart, Wildlife Detective

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Book SynopsisFarmland wildlife has been decimated by intensive crop growing using pesticides, grubbing up hedges, ploughing heathland and draining marshes, etc. With too many sheep grazing our moors, hills and mountains, a range of upland plants, invertebrates and birds has been diminished and the land converted to closely-grazed turf, perfect for heavy rain to cause catastrophic downstream floods. Once common farmland birds have declined by 54% since 1970 with farmland invertebrates declining by 40% in a few decades. Since the 1930s a staggering 97% of our once flower-rich meadows has been lost. Ploughing a New Furrow examines these stark figures and in the context of Brexit considers the unprecedented opportunity for wildlife once again to be nurtured by Britain's farmers alongside food production, reversing the enormous plant and animal losses our farmland has suffered. With its financial largesse, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has encouraged farmers to destroy huge areas of wildlife habitat in Britain's lowlands and seriously damage large tracts of our uplands, depleting Britain's farmed land of much of its wildlife. With responsibility for farm policy to be transferred back to the UK, these enormous losses could be reversed and Britain's farms made wildlife-rich once more. This book is based to a significant extent on conversations with farmers and on the achievements and experiences of some farmers who have made good use of agri-environment payments to reinstate lost habitats and manage their remaining wildlife more sensitively. The author sets out the case for removing or capping subsidies, supporting organic and other more sustainable forms of agriculture and the conservation of soils and the rich life forms they hold. He proposes a set of policy changes and other measures that should be adopted by the Government post-Brexit to make the 70% of our land that farming occupies rich in wildlife again. Literally food for thought!Trade Review`the author has researched his subject admirably. …is an informative read about the myriad ways the policy decisions may impact on farm wildlife across the UK. …the author has made this often impenetrable subject approachable’. Plantlife -------------------- `…considers the unprecedented opportunity for wildlife once again to be nutured by Britain’s farmers alongside food production, reversing the enormous plant and animal losses our farmland has suffered’. Wildlife -------------------- `...a timely publication... ...an easy read with an added light in human touch that enhances the chapters... ...provides an informed perspective on the agriculture industry...' ECOS -------------------- `This is a must-read for agricultural and conservation students alike but it will also appeal to farmers, environmental practitioners and anyone that takes an interest in the health of the farmed landscape. The timing of this book has never been more poignant with the backdrop of Brexit. ...this publication serves as an ideal cue to review where we are at with each of these conservation challenges...' BTO - British Trust for Ornithology -------------------- `This is a balanced and informative book that is timely and relevant - a must read for anyone with an interest in farm wildlife issues and the future of farming in the UK'. Butterfly -------------------- `...must be one of the most thought-provoking with regards to farming in the UK and how farming practices and wildlife might coexist in the future. There is so much in this thought-provoking book you must read it...' Dumfries & Galloway Life -------------------- `Malcolm Smith's book comes at a critical time. Farming is on the cusp of a new era in light of Brexit... ...an intelligent and thorough walk through of the issues surrounding farming and wildlife. The subject matter is successfully brought to life through his narrative and it is clear that he is well-versed in the issues through actual experience...' Kate Priestman, Inside Ecology

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Book SynopsisThis stunningly beautiful and informative book celebrates the Arctic, one of the last great wildernesses on the planet; a place where animals have survived for thousands of years protected only by fur and feathers. Humans also survive in the Arctic, but only those who have adjusted to the climate over millennia and who clad themselves in the skins of the animals they hunt. For the casual visitor, this is a place where survival for any extended period requires taking advantage of the best that modern technology can offer. But the rewards are immense: the Arctic can be harsh, but it is also stunningly beautiful - days during which the sun glints on ice, nights illuminated by the ethereal dancing light of the aurora and with a glimpse of some of the most remarkable animals on the planet. Many travel to the Arctic to see the animals, the land mammals, the whales and seals, and the birds. However, the Arctic also has an absorbing human history. The origins of the Inuit in North America, and the array of Eurasian northern peoples, from the Sami of Scandinavia to the Yuppik hunters from Asia's Bering Sea coast, are still debated, while the discovery, just a year or so ago, of the second ship of Franklin's doomed expedition to find the North-West Passage has reopened the arguments over exactly what did happen to more than 100 Royal Navy seamen. The Arctic provides not only an understanding of the formation of the Arctic but the science of snow and ice including the phenomena of aurora and parhelia, and the way in which the area's wildlife contends with the chilling harshness of its climate. This fascinating, magnificent area is now under severe threat. Global warming is causing the sea ice to shrink, in both area and volume. This allows easier access to its probable resources and, ironically, this access merely adds to the threats to the area and its wildlife. Due to feedback mechanisms, the Arctic warms about twice as fast as the Earth. The area therefore acts in the way that canaries once acted in coal mines, giving an early warning of danger: melting sea ice not only threatens the local wildlife but indicates the threat to the Earth as a whole. This is a truly remarkable book encompassing the diverse facets of this magnificent area and its vital importance as an indicator of the planet's health.Trade Review`…should be required reading for all those who have influence over the future direction of the world’s economies, its threatened environment and ever-growing population’. John O’ Groat Journal -------------------- `This is an extremely well laid-out book, written by Richard Sale and with photos by Per Michelson on almost every page helping the reader to understand the subject under discussion. To read it was a fascinating experience... ...absolutely fascinating... ...illustrated by amazing photographs... Reading the book I was in awe at the vast knowledge of the author. This is not a book about one aspect of the Arctic but of a wide range of complex topics. The compilation of such a book, and its photographic illustrations, are a credit to Sale and Michelsen'. Wildlife Detective, The blog of Alan Stewart -------------------- `...a true celebration of the Arctic Wilderness... ...is essential reading for both Arctic "aficionados" and ordinary travelers to the Arctic, anyone indeed, with real interests in the future of the physical and human environment of the hugely extensive and beautiful wilderness of the Arctic'. ECOS

