Conservation of wildlife and habitats Books

Book SynopsisWhat would it be like to live in a world with no predators roaming our landscapes? Would their elimination, which humans have sought with ever greater urgency in recent times, bring about a pastoral, peaceful human civilization? Or in fact is their existence critical to our own, and do we need to be doing more to assure their health and the health of the landscapes they need to thrive? In The Carnivore Way, Cristina Eisenberg argues compellingly for the necessity of top predators in. large, undisturbed landscapes, and how a continental-Iong corridor - a "carnivore way" - provides the room they need to roam and connected landscapes that allow them to disperse. Eisenberg follows the footsteps of six large carnivores - wolves, grizzly bears, lynx, jaguars, wolverines, and cougars - on a 7,500-mile wildlife corridor from Alaska to Mexico along the Rocky Mountains. Backed by robust science, she shows how their well-being is a critical factor in sustaining healthy landscapes and how it is possible for humans and large carnivores to coexist peacefully and even to thrive. University students in natural resource science programs, resource managers, conservation organisations, and anyone curious about carnivore ecology and management in a changing world will find a thoughtful guide to large carnivore conservation that dispels long-held myths about their ecology and contributions to healthy, resilient landscapes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a world filled with breathtaking beauty, we have often overlooked the elusive charm and magic of certain landscapes. A cloudy river flows into a verdant Arctic wetland where sandhill cranes and muskoxen dwell. Further south, cypress branches hang low over dismal swamps. Places like these–collectively known as swamplands or peatlands–often go unnoticed for their ecological splendor. They are as globally significant as rainforests, and function as critical carbon sinks for addressing our climate crisis. Yet, because of their reputation as wastelands, they are being systematically drained and degraded to make way for oilsands, mines, farms, and electricity. In Swamplands, journalist Edward Struzik celebrates these wild places, venturing into windswept bogs in Kauai and the last remnants of an ancient peatland in the Mojave Desert. The secrets of the swamp aren’t for the faint of heart. Ed loses a shoe to an Arctic wolf and finds himself ankle-deep in water during a lightning storm. But, the rewards are sweeter for the struggle: an enchanting Calypso orchid; an elusive yellow moth thought to be extinct; ancient animals preserved in lifelike condition down to the fur. Swamplands highlights the unappreciated struggle being waged to save peatlands by scientists, conservationists, and landowners around the world. An ode to peaty landscapes in all their offbeat glory, the book is also a demand for awareness of the myriad threats they face. It urges us to see the beauty and importance in these least likely of places. Our planet’s survival might depend on it.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1: The Great Dismal Swamp Chapter 2: Central Park Chapter 3: Peat and Endangered Species Chapter 4: Tropical Peat Chapter 5: Ash Meadows, Ancient Bogs, and Desert Fens Chapter 6: Sasquatches of the Swamps Chapter 7: Peat and Reptiles Chapter 8: Mountain Peat Chapter 9: Ring of Fire: The Hudson Bay Lowlands Chapter 10: Pingos, Polygons, and Frozen Peat Chapter 11: Tundra Beavers, Saltwater Trout and Barren Ground Grizzly Bears Chapter 12: Portals to the Otherworld Chapter 13: Growing Peat Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisPlan your landscape or garden with more than 100 native plants that benefit birds, bees, and butterflies of the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. The presence of birds, bees, and butterflies suggests a healthy, earth-friendly place. These most welcome guests also bring joy to those who appreciate watching them. Now, you can turn your yard into a perfect habitat that attracts them and, more importantly, helps them thrive. Acclaimed author and expert entomologist Jaret C. Daniels provides the information you need in this must-have guide for Oregon, Washington, northern Idaho, and southern British Columbia. Learn how to landscape and create pollinator gardens with native plants. The book begins with an in-depth introduction to native pollinators and to birds. It’s followed by a “field guide” section to more than 100 native plants that are widely available to utilize, are easy to care for, and provide great benefit to birds, bees, and butterflies. Each species includes full-color photographs and information about hardiness zones, what they are most likely to attract, soil requirements, light levels, and Jaret’s notes. As an added bonus, you’ll make use of blooming charts, tips on attracting specific species, and more! Plan, plant, and grow your beautiful garden, with native plants that benefit your favorite creatures to watch and enjoy. Inside you’ll find: Overview of native pollinator species in the Pacific Northwest Field guide to over 100 native plants, organized by level of sunlight needed Quick-reference chart to plants, blooming periods, and what animals each plant attracts Hardiness zone information, weed control tips, and more BONUS: Garden plans that can be customized to suit your specific interests

