Conservation of wildlife and habitats Books

Book SynopsisFrom central Glasgow to rural Wiltshire, a husband-and-wife team track down Britain’s enigmatic mammalsTrade Review‘Spring has barely ticked over into summer, but I’ve already found the book that I’ll be recommending for the rest of the year.’ -- BBC Countryfile Magazine'If you care about Britain’s beautiful mammals – which of course you do – this hilarious book is a must-read. Weasely my favourite book of the year so far.' -- Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth'Engaging, humorous and full of fascinating facts you probably never knew, Black Ops and Beaver Bombing celebrates, mourns and champions the wonderful variety of British mammals.' -- Waterstones, Best Books of 2023'You will laugh and learn in equal measure.’ * BBC Wildlife Magazine *‘Delightful… The authors’ sadness is clear, yet the text is more readable because they don’t take themselves too seriously, and scatter the text with memorable details.’ -- Irish Times‘Everything you could hope for in a book about our beleaguered native mammals. Elegiac, informative and funny; some truly magical encounters in the wild; an almost baffled indignation at our institutional and collective failures of policy and imagination; and best of all… some actual solutions.’ -- Peter Fiennes, author of Oak and Ash and Thorn'Packed full of useful information and acutely up to date… As she's one of the ablest mammalogists of our age, it's well worth listening to Fiona Mathews. I would heartily recommend this book to all.' -- Derek Gow, author of Bringing Back the Beaver‘This book is, or should be, a big wake-up call to anyone who hasn’t already realised that Britain’s native mammals are in trouble… Black Ops and Beaver Bombing provides an entertaining and informative look at some of our native mammalian species as well as the wider issues associated with species conservation in Britain. It should be required reading for anyone with a passing interest in our native wild mammals as well as for those who would like to do more to help with conservation. I particularly hope that it will be read by the politicians and other people who are in a position to make positive changes to reverse the decline of our native mammals.' -- GreenSpirit Magazine

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Book SynopsisA journey of discovery through our natural world.Bushcraft and survival legend Ray Mears takes us on his own lifetime's journey through the natural world, into the British countryside and across continents, and shows us how to tune our senses, enhance our experience of nature, and understand our place within it.Guiding us through practical fieldcraft tips, Ray brings us up close with creatures we share our planet with, and reveals how we can learn from them, from the stealth of the leopard to the patience and stillness of the crocodile, and even the colour-changing camouflage of the octopus.With Ray as your companion, you will unlock the hidden secrets of the wild and begin to see, instead of merely look.

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Book SynopsisWilderness guide Sicelo Mbatha shares lessons learnt from a lifetime's intimate association with Africa's wildest nature.Black Lion begins in rural South Africa where a deeply traumatic childhood experience - a cousin being dragged away by a crocodile - should have turned him against the surrounding wilderness. Instead, he was irresistibly drawn to it. As a volunteer at Imfolozi Nature Reserve, close encounters with animals taught him to 'see' with his heart and thus began a spiritual awakening.Drawing from his Zulu culture and a yearning to better understand human's relationship to nature, Sicelo has forged a new path to nature with an immersive, respectful and transformative way of being in the wilderness. As humanity hurtles into the anthropogenic 21st century, Black Lion is an urgent reminder of how much we need wilderness for our emotional and spiritual survival.'A brave account of a natural disaster, and of achieving reconciliation with the predatoriness of life.' Richard Mabey on Mbatha's essay, Letting Go.Trade ReviewBlack Lion is a powerful, propulsive and unflinchingly honest account of one man's remarkable spiritual journey. It is life-affirming and deepening, and a vital contribution to the discourse around conservation. A must-read. * Jini Reddy, author of Wanderland *

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Book SynopsisThis is a guide to finding tree-roosts. It is the result of the collaborative efforts of professional surveyors and amateur naturalists across Europe as part of the Bat Tree Habitat Key project, and represents a combination of firsts: It is the first time legislation and planning policy have been reviewed and put to practical use to define an analysis framework with clearly identifiable thresholds for action. Yet, despite its efficacy in a professional context, it is also the first time a guide has been produced that is equally effective in achieving its objective for amateurs. It is the first time such a method has been evidence-supported throughout, with summary reviews of each aspect of the roosting ecology of the individual 14 tree-roosting species, with illustrative photographs and data to which the reader has open access. It is the first time a repeatable analysis framework has been defined against which the surveyor may compare their results at every stage, from the desk-study, through ground-truthing, survey and analysis, thereby ensuring nothing is overlooked and that every result can be objectively compared. The survey and analysis framework itself is ground-breaking in that it may readily be adapted for any taxa; from moths, through amphibians, reptiles, birds and all other mammals. Used diligently, these methods will reward disproportionately and imbue the reader with renewed confidence as they quickly progress from beginner to competency. Thus, this book is for everyone who has ever wanted to find a tree-roost, or to safeguard against inadvertently damaging one.Trade ReviewThis work will serve as an invaluable reference for field biologists who might be called upon to conduct relevant survey work and environmental impact assessments. -- Danny A. Brass * National Speleological Society News *... for anyone wanting to learn more about this fascinating subject it will be the landmark work for many years to come. -- Mark Tunmore * Atropos *I would highly recommend this book for tree-care and ecology professionals. It brings into one place a wealth of knowledge and experience. The links to resources held on the BTHK are very useful. I know that it will be on the shelves of many ecologists but I would urge everyone to read it right through at least once and then dip back into it as you need. That way you will get the most from the knowledge being shared. -- Carol Williams, Director of Conservation, Bat Conservation TrustI would strongly recommend this book (and framework) to tree-care and ecology professionals, and it is potentially of broader interest within the scientific community. -- Stuart Newson, Senior Research Ecologist, BTO * BTO About Birds *Table of ContentsCh 1. Rationale -Introduction -Pre-existing published advice -Motivation -Objective -Proportionality Ch 2. Tree-Roosting Bats -Tree-roosting bat species -Wooded habitat and tree species -Sensitivity to isolation -Seasonal tree-roost occupancy and roost size -Roost heights -General tree-roost preferences Ch 3. Potential Roost Features -Introduction -The Disease and Decay PRF -The Damage PRF -The Association PRF Ch 4. Intelligence-Gathering -Introduction -Resources -Collation of the results Ch 5. The Desk-Study -Introduction -The desk-study objective -The test of 'reasonable likelihood' -To survey or not to survey Ch 6. Ground-Truthing -Introduction -Ground-truthing method -Ground-truthing interpretation Ch 7. Choosing Surveillance Methods -Introduction -Close-inspection -Remote-observation -Static-netting -Radio-tracking -Putting it all together -The proportionality text Ch 8. Close-Inspection -Introduction -Equipment -Health and Safety -Close-inspection method -Interpretation Ch 9. Remote-Observation -Introduction -Confounding factors -Equipment -Health and Safety -Remote-observation method -Interpretation Ch 10. Static-Netting -Introduction -Equipment -Health and Safety -Static-netting method -Interpretation Ch 11. Surveillance Effort -Introduction -Detectability variables -Surveillance periods and intensity therein Ch 12. Trouble-Shooting -Introduction -Fundamental principles -Inconclusive and 'null' results -Indirect damage and disturbance -Comparative assessment of environment -Late commissions -Unlicensed assessments -Getting a second-opinion -Fault-finding