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Book SynopsisChanges in farmland management throughout the twentieth century, including agricultural intensification and increasing mechanisation, have resulted in the loss of habitat for many species. The Corncrake is one such species that has faced multiple challenges to its survival. Although it was once a common bird throughout northern Europe, the breeding areas of Corncrakes have been steadily reduced to a fraction of what they once were, and in many areas their continuation as a regularly breeding bird is in serious doubt. In addition, the behaviour of the Corncrake, nesting under the cover of tall grass and undertaking annual long-distance migrations, means that for most of the last hundred years, its detailed ecology has remained mysterious and little understood. Although there have been millions of words written about the Corncrake in scientific papers, until now there has been no full-length book that attempts to capture all the aspects of its ecology, and to present this information to non-specialists. As a result, until very recently, many important facts about its lifestyle and behaviour have not been widely known, even among ornithologists. Although scarcely seen in its natural habitat, the Corncrake is well-known in many rural areas due to its characteristic (and persistent) night-time calling, but new discoveries with the aid of acoustic science have proved surprising, and may offer new ways of improving the location, identification, and management options to protect and enable the population of this iconic species to recover, even to thrive in our countryside. A new appreciation of the requirements of this species and the ways in which our sensitive management of the whole landscape, both in its potential breeding areas across Europe and Asia and in the seasonal quarters in regions of Africa, offer new hope for the future of this fascinating bird.Trade Review'... this book is revelatory ...With more than 730 reference works cited, and fresh insights galore on the bird and its environment, this is a compellingly important work of reference. At its core is a penetrating cultural ecological study, which offers hope for this special bird and its landscape'. Extract from the Foreword by Professor Des Thompson

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Book SynopsisThe term rewilding has become part of the common vernacular and with it has come a lot of misunderstanding and even misuse. This is an informed insight into the challenges and possible solutions, showing what can be achieved by individuals.

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Book SynopsisContingent Valuation and Endangered Species provides a comprehensive and rigorous examination of the contingent valuation method as applied to the profound social problem of biodiversity conservation.The contingent valuation method allows the explicit identification and valuation of the non-use values of species in a way which has not been possible before. This new book offers a rigorous state-of-the-art evaluation of the theoretical and statistical issues central to the contingent valuation method as well as a hands-on account of the design, implementation and analysis of contingent valuation surveys of the benefits of species conservation. Contingent Valuation and Endangered Species includes a comprehensive account of efforts at endangered species protection in Australia and New Zealand as well as current developments in the United States.This comprehensive appraisal of the problems and economics of biodiversity conservation will be welcomed by researchers and practitioners as an explicit hands-on application of the contingent valuation method.Trade Review'The main strength of the book is the fact that not one but ten sub-surveys were conducted. . . . As a result, one can illustrate many of the important issues relating to contingent valuation techniques within a single study, a fact that has been appreciated by graduate students on courses where I have used the book.'Table of ContentsContents: Foreword (M. Hanemann) Part I: Environmental Values: The Institutional and Biological Setting for Species Conservation 1. Introduction 2. The Institutional Setting: The Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 3. Endangered Species in Victoria Part II: Welfare Economic Principles of Species Conservation 4. Welfare Economic Principles and Issues 5. The Economics of Species Conservation Part III: The Contingent Valuation Method 6. The Contingent Valuation Method 7. Estimating Changes in Welfare from Discrete Choice Surveys Part IV: The Survey Application to Species Conservation 8. A Contingent Valuation Survey of Endangered Species in Victoria 9. Estimation of Willingness to Pay Part V: Conclusions 10. Conservation Value: Estimation and Methodological Inference 11. From Contingent Valuation to Species Conservation Policy References Subject Index

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Book SynopsisIn response to a need for biological data on the virtually-unexplored forests of Irian Jaya, scientists surveyed the Waponga River Area and discovered many new plant and animal species, highlighting the importance of the area for conservation and illustrating the scientific world's limited knowledge of the region's flora and fauna. This book provides the results of that intensive survey, which included vegetation, aquatic insects, ants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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Book SynopsisThe Laguna del Tigre National Park - a critical reservoir of wetland and tropical dry forest habitats - is currently threatened by human encroachment, out-of-control fires, and hydrocarbon exploitation. This rapid assessment of the region reveals a freshwater reef, two new species of fish, and range extensions for an endemic deer mouse and an aquatic snake, as well as providing detailed observations of the endangered Morelet's crocodile and the first species list for ants and phytoplankton in the park. Of special significance are toxological studies of DNA damage to two fish species, drawing international attention to the potential effects of hydrocarbon operations on the park's ecosystems.