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Jenny’s husband retired in 2022 the pair set off on a six month voyage to sail around the coast of the UK on board their 36 foot sailing yacht Spirit of Space. En route they encountered impenetrable fog, lumpy seas, rescued a sleepy stowaway and experienced the bliss of arriving safely into harbour. During their travels they dealt with the challenges of living aboard a small boat, explored fascinating unknown harbours and towns, uncovering a sprinkling of their history and experienced the wonder of wildlife at first hand. The story of how Jenny was inspired to start a campaign to save seals from getting caught and injured in plastic flying rings is interwoven through the narrative. ‘Sailing on Spirit is not unlike stepping aboard a magic carpet, every journey is fresh and new, we have no idea of what we will find on our arrival and the sea itself is constantly changing.’ So if you’re up for an adventure, strap on your sea boots, don your foul weather gear and join the intrepid pair aboard as they voyage around Britain to save the seals.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWildernessis a fresh and inviting coffee table book featuring40 of the most sensational wilderness destinations on planet Earth, both the far-reaching and those that exist within reach of human populations. It will be a source of travel inspiration, and a reminder to protect what is still ours. The word ''wilderness''itself conjures images constantly looping on our social media feeds:towering forests, sparkling streams, the sun's shadow falling across a desert dune, polar bear cubs walking across a tundra.The fact that our popular culture constantly draws us to these elusive destinations says much about their place in our psyche. In times of inner turmoil or outer chaos they are escape rooms. When we want adventure, they are freedom calls to strap on the walking shoes or backpack. When we seek quietude, inner peace or renewal, they ignite a dormant instinct.Ayearningto be among nature. Our increasing urbanlives havemade this call to the wild louder and stronger.And as the population emerges froma modern-age global catastrophe, a new reality dawns:a truth-telling that says the planet's greatest commodity is not its iron ore or petroleum.It's our wilderness that needs to be protected, the pockets of the planet where, by definition, we humans have been mostly absent.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the story of Christopher Clark, a remarkable man who spent his life helping to save a pristine corner of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Clark's strict childhood sent him far from home in search of adventure, landing him in the Amazon, where he fell in love with the forest, its people and its wildlife. When a village elder in a dying riverbank town begged him to save the forest and its inhabitants, this challenge became his life's work. Over the next thirty years, he set up home in one of the most remote parts of the Amazon and lived an extraordinary life. Together with the isolated Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous people, he stared down men with machine guns, weathered government campaigns to discredit and drive him out, apocalyptic fires, and more.Australian writer Anthony Ham travelled to Clark's forest home in Xixuaú, and listened as Clark told his story for the first time. With Valdemar, an Indian guide and Clark's lifelong friend, they explored the forest world in a dugout canoe as pink dolphins swam beside them. They spoke for days over caipirinhas, as Clark told stories of close encounters with jaguars and anacondas, of his life among the people of the Amazon, and of the deadly threats still being made against him. Ham brings to life the forest and its many dark and beautiful secrets, as well as depicting Clark in all his complexity. In the process the two men, writer and activist, became friends and together faced one last attempt on Clark's life.At a time of great peril for the Amazon and its inhabitants, as vast areas are being destroyed with frightening consequences for our planet, the rainforest itself becomes a haunting character in this gripping book. The Man Who Loved Pink Dolphins is captivating, crucial, terrifying and hopeful, and is very much a story of our time.Praise for The Last Lions of Africa:'Urgent and important. This moving tale with a heroic cast of characters, leonine and human, is a must-read for anyone passionate about wildlife and wild places.' - Tony Park, author of Last Survivor'A moving journey . . . Ham is a beautiful storyteller.' - Australian Women's Weekly'This is gripping, insightful, evocative and ultimately heartbreaking reading.' - Travel Africa'The Last Lions of Africa took me to new horizons among familiar territory, to a richer more spiritual understanding of us and lions. What a thoughtful, educational and spiritual book.' - Jonathan Scott, author of The Marsh Lions, Sacred Nature and Big Cat Diary'The Last Lions of Africa is much more than a tale about the struggle to save the lion from extinction. What makes it so rewarding and gives it mythic resonance is the way Ham captures the intimate, complex interrelationships between humans - farmers, villagers, hunters, conservationists - and these proud, awe-inspiring beasts.' - Sydney Morning Herald