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Book Synopsis'Warmly entertaining...an endearing account of the search for rare bees' GuardianA hunt for the world's most elusive bees leads Dave Goulson from Poland to Patagonia as well as closer to home, amongst the secret places hidden right under our noses: the abandoned industrial estates where great crested newts roam; or the rewilded estate at Knepp Castle, where, with the aid of some hairy, bluebell-eating Tamworth pigs, nightingale song has been heard for the first time in generations. Whether he is tracking great yellow bumblebees in the Hebrides or chasing orchid bees through the Ecuadorian jungle, Dave Goulson's wit, humour and deep love of nature make him the ideal travelling companion.Trade ReviewYou’ll learn all sorts of interesting things without effort because he’s a natural storyteller with a particular gift of understatement that is often laugh-out-loud funny – which you don’t expect from a bee book… It’s warmly personal, and stuffed full of the inescapable poetry and beauty of the natural world… Going on Bee Quest with him puts the natural world within our reach – to enjoy but also to protect… This is a truly positive and empowering read – you closed it better informed, filled with poetry, pies and ready to get out there and make a difference. -- Laline Paull * Observer *This is a quest that takes us from Patagonia to Poland, from Ecuador to Essex, fueled by Dave Goulson’s extraordinary passion for the bumblebee… Goulson’s search for some of the world’s rarest bees has led him on a geographical and intellectual exploration that combines bizarre facts about bumblebees…with passionate ideas about conservation. -- Martha Kearney * The Times *Dave Goulson… has perfected the art of turning the entomologist’s technical expertise into easy-reading everyman’s prose. He also laces his stories with rich helpings of wit and humour. -- Mark Cocker * Spectator *In this delightful book [Goulson] tells us of the discoveries he has made during his ‘bee travels’… a humorous, beautifully written tribute to these insects, and hope-filled examples of nature’s resilience. * Outdoor Photography *Entomologist Dave Goulson journeyed as far as Patagonia to track down populations of the world’s rarest bumblebees. The result is this fun serial travelogue and ode to diverse countryside… In a world skewed towards saving photogenic mammals, Goulson extols the intrinsic importance of insects, rather than their economic value. -- Barbara Kiser * Nature *

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Book SynopsisThe official tie-in to the third instalment in the legendary Planet Earth franchiseFew places on Earth remain untouched by humans, creating challenges for the wildlife we share it with. We have entered a new age, and we must look at the splendour of the natural world through a different lens.From the depths of our oceans, to scorching deserts and the most remote jungles, Planet Earth III features spectacular places and surprising animal behaviours from all corners of our world. And for the first time, a human element is introduced to each landscape, highlighting how, in the age of the Anthropocene, today's planet has been forever changed by humanity and that wildlife now faces new challenges in our crowded, modern world.Featuring over 250 beautiful full-colour photographs, Planet Earth III reveals the wonders and trials of life on an increasingly fragile planet, bringing you closer than ever before to our world’s most intriguing species, unseen landscapes and natural phenomena.

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Book SynopsisWhen northern Kenyans find elephant bones, they lay down blossoms and branches as a mark of respect, honouring their crucial connection with the wildlife they live alongside. In our changing world, these values are vitally important. For decades, northern Kenya was one step away from a warzone, on the frontlines of climate change and habitat loss. People slept with their shoes on, fearing attack. Wildlife was decimated. Yet, facing the most extreme challenges, people united. What began as a last-ditch effort to save rhinos from extinction sparked a remarkable return of wildlife, with the once-struggling cattle ranch Lewa named a UN World Heritage Site for its outstanding value to humanity. This served as a catalyst for much broader action. Communities created a network of protected lands across an area larger than Switzerland. Through conservation, they built peace, driving social, environmental and political change. From tracking elephants through the bush to gun battles with bandits and treks through Al-Qaeda territory, Peter Martell tells the exciting story of a conservation movement that gives hope. At a time when humanity is reassessing its broken relationship with nature, these communities offer an inspirational blueprint, proving that environmental change does not have to divide, but can bring us together.

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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 author, a professional conservationist, tells his own stories of truely exhilarating encounters of British wildlife, especially birds, while working as a nature warden.

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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 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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Book SynopsisLearn from Britain's leading dragonfly expert how to invite dragonflies and damselflies into your garden and create the conditions for them to thrive.In this compact and accessible wildlife primer, Dragonfly Ambassador' Ruary Mackenzie Dodds shows how to set up a tranquil garden haven for dragonflies, with straightforward, easy-to-follow guidance on preparing your pond, what plants to include in it, and how to manage and enjoy it.With stunning colours and phenomenal flying abilities, dragonflies are beautiful creatures that are also vital to our ecosystem. This book outlines, too, how caring for something as specific and delicate as a dragonfly can provide a welcome respite from the everyday demands of life. We can, as always, learn so much from the natural world, even and sometimes especially from its smallest creatures.Learn how to transform your garden into a haven for dragonflies and damselflies, nurturing your own mental health and protec

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisContaining more than 1,600 photos and drawings, this magnificent handbook is the definitive guide to the tracks and signs of European animals.The European Animal Tracks Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the art of tracking, offering practical insight into the vast wealth of information that you can read from animal tracks and signs. Detailed descriptions and measurements of footprints and gaits are provided to aid identification, and include life-size or precisely scaled comparison charts of mammalian and bird footprints. In-depth species portraits present the biology, tracks and typical signs of Europe's mammals. The book also covers the footprints and grazing marks, nests, burrows and other signs of common birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.Now the standard work in the field, this handbook is an invaluable reference for animal-trackers of all abilities.A fascinating book, with an enormous wealth of detailed knowledge, wonderful photos and illustrations.' Jane Goodall Institute