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Book SynopsisThis report contains the biological findings and conservation recommendations of an aquatic expedition along the Pastaza River, one of the least disturbed of the upper Amazon River tributaries. The scientific team discovered moderate to high species richness; they concluded that the area has high conservation potential because of its relative intactness—a product of its remoteness and the low density of human population nearby.

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Book SynopsisThis Rapid Assessment Program Bulletin reports the findings of an expedition in 2003 into four forest reserves in southwestern Ghana that were recently designated as globally significant biodiversity areas by the Ghanaian government. The survey documented more than 1,300 plant and animal species (with one amphibian species new to science) and makes specific recommendations for conserving the biological resources of these areas.

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Book SynopsisA stunning glimpse of some of Britain's finest coastline, from the granite columns of the Giant's Causeway on the Northern Irish coast and the rocky cliffs of Wales and South West England to the great open horizons of the East Anglian shore. A stunning glimpse of some of Britain's finest coastline, from the granite columns of the Giant's Causeway on the Northern Irish coast and the rocky cliffs of Wales and South West England to the great open horizons of the East Anglian shore. However, this is not just a celebration of Britain's beauty, but an investigation into the preservation and maintenance of the UK's coastline. The Trust owns a remarkable amount of coastline, looking after it not only as a landlord and at times a harbourmaster, but caring for natural habitats, archaeological sites and historic buildings. Here is a chance to view some of the most unforgettable images of, and discover less-known truths about, our extraordinary coastline.

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Book SynopsisBrown Hares in the Derbyshire Dales is a written and photographic celebration of one of the Peak District’s most secretive and enigmatic animals. Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated with over 100 colour photographs, this book gives a unique insight into the life, habitat and history of a much loved, yet threatened, species.First published in 2010 to coincide with the International Year of Biodiversity, this new edition – with more than 60 new photos – is intended to raise awareness of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus), which is now extinct in parts of Britain and listed as a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.The book is split into two sections; the first describes the brown hare, what differentiates them from rabbits and other hares, their breeding patterns, courtship, boxing, their remarkable speed and agility, their habitat, what they eat, and their history in the UK and the Derbyshire Dales. There are also tips on where and how to see hares in the wild.The second section, biodiversity, sets the hare in the context of the rapid and extensive loss of their preferred natural habitat, primarily wildflower meadows and traditional grasslands, now almost eradicated by intensive farming systems in some areas. Balanced yet thought-provoking reflections on these modern farming methods are supplemented by accounts from local farmers, including Lord Edward Manners of Haddon Hall, interviewed especially for the book by the author.From local author and photographer Christine Gregory, Brown Hares in the Derbyshire Dales is an enlightening and captivating portrait of a beautiful British mammal.Trade Review'It features wonderful images of the hares themselves, a testimony to the author's patience, fieldcraft and expertise as a photographer ... Underlying the photography, the text carries a powerful conservation message, emphasising the importance of habitat diversity, for the hares and for the rest of the associated wildlife.' Dr Derek Yalden, Mammal News'Christine Gregory's book is a worthy addition to the tradition of natural history writing. It is scientifically accurate, well-written and a homage to an animal Christine is clearly fond of.' Jim Dixon, Chief Executive, Peak District National Park Authority

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive handbook covering all aspects of the conservation of Barn Owls. Written by the Barn Owl Trust, this book includes in-depth information on Barn Owl survey techniques, relevant ecology, Barn Owls and the law, mortality, habitat management, use of nest boxes and barn Owl rehabilitation. Essential reading for ecologists, planners, land managers and ornithologists.Trade ReviewHere you will find guidance on all aspects of Barn Owl conservation, from the care of injured birds, the creation and conservation of suitable habitat for their maintenance and successful breeding, to thorny questions about the impact of major roads and secondary poisoning by rodenticides. It would be easy to write a book about Barn Owls that would be a classic in the genre of conservation gloom and doom. Barn Owls are under pressure from multiple sources which are well analysed and described here. But rather than throwing up our hands, we are invited by this guide to take a very positive approach. -- Graham Martin, Emeritus Professor Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, University of BirminghamThe most complete and concise catalogue of techniques, methods and practices used to protect the Barn Owl, both in captivity and in the wild ... Anyone who has any interest and any capacity to assist in Barn Owl conservation should own this important book. -- Chris PackhamOverall, the Barn Owl Conservation Handbook provides an accessible, well-illustrated guide to the practicalities of Barn Owl fieldwork that will doubtless be of interest and use to the key target audience, namely those professionals and volunteers involved in surveying, developing and managing sites for the species. -- David Leech * IBIS *This substantial book aims to be comprehensive, an indispensable guide for ecologists, surveyors, land managers and ornithologists. At almost 400 detailed pages, it is remarkably thorough. Its nine chapters cover ecology, legal aspects, surveys, habitat creation and management, accommodation for barn owls, mortality, planning issues and injury and rehabilitation. It is full of case studies and practical examples of barn owl conservation in action. For me this is one of the most winning aspects of this book: it keeps the practicalities of barn owl conservation in view at all times. -- James Robertson * Natur Cymru *The Barn Owl Trust has produced an excellent guide for anyone involved in the conservation of barn owls. ... For me the most important chapter is 'Casualty assessment, short-term care and the principles of rehabilitation'. Its 30 pages show, step by step, the procedures for dealing with an injured barn owl, with very clear photographs of each step. -- Nigel Middleton * The Peregrine *How I wish this book had been on my shelves when I first began my study of Barn Owls 47 years ago. If it had been, countless hours of lost sleep and many millions of midge bites could have been avoided, for it answers virtually every question a Barn Owl researcher needs to ask. It is a magnificent work and must have taken a herculean effort to put together and verify the mass of data held within its 395 pages. -- Tony WarburtonTable of ContentsIntroduction; Ecology; Legal issues; Surveys; Habitat; Nestboxes; Mortality; Planning; Rehabilitation.