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter giving up a hectic life as a journalist in Europe and Hollywood in the late 1960s to return to his boyhood love of nature, Mike Tomkies moved to Eilean Shona, a remote island off the west coast of Scotland. There he rebuilt an abandoned croft house and began a new way of life observing nature. He tracked foxes and stags, made friends with seals and taught an injured sparrow-hawk to hunt for itself. It was the indomitable spirit of this tiny bird that taught Tomkies what it takes for any of us to be truly free. Whether he was fishing, growing his own food or battling through stormy seas in a tiny boat, he learned that he could survive in the harsh environment. This is the astonishing story of daring to take the first step away from urban routines and embracing a harsh yet immensely rewarding way of life which, in turn, led Tomkies to an even more remote location and inspired an acclaimed series of books on various animals and the challenges and joys of living in remote places.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow do you record the wildlife in a wood? This book explains ways to record the flora and fauna found in woodland and outlines the sources you can use to find out more about the history and management of an area. Whether you have just a few hours, or a few years, there are examples that you can follow to find out more about this important habitat. Woods include some of the richest terrestrial wildlife sites in Britain, but some are under threat and many are neglected, such that they are not as rich as they might be. If we are to protect them or increase their diversity we need first to know what species they contain, how they have come to be as they are, to understand how they fit into the wider landscape. Conservation surveys are the bedrock on which subsequent protection and management action is based. There is not one method that will be right for all situations and needs, so the methods discussed range from what one can find out online, to what can be seen on a general walk round a wood, to the insights that can come from more detailed survey and monitoring approaches. Fast-evolving techniques such as eDNA surveys and the use of LiDAR are touched on.Trade Review... this book is very practical and ideally suited to citizen science projects, especially given that woodlands are increasingly under threat. -- Roy Stewart * BNA Country-Side Magazine *Kirby and Hall have done a good job, as have the publishers with an attractive, easily used and very well illustrated volume. -- Julian Evans * Quarterly Journal of Forestry *The book is a real boon to all interested in woodland and its ecology, and in addition its analytical detail should be a compulsory ‘read’ for anyone undertaking any survey work. -- Chris O Badenoch * Scottish Forestry *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Background to nature conservation surveys 3. Landscape-scale assessment – putting sites into their wider context 4. Site assessment surveys 5. A basic walkabout survey 6. Going beyond walkabout 7. Surveys for species groups other than vascular plants 8. Long-term surveillance to detect change 9. Conclusions References Appendices

Read more less

Book SynopsisBats have long been the focus of fascination, and sometimes fear: they move faultlessly through the darkness and spend the day hanging upside down in gloomy caverns and cracks – most at home where humans are least comfortable. Bats also represent a hugely important, numerous and varied group, accounting for 20% of all mammal species worldwide. Covering their biodiversity, ecology and natural history, A Miscellany of Bats offers a hoard of insights into the lives of these creatures. For over a quarter of a century Brock Fenton and the late Jens Rydell collaborated on projects involving bats. Here they bring together a collection of stories and anecdotes about bat research, brought to life by stunning photographs of these animals in action. Key topics include flight and echolocation, diet and roosting habits, and the complex social lives of bats. Jens and Brock also address issues of conservation and the interactions between bats and people, ranging from matters of disease to bats’ role as symbols, and our fixation with vampire bats. They explore how echolocation and flight shape batkind, from their appearance to where they go and why. Overall, this book is an entertaining and personal vision of bats’ central place in the universe. More than 150 species are covered.Trade ReviewA Miscellany of Bats is a well-written and interesting—and often absorbing—book, in which the authors convey their enthusiasm for studying this unique group of animals...Difficult concepts are simplified and the very readable text is largely accessible to general readers who might be interested in bats but have no particular background in either biology or natural history. -- Danny A. Brass, NSS NewsFascinating and wonderful...I can't find any fault with this book. And would recommend it to anyone, with just about any level of existing knowledge of bats. -- Al Milano, Bat Detecting blog...a thoroughly readable book of batty facts, and batty mysteries. -- Tony Atkinson, Mammal NewsIf you have an interest in bats (and what naturalist does not?), this book is a good read and a very accessible way into bat research... The book is written by renowned experts and with world class photography and is a valuable addition to a natural history book collection. -- David Skydmore, British NaturalistIt is not just that A Miscellany of Bats provides facts and figures, it is that there is so much more to know about bats than most of us realize, and both Brock Fenton and the late Jens Rydell convey that knowledge to the lay audience, the text filtering the multifaceted and often highly technical aspects of bat study through the lens of accessibility to the non-scientist. -- Animal Alliance of CanadaThree things set A Miscellany of Bats apart. For one, the authors are outstanding photographers. The images in this book are second to none. Second, there is a lovely exploration of the roles bats play in human cultures, and much of what is covered here is not in those other volumes. -- Daniel Riskin, University of Toronto, Mississauga * Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements 1. Introducing bats Wings and size Blind as a bat Catching and identifying bats Marking and tagging Brock’s initiation Jens’ start Box: What on Earth? 