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books for Young Adults""Finalist for the PROSE Award in Popular Science and Mathematics, Association of American Publishers""Winner of the Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award, Northland College""Winner of the Nautilus Book Award, Animals & Nature Section""Winner of the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize, BC and Yukon Book Prizes""Meticulously researched and colorfully presented . . . the first [book] to integrate so many dimensions of the field in a way that is accessible to nonexperts. It is a wonderful mix of animal ecology, narratives of science-doing, futurism, and accounts of Indigenous knowledge that is as interdisciplinary as the field itself."---Benjamin Gottesman, Science"Bakker's well-researched stories showcase the mysterious communication styles of whales, elephants, turtles, corals, plants, bats, and bees as told by the scientists who care enough to listen. . . . These scientific breakthroughs couldn't come at a better time."---Krystal Vasquez, Sierra"Bakker ladles academic research liberally onto the reader in short, spare sentences that build up to a comprehensive whole. Her deep knowledge is worn lightly throughout the book, so that you never feel overwhelmed."---Chris Stokel-Walker, New Scientist"[I] couldn’t put [The Sounds of Life] down. . . . [A] fascinating and forward-looking book."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"Nature lovers will delight in [Bakker's] chronicle of the emerging technologies tuning us into a new world of non-human sound and conversation." * Globe & Mail *"In this beautifully written study, Karen Bakker, a tech entrepreneur and academic, compares digital technology that can reveal these sounds with the microscope’s effect on vision. By extending our hearing, the technology allows us to encounter 'new soundscapes around the world and across the Tree of Life.'"---Andrew Robinson, Nature"A fascinating account of a rapidly advancing understanding of the sonic world that binds life together on this planet."---Graeme Gourlay, Dive Magazine"The Sounds of Life is a charming and timely book, packed with stories of remarkable, eye-opening (and ear-opening?) discoveries."---Hilary Lamb, Engineering and Technology"Bakker is talking about extension of our experience and our understanding and our sympathy in ways not possible before the advent of digital technology."---John Wilson, First Things"Bakker’s book is full of stories of wonder and curiosity about the world of sound that constantly surrounds humanity." * Mongabay *"This is a fascinating and surprising look at how the natural world teems with remarkable conversations, many beyond human hearing range. . . . A great read."---Lorraine Connolly, The Countryman"Impeccably written, soundly researched, and utterly fascinating. . . . Between and around the book’s hard science, the author wraps accessible and warmly told human narratives such as the tale of the dying man who on his last sea trip first realized whales communicated with each other. Thus, The Sounds of Life is filled with a certain kind of wild, brilliant charm that makes it very readable for the scientific and the nonscientific minded alike." * Compulsive Reader *"This is an extraordinary book."---Christopher W. Clark, The Quarterly Review of Biology

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

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

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

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

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Book SynopsisA fascinating insight into the badger’s world. Badger biology, life in the sett, rescue & rehabilitation, consultancy, badgers & farming, and badger-watching with George Pearce – an expert on badgers. George has surveyed over 700 sites, visited 1,500 setts, been consulted as an expert in 120 animal cruelty cases and rehabilitated more than 100 badgers. Brought up on a farm, he earned his living as a farmer for 45 years. Today, he is a badger consultant and one of the foremost experts on the British mammal he admires the most. For many years, the RSPCA, police, veterinary surgeons and conservation groups all over the country have relied on George Pearce’s knowledge and his instinctive feel for animal behaviour. Now you can share in his experience and enthusiasm for badgers from his 70 years of badger watching and his vast professional wildlife experience.Trade ReviewPearce reveals a remarkable depth of knowledge about these mammals. As well as discussing badger ecology, he offers advice on many topics not covered by other authors, such as how to conduct surveys and build artificial setts. His down-to-earth manner owes more to the style of the ecological pioneer John Seymour than to the 'father' of badger biology, Ernest Neal. -- David Dixon * BBC Wildlife Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. A lifetime’s experience Marooned: a bundle of badgers 2 .Badger biology Scented signposts; What’s on the menu?; Follow the tracks; Clues in the latrines; Spoilheaps: mountains of information 3. The world of the sett Secret world of the sett; Tunnels: DIY larders Reproduction Head over heels – but it gave me a clue 4. Badgers in the family Badgers – every one a character; Hiya, captivating Hiya; Bodger, the one and only Bodger 5. Badger rescue Road victim with a sad secret; Road victims: what you should do; A badger in a sack and the owl that wheezed; Help them, but don’t hang on to them 6. Badger consultancy Ducks’ legs and raindrops; Makeway, makeway; Have they read the book?; Some of the things I am asked to do; You name it, they’ll dig there; Sett closures and artificial setts; Tackling the big jobs 7. Badgers and farming Too much muscle; “Killed a hundred, he’ as”; Carry on farming!; Bovine tuberculosis (bTB); Badgers and bTB 8. Badger-watching Sett-watching tips; Sit quietly!; The weather; Feeding badgers ; Seeing in the dark; Hides 9. Final thoughts Useful contacts Index

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Book SynopsisConservationist Grant Fowlds lives to save and protect Africa''s rhinos, elephants and other iconic wildlife, to preserve their habitats, to increase their range and bring back the animals where they have been decimated by decades of war, as in Angola, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This vivid account of his work tells of a fellow conservationist tragically killed by the elephants he was seeking to save and a face-off with poachers, impoverished rural people exploited by rapacious local businessmen. Fowlds describes the impact of the Covid pandemic on conservation efforts, the vital wildlife tourism that sustains these and rural communities; and tells of conservationists'' efforts to support people through the crisis. Lockdowns may have brought a welcome lull in rhino and other poaching, but also brought precious tourism to a standstill. He shows how the pandemic has highlighted the danger to the world of the illicit trade in endangered

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Extinction is a natural process. In geological time there have been several periods of mass extinction. One of these periods is unfolding right now but all the evidence suggests that current extinction rates are between a hundred and a thousand times greater than the background rate. To put this in to context, a quarter of all known mammalian species is at risk. The current extinction crisis is unique, because it is caused by the impact of one species, humans, on all others. This acceleration of species loss, and the much more widespread reductions in the populations of many species, is not merely a tragedy in aesthetics, it is also a threat to the quality of human life, indeed to the entire human enterprise. Biodiversity, the diversity of life, is not only fascinating and beautiful, it is the engine of all the world''s natural cycles, and the source of many of the resources on which humanity depends. Concern about biodiversity conservation is, therefore, not merely the preoccupation of a few enthusiastic naturalists - it is the lifeline business of everybody. In this Very Short Introduction, David Macdonald introduces the concept of biodiversity and the basic biological processes that it involves - evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral. He considers the various threats to biodiversity, their impacts, and some of the solutions to the problems; concluding by considering the future of biodiversity conservation.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: What is biodiversity, and why does it matter? 2: What's the problem? 3: What is the purpose of biodiversity conservation? 4: Invasive species 5: Wildlife trade 6: Zoonotic disease 7: Human wildlife conflict and coexistence 8: Climate change 9: Who pays, and how? 10: Restoring the balance - what next?