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Book SynopsisThe Slender-billed Curlew, Numenius tenuirostris, 'the slim beak of the new moon', is one of the world's rarest birds. It once bred in Siberia and wintered in the Mediterranean basin, passing through the wetlands and estuaries of Italy, Greece, the Balkans and Central Asia. Today the Slender-billed Curlew exists as a rumour, a ghost species surrounded by unconfirmed sightings and speculation. The only certainty is that it now stands on the brink of extinction. Birds are key environmental indicators. Their health or hardship has a message for us about the planet, and our future. What does the fate of the Slender-billed Curlew mean for us, and for the natural world? What happened to it, and why? In Orison for a Curlew Horatio Clare journeys through a fractured Europe in search of the Slender-billed Curlew, following the bird's migratory path on an odyssey that takes us into the lives of the men and women who have fought to save the landscapes to which the bird belongs. This is a story of beauty, triumph, and the struggles of conservation. It is a homage to a bird which may never be seen again.Trade Review"Busy and vigorous humanity is the subject to which Clare is best suited; he has a sharp ear for it, and thanks to Clare's generosity toward his subjects, the wealth of backstory and anecdote in his Orison practically hums with it." Times Literary Supplement;"Clare finds hope in the grit and vision of the conservationists he meets on his travels." The Independent

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Book Synopsis"An utter delight" - Jennifer Tetlow. Renowned nature writer Jim Crumley gets up close and personal with some of Britain's most iconic and loved animals - here, the fox. With his inimitable passion and vision, Jim describes some of his most memorable encounters with British wildlife - and reveals the startling ways they continually adapt to the relentless encroachment of humans on their habitats. The Encounters in the Wild series not only offers insights into their extraordinary lives, but also considers the conservation efforts to protect them and how the future looks for these much loved animals.Trade ReviewPraise for Jim Crumley: "the pre-eminent Scottish nature-writer" - The Guardian. "The most gifted writer where nature writing and mountain writing meet" - Jim Perrin for The Great Outdoors. "The best nature writer working in Britain today." - The Los Angeles Times. "Enthralling and often strident." - The Observer. "Tinglingly readable ... Crumley's distinctive voice carries you with him on his dawn forays and sunset vigils." - Sir John Lister-Kaye, The Herald. "Nature writing with passion, honesty, even poetry" - Scottish Review of Books. "Virtuoso writing" - BBC Countryfile.

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Book SynopsisIn The Ancient Pinewoods of Scotland, Clifton Bain gives a personal and passionate account of the human interventions that have shaped the ancient pinewoods and on the triumph of their conservation and renewal. Details are provided on how to reach each of the sites, some in the farthest mountain glens and others easily accessed by public transport, with well-marked routes and visitor facilities. A journey to the pinewoods offers a natural spectacle alongside a rich cultural heritage, all described in this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide.

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Book Synopsis'Smit's vision of Eden is the eighth wonder of the world' Independent'Inspiring... An invaluable guide to how a large project can exceed against all odds' The Sunday Times-An updated edition of the bestselling story of the Eden Project featuring stunning new photography.At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the impossible was delivered. From the sterile depths of a disused china clay pit in Cornwall rose one of the most remarkable and ambitious ventures in recent memory. The Eden Project's Biomes, the world's largest conservatories, are the symbol of a living theatre of plants and people and their interdependence, of regeneration and of a pioneering forum for the exploration of possible futures.This is the extraordinary story of the Eden Project, of its conception, design and construction, of the larger-than-life personalities who made it happen and of all that has happened since its doors were first opened to the public in 2001. It is now undisputedly one of the world's great gardens with more than 17 million visitors flocking there and projects and partnerships all over the world.Trade Review'Smit's vision of Eden is the eighth wonder of the world' * Independent *'Inspiring...An invaluable guide to how a large project can succeed against all odds' * The Sunday Times *'Smit is a truly driven individual who does not give up until he has accomplished his visionary goals' * The Times *

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Book Synopsis"An utter delight" - Jennifer Tetlow. In the Encounters in the Wild series, renowned nature writer Jim Crumley gets up close and personal with British wildlife - here, the skylark. With his inimitable passion and vision, Jim relives memorable encounters with some of our best-loved native species, offering intimate insights into their extraordinary lives.Trade ReviewPraise for Jim Crumley: "An utter delight. I cried more than once for the sheer beauty of the writing and descriptions of watching wildlife." - Jennifer Tetlow.; "The most gifted writer where nature writing and mountain writing meet" - Jim Perrin for The Great Outdoors.; "The best nature writer working in Britain today." - The Los Angeles Times.; "Enthralling and often strident." - The Observer.; "Tinglingly readable ... Crumley's distinctive voice carries you with him on his dawn forays and sunset vigils." - Sir John Lister-Kaye, The Herald.; "Nature writing with passion, honesty, even poetry" - Scottish Review of Books.; "Virtuoso writing" - BBC Countryfile.

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Book SynopsisLakeland Book of the Year 2018, Bookends Prize for Art and Literature, WINNER. With its enchanting song, striking orange bill and endearing willingness to share our living space, the blackbird is one of our best-loved birds. And, in common with all our garden wildlife, it plays a critical role in Britain's fragile and precious biodiversity. In The Blackbird Diaries, Karen Lloyd shares her deep-rooted knowledge and affection for the flora and fauna of these isles. And she issues a clarion call for the conservation of endangered habitats and species - most notably the curlew, Europe's largest wading bird. Over the four seasons, Karen intimately chronicles the drama of the natural world as it all unfolds in her garden and in the limestone hills and valleys of Cumbria's South Lakeland. What emerges is a celebration of landscapes that rarely feature in nature writing. But more than that, at a time of critical species loss, she offers rare insights into the lives of animals that may be common but are no less remarkable.Trade Review"Sure to delight readers and fans of British wildlife... Like all good nature writing books, Lloyd's prose is to be savoured. Not raced through and devoured like the latest crime thriller, but to be absorbed, enjoyed and reflected upon." Megan Shersby, BBC Countryfile magazine; "A writer of rare talent... Lloyd quietly and unassumingly shares her observations of nature, drawing you into a world made rich with the company of birds. Nothing is beyond her eye - from wavering flocks of lapwing, or the mad arcs of swifts to the majesty of sea eagles, the evening sunlight caught crystalline in their eyes." Miriam Darlington, BBC Wildlife; "A charming and informative account... [Lloyd] has a keen eye and a quiet, understated way of describing her neighbourhood that I found captivating. It brought to mind the writing of ... Kathleen Jamie ... Keenly observed." Katharine Norbury, Caught by the River

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Book SynopsisSmall, vital and mysterious, bees are an essential part of our ecosystem yet they are under greater threat than ever before. The Bee Book offers a unique insight into this most fascinating of creatures, from the mystery of the hive; the power of the queen; and the many appearances of bees in folklore, literature and art.