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Book SynopsisRivers have been vitally important to human populations worldwide for millennia as highways for inland travel, and as sources of water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, manufacturing, irrigation, and power generation, as well as repositories for human, animal, and industrial wastes. This accessible textbook takes a broad approach to river ecology, covering the basics but going beyond by including topics that are often overlooked such as blackwater streams and rivers, tidal creek ecosystems, and reservoir limnology. Since most running water (lotic) systems have been altered or impacted by human activities, there is significant emphasis on anthropogenic impacts, including sedimentation, nutrient pollution and related eutrophication issues as well as the effects of dams and river fragmentation, power plant operations, chemical contamination, wastewater treatment discharges, industrial scale livestock production, invasive species, and rural and urban storm water runoff on river ecosystems. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: The Physical Nature of River Ecosystems 2: Nutrients and River Ecosystems 3: Lotic Primary Producers: Phytoplankton and Periphyton 4: Lotic Primary Producers: Macroalgae and Macrophytes 5: Stream and River Invertebrate Communities 6: Feeding the River: Unifying Concepts 7: Riverine Fishes and Other Vertebrate Communities 8: Blackwater Streams and Rivers 9: The Ecology of Tidal Creeks 10: Altering the Natural Flow: Dams and River Fragmentation 11: Reservoir Limnology 12: Industrial Pollution of Streams and Rivers 13: Human Wastewater Treatment and Industrial Livestock Production Wastes 14: Species Loss and Impacts of Invasive Species 15: Ecology and Pollution of Urban Streams 16: Protecting and Restoring Streams and Rivers 17: Floods, Hurricanes, and Climate Change

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Book SynopsisWill dwindling elephant numbers be reversed? Will the forces of good triumph over the vicious looters? Can the annual trillion-dollar money laundering trade by brought to heel by a brave whistle blower? Peter Hain's gripping second thriller builds to a dramatic climax, the action switching from wildlife to politics, from bushveld to city, from high finance to poaching. A vivid and gripping journey into the competing worlds of activism and corruption.Trade Review'Masterful...A thrilling journey behind the frontlines of the battle to save Africa's wildlife' Julian Rademeyer, author Killing for Profit. 'Gripping, tense and timely' Alan Johnson MP. 'The Rhino Conspiracy is a true page-turner. A thriller that resonates with conscience, timeliness and deep knowledge of South African politics and wildlife.' LoveReading

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Book SynopsisPursuing a dream instilled by early David Attenborough television adventures, a young man from the industrial northwest of England is advised at school to become a veterinary surgeon as a first step towards a career working with wild animals in Africa. His misgivings about the values and justification of domestic veterinary practice are contrasted with a passion for wilderness and wildlife conservation. Early experiences in the vivid Uganda of Idi Amin are juxtaposed with life in a grey Pennines veterinary practice. Eventually arriving as a veterinary officer in newly independent Botswana he finds adventure with wild animals as a veterinarian and later as an ecologist, survey pilot, game capture operator and even a safari hunter, becoming a passionate conservationist… all while starting the first veterinary practice in the country.

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Book SynopsisAn essential guide to assist those surveying for water voles, whether as a professional ecological consultant, a researcher or simply an interested amateur. This book provides detailed descriptions of all the habitats used by water voles, including ideal habitats as well as less typical places, with annotated photos to help the surveyor home in on just the right areas to look. It also contains a comprehensive photographic reference guide to assist in the correct identification of water vole field signs, and explains how to distinguish them from those of similar species. Tips on where and how to search for field signs are also provided, along with guidance on how best to record survey data.Trade ReviewThe book is very much my type of book and it will make a great reference addition to my office bookshelf. All too often in my opinion, photographs get a back seat in ecology related literature... nothing beats a book that the field based individual such as me can relate to. -- Simon Booth, photographer and professional ecologistTable of ContentsAcknowledgements 1. Introduction A bit of background Personal experience Legal protection in the UK Competence 2. Habitat Where do you find water voles? What does ‘ideal’ habitat for water voles look like? Habitat requirements Dry areas for burrows or above-ground nests Herbaceous vegetation as food and cover Water How to assess likely value of habitat Water voles in terrestrial habitat 3. What does a water vole look like? 4. Looking for field signs Different field signs When to search Where to search How to search Other factors to consider Health, safety and biosecurity 5. Droppings and latrines Characteristics of water vole droppings Latrines How many droppings constitute a latrine? What can latrines tell us? Terrestrial, or fossorial, water voles Rat droppings Field vole and bank vole droppings DNA analysis 6. Feeding remains 7. Burrows Characteristics of ‘active’ water vole burrows Burrows of similar species Detailed examination of burrows 8. Nests 9. Other field signs Footprints Runs through the vegetation 10. Other species Droppings Footprints 11. Recording the information What information needs to be recorded? How to record the information What happens next? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA collection of vibrant essays to inform, stimulate and inspire every nature lover. Through unparallelled expertise as a field naturalist, Roy Dennis is able to write about the natural world in a way that considers both the problems and the progress in ecology and conservation. Beginning with cottongrass, whose snow-white blooms blow gently in the wind across the wetter moors and bogs, this is a year-round trove of insight and knowledge for anyone who cares about the natural world - from birdsong and biodiversity to sphagnum and species reintroduction. Written by one of our most prominent advocates for rewilding, the essays have a clear message: "Never give up on trying to conserve and restore wildlife and the wild places you cherish. It's essential to try and to succeed. And remember, it's never 'if', but 'when' - and with climate chaos closing in, the time is now."Trade ReviewTHE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE 2020, LONGLISTED; "I can't think of a more important book that's been written about British wildlife in the past 20 years ... Roy Dennis [is] the UK's pre-eminent conservationist of the past half century ... he writes with such conviction, clarity, insight, depth and purpose. He understands better than anyone how times have changed ... In just a sentence or two, he cuts to the quick ... If you read any book about the environment this year, read this." James Fair, naturalist, in Countryfile's Best Nature Books of 2020; "In an exhilarating roundelay of profoundly questioning essays, Roy Dennis has revealed a lifetime in nature conservation, while also delivering a sparkling vision for an ecologically sustainable Highlands, the country and the planet. This little book is a testament to a rare and redeeming curiosity; we must all learn from the deep wisdom of experience." Sir John Lister-Kaye OBE; "This is a cracking book full of beautifully descriptive prose and thought-provoking sentiments by a man who, more than anyone else, has been there, done that and got the 'T'-shirt." Iolo Williams; "Roy is not just a brilliant conservationist but a superb naturalist too ... These beautiful essays are also positive and pragmatic about the future ... absolutely joyous." Chris Packham; "Reminds me strongly of Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, which is a classic of the ecological literature, and I can think of no better comparison to give you an idea of its content and of this book's quality and worth ... It is a book of ideas; ideas about how the future should be, but rooted in the present and with knowledge of the past." Mark Avery, Nature Book of the Year 2020; "The wonderful, insightful and eclectic musings from a lifetime watching wildlife, by one of Britain's greatest conservationists." Mike Dilger; "Fine and very enjoyable ... packed with a wisdom that only comes from lifelong experience." Stephen Moss, Best nature books of 2020; A pleasure to read … This book should become a classic.” John Low, Scottish BirdsTable of ContentsIntroduction; Cottongrass; All in a name; The optimism of spring; Capercaillies and crofters’ cows; The beauty of birdsong; Too many badgers; Rewilding – ecological restoration; Cheaper food and poorer farming; The tragedy of rare flowers; Nature’s networks; Bearded vulture and a lack of carrion; Storks and people; Green J is back again; Selective land management in Abernethy Forest; The decline of swifts and martins; Caring for our planet – a minister’s responsibilities; The bonnie heather hills of Scotland; The dangers of downpours; Traditional cattle and biodiversity; Lynx kittens in my pockets; Insect Armageddon; A good day with red squirrels; Sea eagles on Sunday; The invader from the Orient; Quiet pride over red kites; Thoughts on wild red grouse; Big fish; Rabbits – here today, gone tomorrow; Let’s have a sacred mountain; Nature and the problems of tidiness; Bringing back the beaver; The ecology of changing goose numbers; Looking at a footprint and thinking, ‘Bear!'; Chance and the Wilson’s warbler; The salmon and the bear; Our place on the planet; Right trees, wrong places; Orcas and seals; Golden eagles – a new future?; Days in a real forest; The deaf birder’s bird; Giant pandas and thoughts of home; Bounty from the seas; Genes and wildlife management; The true worth of nature; New Year birding; White stoat, green grass; Always remember the bigger picture; The assassin of the night; Is the common mole a soil canary?; Why mentors matter; Ecological resilience for our grandchildren’s grandchildren; Author’s note

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Book Synopsis365 inspirational suggestions for enjoying nature. These ''Random Acts of Wildness'' will encourage you to fall in love with, learn about or even help wildlife and wild places near you.A Random Act of Wildness is any little thing that you can do as part of your day, to enjoy nature. It can take a few seconds like smelling a wildflower on the way to work; or a few hours like creating a whole area for wildlife in your garden. Some Random Acts of Wildness don't take any time at all, but instead are little changes to your daily routine that will ultimately be better for wildlife, like buying a reusable coffee cup.The best Random Acts of Wildness immerse you (if only for a few seconds) in nature, setting your senses alight. Smelling freshly fallen rain, tasting the sweet explosion of a fresh blackberry as you pop it in your mouth, wriggling your toes in the icy waters of a stream, waking up to bird song. It's not just about seeing, but experiencing the wild in every way possible. Let thisTrade Review'Taking part in the 30 Days Wild campaign improves health, happiness, nature connection and conservation behaviours … and the benefits last well after the month has ended.'Dr Miles Richardson, University of Derby ‘As the rise of herbicides and insecticides destroys aspects of nature, embracing these acts could be more necessary than ever’Guardian

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Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.

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Book SynopsisThe must-have gift for budding young conservationistsBe inspired by rewilding and conservation projects from around the world.Learn about the different species of animals and plants that have been brought back to the areas they used to live in the wild. Beavers that are being re-introduced into different parts of Great Britain after an absence of about 400 years! Bison brought back to Romania''s Carpathian Mountains Jaguars returning to South America wetlandsJam-packed with bright, colourful photos and featuring incredible facts, children will be uplifted by the positive projects happening around the world.

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Book SynopsisTony Fitzjohn has spent over forty years re-introducing lions, leopards, rhinos and African Hunting Dogs to the wild. He is one of the world's leading field experts on the relationship between man and African wildlife. He was awarded the OBE by the Queen and the Order of the Golden Ark by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for his services to wildlife.Trade Review'Brilliant, truly brilliant. I was hooked. It was inspiring, moving and exciting. He is the last of the swashbuckling conservationists who has selflessly devoted his life to the people and the wildlife of Africa. A true african adventure of epic proportions. It makes me want to give up everything and move to Africa'. -- Ben FogleHugely compelling and funnily written. From tragedies of the worst kind to triumphs unimaginable, he's a true pioneer making up solutions to situations as he goes along * Martin Clunes *Born Wild describes his breathless roller coaster across the African savannah with passion and humour, an inspirational tale of what one comitted individual can achieve against the odds -- Brian Jackman * Sunday Telegraph *The passages describing the lions the three men were raising and rehabilitating into the wild are odes to harmony, serentiy and understanding * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThis unique synthesis uses examples from a diverse and expanding carnivoran literature, drawing from all carnivoran families and spanning the world's oceans and continents, to produce a clearly written and richly illustrated book that reviews our current state of knowledge of carnivoran ecology.Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Functional morphology 3: Evolution and historical biogeography 4: Physiological ecology 5: Sensory biology and neuroanatomy 6: Community ecology 7: Interactions with non-prey animals 8: Interactions with prey 9: Cascades 10: Population ecology 11: How carnivorans affect humans 12: How humans affect carnivorans Appendix I List of extant carnivoran species Appendix II List of non-carnivoran species mentioned

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Book SynopsisIsland biogeography is the study of the distribution and dynamics of species in island environments. Due to their isolation from more widespread continental species, islands are ideal places for unique species to evolve, but they are also places of concentrated extinction. Consequently, they are widely studied by ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and conservationists.This accessible textbook builds on the success and reputation of its predecessors, documenting the recent advances in this exciting field and explaining how islands have contributed to both theory development and testing. In addition, the book describes the main processes of island formation, subsequent dynamics, and eventual demise, explaining the relevance of island environmental history to island biogeography. The authors demonstrate the significance of islands as hotspots of biodiversity and of prehistoric and historic anthropogenic extinction. Since island species continue to feature disproportionally in the lists of threatened species today, the book examines both the chief threats to their persistence and some of the mitigation measures that can be put in play, with conservation strategies specifically tailored to islands.Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements PART 1: Setting the Scene: Islands as Natural Laboratories 1: The natural laboratory paradigm 2: Island types, origins, and dynamics 3: Island environments 4: The biogeography of island life: biodiversity hotspots in context PART 2: Island Ecology 5: Island macroecology 6: Assembly rules for island metacommunities 7: Extending the timescale: island biodynamics in response to island geodynamics PART 3: Island Evolution 8: Colonization, evolutionary change, and speciation 9: Evolutionary diversification across islands and archipelagos 10: Island evolutionary syndromes in animals 11: Island evolutionary syndromes in - and involving - plants PART 4: Human Impact and Conservation 12: The application of island theory to fragmented landscapes 13: The human transformation of island ecosystems 14: Anthropogenic extinction on islands: a synthesis 15: Meeting the conservation challenge