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Book SynopsisAn intrepid investigation of the criminal world of wildlife trafficking — the poachers, the traders, and the customers — and of those fighting against it. Journalist Rachel Love Nuwer plunges the reader into the underground of global wildlife trafficking, a topic she has been investigating for nearly a decade. Our insatiable demand for animals — for jewellery, pets, medicine, meat, trophies, and fur — is driving a worldwide poaching epidemic, threatening the continued existence of countless species. Illegal wildlife trade now ranks among the largest contraband industries in the world, yet compared to drug, arms, or human trafficking, the wildlife crisis has received scant attention and support, leaving it up to passionate individuals fighting on the ground to try to ensure that elephants, tigers, rhinos, and more are still around for future generations. Poached takes readers to the front lines of the trade: to killing fields in Africa, traditional-medicine black markets in China, and wild-meat restaurants in Vietnam. Through exhaustive first-hand reporting that took her to ten countries, Nuwer explores the forces currently driving demand for animals and their parts; the toll that demand is extracting on species across the planet; and the conservationists, rangers, and activists who are working to stop the impending extinctions — people who believe this is a battle that can be won, that our animals are not beyond salvation.Trade Review‘Nuwer’s eye for … details allows important space for empathy … Her passion for the animal world is keenly felt, but her desire to understand people is perhaps even greater … Nuwer’s writing style strives to keep the reader’s attention without restoring to the mawkish or extreme. Part travelogue, part undercover investigation, her tone is direct but never dry. Borrowing from the thriller genre, she builds tension by accumulating evidence, embracing twists and setbacks, and bringing new places dramatically into being … Her gutsy, spirited energy appears indomitable. It allows her to shine a light on dark places, and in doing so she becomes exactly the kind of hope the animal kingdom so desperately needs.’ * New Statesman *‘Both an intrepid first-person investigation and a detailed economic study.’ * Financial Times *‘A revelation of a book: Rachel Nuwer pulls back the curtain of dry statistics to reveal the illegal and sordid world of wildlife trafficking as well as the valiant efforts to stem the tide. A firsthand account that is hard to put down.’ -- Thomas E. Lovejoy, President, International Union for the Conservation of Nature–US‘Poaching has reached crisis proportions, and Rachel Nuwer pursues this story to places few journalists go. The result is a vivid and urgent book.’ -- Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction‘Our planet’s most iconic species — particularly African elephants — are facing devastating declines because of poaching. This is an important book that should inspire all of us to action.’ -- Paul G. Allen, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist‘Fellow animal-lovers, don't be deterred: This is not a book of despair. It will make you angry as hell — but then give you hope. Read about the brave people fighting the poaching syndicates. Learn what's working, what's not, and why. This extensively researched, personal, and riveting book is badly needed. Read it and act!’ -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus‘A compelling, lively, and highly informative read.’ * Science *‘Nuwer finds rays of hope in the park rangers and other conservation experts who are dedicating their lives to saving some of the earth’s most majestic creatures.’ * Scientific American *‘A deep, disturbing look into the illegal wildlife trade [that] offers a firsthand account of the battle between traffickers and conservationists.’ * Science News *‘A must-read.’ * The Revelator *‘Nuwer’s intimate look at different poaching industries is educational and overall heartfelt.’ * Library Journal *‘Nuwer’s engaging and immersive reporting style ... illuminates and animates the larger forces driving the trade that’s wiping out our remaining wildlife.’ * Sierra *‘Nuwer, a conservation biologist turned science journalist, traces at first hand the front lines across the globe in her hard-hitting, wince-inducing report.’ * Nature *‘Remember the kid in your classroom who was passionate about stopping poaching and saving the elephants? Rachel Nuwer is that kid, now grown up and writing devastating, deeply impactful pieces.’ -- Kelly Gibbons * Thrive Global, ‘Women to Watch in 2018’ *‘Nuwer writes with breathless urgency about some of the most poached animals on the planet ... Poached overflows with information — Nuwer definitely did her homework — while remaining readable for non-scientists.’ -- Kaitlin Stack Whitney * Edge Effects *‘Journalist Rachel Love Nuwer presents an incredibly wide-ranging and thorough investigation of the drivers of this trade, its victims and measures to combat it … The scope of her coverage is both impressive and depressing. This book does not make for comfortable reading, but it is an important story that needs telling.’ * The Inquisitive Biologist *‘Poached describes all kinds of heart-wrenching and harrowing moments, but Ms. Nuwer often strikes a lighthearted tone, finding eccentric detail to splash in … by focusing on the humans at all points of the trade, Ms. Nuwer is able to offer something rare: a window onto the feelings and beliefs that drive it.’ -- Jennie Erin Smith * The Wall Street Journal *‘Poached gives readers an up-front look at the vulnerability of endangered animals that are worth more dead than alive … But these anecdotes aren’t just for shock value. Nuwer also documents the political, cultural, and economic factors driving wildlife trafficking … her takeaway is abundantly clear: This business has major consequences … Nuwer … show[s] how obsession, especially when profit is involved, can be a dark force.’ -- Will Gordon * Outside *‘Poached is an incredible, globe-trotting tour … It is remarkable how willing some people are to openly talk to her … it is an important story that needs telling. Nuwer remains remarkably cool and non-judgemental, even in the face of corruption, cruelty, and callousness … Nuwer convincingly shows just how complex and multi-faceted this problem is, how many cultural divides it crosses. I believe her approach is probably the best to try and win as many hearts as possible to her cause.’ * Natural History Book Service *‘Not only is the book thoroughly researched, featuring interviews with hunters, conservationists, traders, collectors and users of illegal animal products, but it has a quirky, personal touch.’ * The Refresh *‘It’s easy to criticise the poachers, but we have no understanding of the desperation of the poor in Africa and Asia – and Nuwer does not turn away from that, nor from the excruciating realities of the trade. 4.5 STARS’ -- Robyn Douglas * Adelaide Advertiser *‘The optimism expressed in Poached … is refreshing and much-needed.’ -- Simon Caterson * Sydney Morning Herald *‘The most important book published this year is Poached ... Brilliantly researched, Poached exposes the full horrific absurdity of the global trade in endangered animals as well as portraying the heroes doing what they can to save them before they vanish forever.’ -- Simon Caterson * Weekend Australian, ‘Books of the Year’ *‘Reads like a thrilling piece of fiction — which makes it even more heartbreaking when you remember the events are true.’ * Earther *

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Book SynopsisThe watery landscapes of Britain and Ireland’s peatlands are a dominant feature in our countryside. From the blanket bogs of the uplands to the lowland remnants they are among our most important natural assets, but only now are we beginning to appreciate their true value and the vital role they have to play in tackling climate change. In The Peatlands of Britain and Ireland, Clifton Bain has completed a journey around our most spectacular natural areas and unites his vast conservation experience with detailed accounts, maps, and strikingly beautiful imagery. With a selection of the most famous peatland sites ranging across the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland, this book is not only a celebration of conservation effort but also a reliable guide to some of our most remote wilderness, as well as the surprisingly accessible peatlands on our doorsteps.Trade Review‘For too long considered as wastelands, Clifton Bain puts the record straight regarding the beauty and value of Britain’s peatlands in this richly illustrated guide.’