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Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLERIn Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how can we best live upon our imperilled, beloved earth?Award-winning writer Lyanda Lynn Haupt''s highly personal new book is a brilliant invitation to live with the earth in both simple and profound ways-from walking barefoot in the woods and reimagining our relationship with animals and trees, to examining the very language we use to describe and think about nature. She invokes rootedness as a way of being in concert with the wilderness-and wildness-that sustains humans and all of life.In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and Mary Oliver, Haupt writes with urgency and grace, reminding us that at the crossroads of science, nature, and spirit we find true hope. Each chapter provides tools for bringing our unique gifts to the fore and transforming our sense of belonging within the magic and wonder of the natural world.

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Book SynopsisTrang Nguyen is a Vietnamese wildlife conservationist, environmental activist and writer, known for tackling the illegal wildlife trade in Africa and Asia. She graduated with her PhD in Biodiversity Management at the University of Kent, England. In 2018, Trang was featured in the documentary film Stroop: Journey into the Rhino Horn War alongside Jane Goodall. She was selected for BBC's 100 Women of 2019 list and for the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Trang is the founder and executive director of WildAct, an NGO that monitors the illegal wildlife trade markets and provides conservation education programmes for Vietnamese youth. She is also a member of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group, which promotes the conservation of bears living in their natural habitats around the world. Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear is her first children's book.Trang has also given a TEDx talk about her struggle to become a conservationist.Jeet Zdung is aTrade ReviewA beautiful, moving and uplifting tale of perseverance and overcoming challenge, and how small steps can make a big difference. * BookTrust *What an accomplishment. I cannot praise this book enough. Jeet Zdung's illustrations are incredible. Get this book. * Mathew Tobin, Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and Blogger *Zdung’s use of watercolors in his frankly gorgeous illustrations enhances the rainforest setting, and the portrayals of its animal inhabitants are the epitome of wild and free. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *Nguyen’s heartfelt tale is perfect for animal-loving fans of Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan and Rosanne Parry’s A Wolf Called Wander... Stirring and gorgeously rendered, this eco-conscious tale is a superb purchase for all libraries. * School Library Journal, starred review *Winner of the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration, this poignant story, stunningly illustrated by Jeet Zdung, portrays the life of rescued sun bear Sorya and her rescuer, Chang. Set in a Vietnamese rainforest, it’s inspired by author Trang Nguyen’s real-life work as a conservationist.The highly original, mixed-form approach to storytelling includes some wordless pages and Stem facts, all within an accessible graphic-novel format, offering broad appeal that makes it a terrific addition to KS2 reading corners. -- Fabia Turner, Inclusive Books for Children * TES *

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Book SynopsisTrang Nguyen is a Vietnamese wildlife conservationist, environmental activist and writer, known for tackling the illegal wildlife trade in Africa and Asia. She graduated with her PhD in Biodiversity Management at the University of Kent, England. In 2018, Trang was featured in the documentary film Stroop: Journey into the Rhino Horn War alongside Jane Goodall. She was selected for BBC's 100 Women of 2019 list and for the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Trang is the founder and executive director of WildAct, an NGO that monitors the illegal wildlife trade markets and provides conservation education programmes for Vietnamese youth. She is also a member of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group, which promotes the conservation of bears living in their natural habitats around the world. Saving H'non: Chang and the Elephant is her second children's book, and the follow-up to Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear.Jeet Zdung is an illustrator who fusTrade ReviewPacked with Zdung’s breathtaking traditional manga illustrations, which use pencils, watercolours, ink and other digital devices to create works of beauty and innovation, this moving graphic novel provides inspiration for all young conservationists who have ambitions of their own to help endangered wildlife around the globe. -- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Post *The manga-esque illustrations—including Chang’s notes about the flora and fauna of Yok Dôn—are lush and informative, rewarding close examination. Fans of Saving Sorya (2021) will be gratified to see Chang continue to fight for the animals she loves. The empathy and perseverance on display make this as beautiful an animal rights book as readers will ever see. * Kirkus *An exceptionally well-done story that is informative, intricately and delightfully detailed, and brimming with jaw-dropping art. Highly recommended. * School Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisA practical gardener's guide for animal lovers, including planting advice, designs and 90 step-by-step projects, with 1700 photographs. It includes illustrated directories of over 200 plant species, from annuals to climbers, with practical advice on cultivation and uses, and 80 of the common garden bird species.

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Book SynopsisGibbons are the most speciose of the apes. Despite being highly threatened, they receive less research and conservation attention compared to the great apes. This book presents cutting-edge research and conservation actions for hylobatids aimed at researchers, students and conservation practitioners within primatology and conservation ecology.Table of ContentsPreface David Chivers; Introduction Susan M. Cheyne, Helen J. Chatterjee, Carolyn Thompson and Peng-Fei Fan; 1. Taxonomy, ecology and conservation of Cao Vit Gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) since its rediscovery Peng-Fei Fan and Chang-Yong Ma; 2. Conservation status of the northern Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbon (Nomascus annamensis) in Vietnam: an update Duc Minh Hoang, Bang Van Tran, Chuong Van Hoang and Herbert H. Covert; 3. Strategies for recovery of the Hainan Gibbon (Nomascus hainanus): twenty years of multidisciplinary conservation effort Bosco Pui Lok Chan and Yik Fui Philip Lo; 4. Gibbons in the anthropocene: lessons from a long-term study in Indonesia Susan M. Cheyne, Abdulaziz K, Supiansyah, Twentinolosa, Adul, Claire J. H. Thompson, Lindy Thompson, Reychell Chadwick, Helene Birot, Carolyn Thompson, Cara H. Wilcox and Eka Cahyaningrum; 5. Demography of a stable Gibbon population (Hylobates moloch) in high-elevation forest on Java Susan Lappan, Rahayu Oktaviani, Ahyun Choi, Soojung Ham, Haneul Jang, Sanha Kim, Yoonjung Yi, Ani Mardiastuti and Jae Chun Choe; 6. A tale of two Gibbon studies in Thailand Sompoad Srikosamatara and Intanon Kolasartsanee; 7. Accessibility as a factor for selecting conservation actions for Pileated Gibbons (Hylobates pileatus) Intanon Kolasartsanee and Sompoad Srikosamatara; 8. Calling from the wild: Mentawai Gibbon conservation fieldwork Arif Setiawan and Damianus Tatteburuk; 9. Demography and group dynamics of Western Hoolock gibbons (Hoolock hoolock) in a community conserved village population in Upper Assam, India Jihosuo Biswas, Diplob Chutia, Jayanta Das, Joydeep Shil and H. N. Kumara; 10. Challenges and prospects in the conservation of Hoolock Gibbons in India Dilip Chetry, Rekha Chetry and Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee; 11. Gibbons of Assam: impacts of environment and anthropogenic disturbance Jayashree Mazumder; 12. Movement ecology of siamang in a degraded dipterocarp forest Christopher D. Marsh, Stephanie A. Poindexter, Ross A. Hill, Matthew G. Nowak, Abdullah Abdullah and Amanda H. Korstjens; 13. Sympatric Gibbons in historically logged forest in North Sumatra, Indonesia Emma L. Hankinson, Vincent Nijman, Amanda H. Korstjens, Matt G. Nowak and Ross A. Hill; 14. Adopting an interdisciplinary biosocial approach to determine the conservation implications of the Human-Gibbon Interface: a systematic review Carolyn Thompson, Helen J. Chatterjee, Samuel Turvey, Susan M. Cheyne and Peng-Fei Fan; 15. Listen to the people, hear the Gibbons sing: the importance of incorporating local people's perceptions in conservation Jaima H. Smith, Anton Ario, Rahayu Oktaviani, Arif Setiawan, Agung Gunawan and Vincent Nijman; 16. Long-Term outcomes of positive cultural value for biodiversity: historical insights from Chinese Gibbons Samuel Turvey; 17. Gibbon phylogenetics and genomics Lucia Carbone, Mariam Okhovat and Christian Roos; 18. The use of microsatellites in the management of captive Gibbons Lauren Lansdowne, Matyas Liptovszky, Kristiana Brink, Katie Dripps, Vivienne Li, Ed Hollox and Richard Badge.

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Book SynopsisThe illegal trade in live apes, ape meat and body parts occurs across all ape range states and poses a significant and growing threat to the long-term survival of wild ape populations worldwide. What was once a purely subsistence and cultural activity, now encompasses a global multi-million-dollar trade run by sophisticated trans-boundary criminal networks. The challenge lies in teasing apart the complex and interrelated factors that drive the ape trade, while implementing strategies that do not exacerbate inequality. This volume of State of the Apes brings together original research and analysis with topical case studies and emerging best practices, to further the ape conservation agenda around killing, capture and trade. This title is also available as Open Access via Cambridge Core.Trade Review'This fourth volume in the publisher's State of the Apes series provides multisourced information synthesized and clearly explained, and colorful, easily understood tables and figures … Highly recommended.' L. K. Sheeran, Choice Magazine'This is a very impressive treatise. It contains tables and maps documenting available data on numerous populations of extant apes and the major threats to their existence. The discussions of problems facing ape populations today are extensive and thoughtful, addressing the many different perspectives from local populations to large international organizations. This is supplemented by a glossary of the important factors that are discussed.' John Fleagle, Quarterly Review of Biology'a very impressive treatise' John Fleagle, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsThe arcus foundation; Notes to readers; Acknowledgments; Apes overview; Part I. Infrastructure Development and Ape Conservation: 1. The impact of killing, capture and trade on apes and their habitat; 2. Understanding and responding to cultural drivers of the ape trade; 3. Socioeconomics and the trade in ape meat and parts; 4. Drivers of the illegal trade in live apes; 5. Curbing the illegal killing, capture and trade in apes: responses at source; 6. Protecting apes: the legal and regulatory environment; Part II. The Status and Welfare of Great Apes and Gibbons: 7. The status of apes: a foundation for systematic, evidence-based conservation; 8. The campaign for nonhuman rights and the status of captive apes; Annexes; Acronyms and abbreviations; Glossary; References; Index.

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Book Synopsis''Read this book, think and then act - it''s our only hope.'' Chris Packham,MCS Ocean AmbassadorThank you for choosing this book - it shows that you care about the future of our planet. Whether you decide to go plastic free for an hour, a day or a year, this book will equip you with little steps we can each take to make a big difference. Let''s turn the tide on plastic now - our oceans will thank you for it.Choking. Starving. Poisoning.This is what plastic litter is doing to marine life. Our oceans are, quite simply, facing environmental disaster. Yet by taking some simple steps and making a few changes to your daily routine, you can help to change this.How to Live Plastic Free will teach you everything you need to know about reducing your plastic usage on a daily basis. The chapters start with a typical morning routine and take you through your day, giving you tips and practical advice for reTrade ReviewInspiring * In the Moment magazine *One for the dedicated eco-warriors, this book provides tips for... protecting our oceans and you might also find that you save money in the process * The Independent *So here are the three simple choices; you can stick your head in the beach and hope that when you pull it out the nightmare has gone away, you can carry on regardless hoping that 'they' will fix the problems (but note - 'they' won't, 'they' won't even try until it's too late) or you can get up and get on with changing the world yourself. Which means that actually there isn't a choice at all. Read this book, think and then act - it's our only hope.' * Chris Packham, MCS Ocean Ambassador *It offers simple straightforward advice for everyday life. If you're trying to make changes at home, this is a brilliant handbook written by people who, like you and me live 'normal' lives and who have witnessed the struggle, first-hand, when trying to live a plastic free life. A good read from cover to cover or a pick up and put down book, it's full of advice on going plastic free from the time you get up until the time you go to bed with all the activities you can think about in between - babies, holidays, pets, cooking, clothes - they've left no stone unturned. And all with a good dose of humour and history thrown in! I love the sea and the coast and have always been passionate about the health of the ocean, so when it comes to taking on board the tips in this book - I'm in. * Deborah Meaden, MCS Ocean Ambassador *