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Book SynopsisA completely new look at plants - not only in food, drink and commerce, and how they have created civilisation, trade and empires, but also in love, in war, in crime, in horror and delight, in music, poetry and prose, and on the screen. Not just another gardening or plant book, this is a complete picture of how plants affect people, for better or worse, now, in the past and in the future with illuminating and startling facts about their ubiquitous presence in human affairs - through life, death, illness, happiness, murder, despair, desperation, love, hate, loss, and far more. From Presidents to pop stars, from scientists to slavers, royals to religious leaders, chefs to charlatans, pioneers to politicians, artists to actors, Plants & Us is a unique overview of plants, wild and cultivated, their vital importance and the threats they face. Above all, how they affect all our lives in stories that will often surprise the reader.Trade ReviewThe Telegraph: "The amazing secrets of everyday plants and how they rule our lives. A fascinating new book sheds light on how plants have been so pivotal through the centuries"; Botany One: "It is a most impressive achievement with numerous items of plant 'trivia' on every page. Except that none of these plant facts are trivial" "It should be essential reading for everybody - not just those who create plant-themed quizzes - whose appreciation of plants can only be improved as a result"; Gardens Illustrated "Best 10 gardening books for 2022"; WI Life "10 Best books for Christmas 2021"; The American (3-page review); Also Local Gardener (3-page review), Horticulture Week, The Field, Garden News, The Tablet, Fine Food Digest; Author interviews: BBC, Talk Radio Europe, Brooklands Radio.

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Book SynopsisA completely new look at plants - not only in food, drink and commerce, and how they have created civilisation, trade and empires, but also in love, in war, in crime, in horror and delight, in music, poetry and prose, and on the screen. Not just another gardening or plant book, this is a complete picture of how plants affect people, for better or worse, now, in the past and in the future with illuminating and startling facts about their ubiquitous presence in human affairs - through life, death, illness, happiness, murder, despair, desperation, love, hate, loss, and far more. From Presidents to pop stars, from scientists to slavers, royals to religious leaders, chefs to charlatans, pioneers to politicians, artists to actors, Plants & Us is a unique overview of plants, wild and cultivated, their vital importance and the threats they face. Above all, how they affect all our lives in stories that will often surprise the reader.Trade ReviewThe Telegraph: "The amazing secrets of everyday plants and how they rule our lives. A fascinating new book sheds light on how plants have been so pivotal through the centuries"; Botany One: "It is a most impressive achievement with numerous items of plant 'trivia' on every page. Except that none of these plant facts are trivial" "It should be essential reading for everybody - not just those who create plant-themed quizzes - whose appreciation of plants can only be improved as a result"; Gardens Illustrated "Best 10 gardening books for 2022"; WI Life "10 Best books for Christmas 2021"; The American (3-page review); Also Local Gardener (3-page review), Horticulture Week, The Field, Garden News, The Tablet, Fine Food Digest; Author interviews: BBC, Talk Radio Europe, Brooklands Radio.

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Book SynopsisGeorge Archibald heads the International Crane Foundation. In this charmingly illustrated book he shares his experience of the 15 species of crane in amusing and interesting anecdotes.