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Book SynopsisA meticulously researched, important and beautiful volume that goes well beyond the scope of its title to describe the hitherto neglected subject of woodland flora and place it in a broad ecological and historical context.' - Stehan BuczackiObserving the plants of the forest floor the flowers, ferns, sedges and grasses can be a vital way of understanding our relationship with British woodland. They tell us stories about its history and past management, and can be a visible sign of progress when we get conservation right. For centuries, woodland plants have also been part of our lives in practical ways as food and medicines, and they have influenced our culture through poetry, perfume and pub signs.In this insightful and original account, Keith Kirby explores how woodland plants in Great Britain have come to be where they are, coped with living in the shade of their bigger relatives, and responded to threats in the form of storms, fires, floods, the attentions of grazingTrade ReviewAn informative and enlightening book for those who love woodlands but seek a deeper understanding of the myriad plants that clothe the forest floor. * Gardens Illustrated *Woodland Flowers offers wonderful insight into these other-worldly habitats. * English Garden *Kirby’s extensive knowledge is presented in a volume that is both accessible and detailed, in a format that will appeal to both the ecologist and anyone who simply appreciates and wants to learn more about woodlands and its flora. * BBC Wildlife *Beautifully illustrated. Woodland Flowers is a must for anyone who appreciates and wants to learn more about British woodland and its plants. * Countryside *There is much to enjoy in Keith Kirby's writing style as his language is straightforward and accessible. -- Clive Chatters * British Wildlife *Thought provoking, personal and richly illustrated. -- Rob Fuller * BTO *I would highly recommend it for the Christmas list for any forester with an interest in woodland conservation. -- Tim Hall * Trees magazine, the Institute of Chartered Foresters *Very well-informed with up-to-date research, relieved by personal reminiscences, unexpected snippets, lively prose and informative accounts of individual species. -- George Peterken * Quarterly Journal of Forestry *A tour de force of woodland botany from a real woodland expert... Highly recommended. * Plantlife *Table of ContentsPreface Map 1 Into the woods 2 The wandering botanist 3 Historical influences and woodland plant distributions 4 Commonness and rarity 5 The wood below the ground 6 Types of British woodland: the north and west 7 Types of British woodland: the south and east 8 For everything there is a season 9 Mind the gap: the woodcutter’s legacy 10 Unplanned forest disturbances 11 The effects of grazing animals 12 The nature of the wildwood 13 Woodland plants across the channels 14 Lines and links in the landscape 15 New woods and their flora 16 A changing atmosphere 17 Fun and games in the woods 18 Seven ages of conservation 19 Future-natural woodland: holding the line/going with the flow Appendices References Illustration credits Index

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Book SynopsisA mother's gritty yet often humorous account of family life in Africa, and the consequences of a violent event on each of them.Trade ReviewAn astonishing story ... Nicholls carries us through her experiences with a searing honesty that for me was hugely educational and deeply moving.A life lived beyond the dreams of most of us. It's a real page-turner - Jeremy IronsBursting with humour, intelligence and fierce humanity, Under the Camelthorn Tree takes you on a breathtaking journey: anthropological and personal. It is an unflinchingly brave, generous book filled with the wisdom of one who has seen both the beauty and the darkness the world has to give - Sophie DahlA wonderfully rich and honest memoir of an extraordinary life by an extraordinary person. A book that somehow manages to be both charming and challenging, a bit like Africa herself. The writing is as light as a sonnet but it is the honesty that anchors it to reality - a special book - Tim ButcherUnder the Camelthorn Tree is remarkable, wild as a pride of lions -- heartbreaking, relentlessly truthful, funny. Kate Nicholls steps into life's beauties and hardships with a rare and extraordinary courage: you will love this book, and love Kate too - Erica Wagner, Harper's Bazaar'Under The Camelthorn Tree is a breathtaking memoir written with an abundance of wit, honesty and love. Over the course of a page I found myself weeping, giggling, inspired, challenged, but never lectured to. Kate's humour is infectious, her honesty and vulnerability emboldening and her language precise in conjuring the sights, sounds and smells of her unique journey' - Harry MichellA sort of Life Force personified, a whirlwind of love and motherhood and science; beautiful woman, brutally true, impossibly brave, impossibly stylish, just plain bloody impossible. Self-taught in science, this poet of the Okavango home-schooled - right through to good universities - four remarkable children in a remote camp surrounded by individually known, radio-tracked lions. After tirelessly working to rehabilitate Botswana's rape victims, her own horrific rape and its aftermath threatened to destroy her life and the family idyll but . . . well, read the whole beautiful book to the end. You'll never see another memoir like this -- Richard Dawkins

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Book SynopsisAn international bestseller, the joys and challenges of a life dedicated to conservation are vividly described in The Elephants of Thula Thula by Françoise Malby-Anthony, owner of the Thula Thula reserve.'Enthralling' - Daily Mail‘Somehow, the elephants got into my soul, and it became my life’s work to see them safe and happy. There was no giving up on that vision, no matter how hard the road was at times.’Françoise Malby-Anthony is the owner of a game reserve in South Africa with a remarkable family of elephants whose adventures have touched hearts around the world.The herd’s feisty matriarch Frankie knows who’s in charge at Thula Thula, and it’s not Francoise. But when Frankie becomes ill, and the authorities threaten to remove or cull some of the herd if the reserve doesn’t expand, Françoise is in a race against time to save her beloved elephants . . .The search is on to get a girlfriend for orphaned rhino Thabo – and then, as his behaviour becomes increasingly boisterous, a big brother to teach him manners.Françoise realizes a dream with the arrival of Savannah the cheetah – an endangered species not seen in the area since the 1940s – and finds herself rescuing meerkats kept as pets. But will Thula Thula survive the pandemic, an invasion from poachers and the threat from a mining company wanting access to its land?As Françoise faces her toughest years yet, she realizes once again that with their wisdom, resilience and communal bonds, the elephants have much to teach us.Trade ReviewFrançoise’s descriptions of the empathetic behaviour of elephants, both towards each other and towards the humans who love them, are beguiling * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis*Levison Wood's documentary series on WALKING WITH ELEPHANTS is available to watch now on Channel 4*This book comes at a critical time. Fifty years ago, Africa was home to just over 1.3 million elephants, but by 1990 the number had halved. Meanwhile in the span of a lifetime, the human population has more than doubled. In Levison Wood's The Last Giants, he explores the rapid decline of one of the world's favourite animals. Filled with stories from his own time spent travelling with elephants in Africa, and documenting their migration in his Channel 4 series, Walking With Elephants, the book is a passionate wake-up call for this endangered species we take for granted. The Last Giants was written to inspire us all to act - to learn more and help save the species from permanent extinction.

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Book SynopsisThe Earthshot concept is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. We have ten years to turn the tide on the environmental crisis, but we need the world's best solutions and one shared goal - to save our planet.It's not too late, but we need collective action now. The Earthshots are unifying, ambitious goals for our planet which, if achieved by 2030, will improve life for all of us, for the rest of life on Earth, and for generations to come. They are to:· Protect and Restore Nature· Clean our Air· Revive our Oceans· Build a Waste-Free World· Fix our ClimateEARTHSHOT: HOW TO SAVE OUR PLANET is the first definitive book about how these goals can tackle the environmental crisis, from rainforests to coral reefs, via wilderness, cities and in our own homes. It is a critical contribution to the most important story of the decade.

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