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Book SynopsisSpring is nature's season of rebirth and rejuvenation. Earth's northern hemisphere tilts towards the sun, winter yields to intensifying light and warmth, and a wild, elemental beauty transforms the Highland landscape and a repertoire of islands from Colonsay to Lindisfarne. Jim Crumley chronicles the wonder, tumult and spectacle of that transformation, but he shows too that it is no Wordsworthian idyll that unfolds. Climate chaos brings unwanted drama to the lives of badger and fox, seal and seabird and raptor, pine marten and sand martin. Jim lays bare the impact of global warming and urges us all towards a more daring conservation vision that embraces everything from the mountain treeline to a second spring for the wolf.Trade ReviewA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK; "There are books that transport us and Jim Crumley's ode to spring takes us there on the wings of a sea eagle ... Exquisitely observed ... uplifting and disquieting ... Crumley's masterful words take you into the canvas of nature as into the work of a grand master ... The joy, the passion, the complete understanding Jim has for his world is a portal. The world on our doorstep." Scottish Book of the Week, The Courier; "Nature writer and poet Jim Crumley returns with a third volume of close observations [and] charts the arrival of spring, from the February song of a mistle thrush to May's drowsy warmth. Crumley quotes Margiad Evans - 'Write in the very now where you find yourself' - and takes her advice to heart." New Statesman; "This thought-inducing paean to nature brings the issues of the natural world to the forefront ... Crumley writes movingly about the season of rebirth and transformation which sees the hibernators awaken and the daffodils rise. A wonderful read." Kirstin Tait, Scottish Field; "A fantastic writer ... exquisite observations of details in the landscape as well as sweeping vistas ... remarkable." Ben Hoare, BBC Countryfile magazine; "Compelling ... Radical ... Crumley writes of the creatures and landscape before him like a James Guthrie or Landseer of print ... He could be Ali Smith's naturalist twin." Rosemary Goring, Scottish Review of Books; "Beautifully written ... thoughtful and thought-provoking ... Jim Crumley does not shy away from the important issues facing the natural world [in] a book you'd like to think could have real influence on the world we live in." Undiscovered Scotland; Praise for Jim Crumley's writing: Wainwright Golden Beer Prize 2017, LONGLISTED (The Nature of Autumn); The Richard Jeffries Society & White Horse Bookshop Literary Prize for nature writing, SHORTLISTED; "A delightful meditation." Stephen Moss, Books of the Year, Guardian; "Nature writing is like trying to catch birds with cobwebs. Crumley's just has a higher tensile strength than most." Herald; "Breathtaking...This nature book is a delight...words that freshen and sparkle the everyday world and sprinkle warmth and colour into the heart of it." Miriam Darlington, BBC Wildlife; "Enchanting." Sara Maitland; "A passionate, compelling, very personal work... the honesty of his voice is striking." Scottish Review of Books; "Enthralling and often strident." ObserverTable of ContentsPart One: Harbingers; Chapter One: First Syllables; Chapter Two: Falcons of the Yellow Hill; Chapter Three: The Backward Spring; Chapter Four: The; Mountaineering Badger; Part Two: Island Spring; Chapter Five: The Nature of Second Spring; Chapter Six: Forty-eight Hours on Colonsay; Chapter Seven: Yell – No Need of Dreams; Chapter Eight: An Island Pilgrimage (1) – Mull and Iona; Chapter Nine: An Island Pilgrimage (2) – Lismore to Islandshire; Chapter Ten: An Island Pilgrimage (3) – Lindisfarne, Nature’s Island; Chapter Eleven: May in June; Part Three: Highland Spring Chapter Twelve: Glen Clova and the Definite Article; Chapter Thirteen: The Poetry of Mountain Flowers; Chapter Fourteen: The Sanctuary (1) – A Second Spring for the Wolf; Chapter Fifteen: The Sanctuary (2) – Loch Tulla; Chapter Sixteen: The Properties of Mercury; Chapter Seventeen: Renaissance

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Book SynopsisIn the endless light of summer days, and the magical gloaming of the wee small hours, nature in Jim's beloved Highlands, Perthshire and Trossachs heartlands is burgeoning freely, as though there is one long midsummer's eve, nothing reserved. For our flora and fauna, for the very land itself, this is the time of extravagant growth, flowering and the promise of fruit and the harvest to come. But despite the abundance, as Jim Crumley attests, summer in the Northlands is no Wordsworthian idyll. Climate chaos and its attendant unpredictable weather brings high drama to the lives of the animals and birds he observes. There is also a wild, elemental beauty to the land, mountains, lochs, coasts and skies, a sense of nature at its very apex during this, the most beautiful and lush of seasons. Jim chronicles it all: the wonder, the tumult, the spectacle of summer - and what is at stake as our seasons are pushed beyond nature's limits.Trade ReviewTHE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE 2020, SHORTLISTED; "[A] beautiful book ... [an] exceptional and intense quality of observation glows from every page ... He finds astonishing beauty in the landscape, and sheer wonder in his encounters ... Nothing can diminish the sharpness of his eye, the ardour of his writing, and the pure wonder at the natural world that shapes every paragraph ... A wisdom that we need now, more than ever before." Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman; "This is a work of pure escapism as the throb of spring gives way to the reflective calm of our warmest months. Crumley's writing effortlessly captures the majesty of a golden eagle eyrie, the magic of beavers returning to their old habitats, and the joy that arrives with a flock of whooper swans overhead ... The perfect finale to this evocative seasonal collection" Tiffany Francis-Baker, BBC Wildlife Magazine; "A mesmerising blend of observation and in-depth knowledge about our wild landscapes ... every bit as compelling and thought-provoking as its predecessors ... no better book to lose yourself in." Herald; Praise for Previous work: Richard Jefferies Society & White Horse Bookshop Literary Prize for nature writing, SHORTLISTED Saltire Society award: SHORTLISTED "A delightful meditation." Stephen Moss, Books of the Year, Guardian; "Nature writing is like trying to catch birds with cobwebs. Crumley's just has a higher tensile strength than most." Herald.Table of ContentsPrologue: The Goddess of Small Things; Part One: Everything Else in the Universe; Chapter One: St Kilda Summer, 1988; Chapter Two: Forty Years at Eagle Crag; Chapter Three: You Have Not Seen Her with My Eyes; Chapter Four: She Is of the Woods and I Am Not; Chapter Five: Inside the Arc; Part Two: Song for an Unsung Shore; Chapter Six: Solstice; Chapter Seven: Between a Rock and a Soft Place; Chapter Eight: City of Ghost Birds; Chapter Nine: Bass Notes; Part Three: Smoke Signals; Chapter Ten: Touchstones; Chapter Eleven: The Land of Havørn (1): Under the Blue Mountain; Chapter Twelve: The Land of Havørn (2): Islands of Dreams; Chapter Thirteen: The Climate Imperative; Chapter Fourteen: The Accidental Kingfisher and Other Stories: A Diary; Epilogue: A Daydream of Wolves

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