2. Bat wings and flight Wing anatomy White wings How fast do bats fly? Drinking Flying antics Box: Colour in bats 3. Seeing with sound The perils of generalization Basic echolocation Why echolocate? Echolocation and the faces of bats Box: Beam control and bite power 4. Echolocation: a window onto bat behaviour Biologists as eavesdroppers on bats Insect prey Bat communication Air traffic control Box: Echolocation and foraging 5. What bats eat, part 1 Learning how much a bat consumes Some bats eat birds Versatility What insects do bats eat? Specialized hunting Trawling Box: Diets of bats 6. What bats eat, part 2 Fruit-eating species Bats and flowers Box: The curious case of bananas 7. Vampire bats 8. Where bats occur and where they roost Temperature Bat roosts Box: Patterning in bats Lingering challenges Bats up north Box: Bat boxes 9. Social lives of bats Reproduction What is a colony of bats? Food availability and social patterns Box: Observational learning 10. How bats use space Box: Bats get around 11. Threats to bats Predators Mishaps Parasites Wind turbines Light pollution A world without bats? Global change Box: Keeping bats away 12. Bats and people Attitudes towards bats Bats and disease Bats as symbols 13. Bats as beings A last word to the bats Cast of bats Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTraffication develops a bold new idea: that the trillions of miles of driving we do each year are just as destructive to our natural environment as any of the better known threats, such as habitat loss or intensive farming. The problem is not simply one of roadkill; the impacts of roads are far more pervasive, and they impact our wildlife in many subtle and unpredictable ways. Using the latest research, the book reveals how road traffic shatters essential biological processes, affecting how animals communicate, move around, feed, reproduce and die. Most importantly, it shows that the influence of traffic extends well beyond the verge, and that a busy road can strip the wildlife from our countryside for miles around. In the UK, almost nowhere is exempt from this environmental toll. Yet the final message here is one of hope: by identifying the car as a major cause of the catastrophic loss of wildlife, the solutions to our biodiversity crisis suddenly become much clearer. The first step to solving any problem is to recognise that it exists in the first place. But with road traffic, we are not even at that crucial initial stage in our recovery. Quite simply, 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. This urgent book is an essential contribution to the debate on how we restore the health of our countryside – and of our own minds and bodies. Trade ReviewThis is a very good book... perhaps THE book of the year. -- Mark Avery, author and environmental campaigner...a fascinating and enlightening book. To call it "revelatory" would be an understatement. -- Chris and Melissa Bruntlett, authors of Curbing Traffic...fascinating, eye-opening and easy-to-read -- Rebecca Armstrong, BirdwatchThis book is remarkable for several reasons, not least the fact that its author has gathered almost everything published in peer-reviewed journals about the devastating consequences of roads and cars for the natural world. He has then synthesised this vast body of data while deploying the most lucid prose and balanced, non-polemical tone about his subject. -- Mark Cocker, BirdLifeAn important book. -- Richard Smith, British Medical JournalTraffication should be required reading for any education, training or course for students and transport professionals including engineers, traffic planners, town planners, urban designers, politicians and all those undertaking courses with the word “transport” in the title. -- John Whitelegg * Journal of World Transport Policy & Practice *A moving read. -- John Miles * Birdwatching.co.uk *Table of ContentsPreface: Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre A note on units, definitions and data sources Acknowledgements 1 The King of the Road 2 Traffication 3 ‘An Inconspicuous Splotch of Red’ 4 Living with Roadkill 5 Traffic Islands and Invasion Highways 6 Thunder Road 7 Emission Creep 8 In the Zone 9 The Sixth Horseman 10 Winners and Losers 11 Five Reasons for Hope 12 The Road to De-Traffication Notes List of scientific names References Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘I remember well my first Bewick’s swans, which I bumped into one November day not far from home. They looked at me, unsure whether or not to fly into the fog, as I tried to get as close as I dared. … What is it, exactly, that can, many years later, recall such emotionally charged birding moments so vividly to mind? I can’t really remember my birthdays at all, but my first green woodpecker and my first jay are firmly embedded. And with some of these things, the place it happened is equally important.’ With its mix of memoir, gentle advice and enthusiastic advocacy, this book sets out a case for purposeful birdwatching. Along the way, it explains how to make your birding more enjoyable, fulfilling and worthwhile. Using ideas and techniques from his five decades of experience, Rob Hume reveals how an ever-enquiring approach to observation of the natural world can yield unexpected treasures – whether this be something rare or simply new details concealed in the apparently everyday. From the basics of equipment and methods, through the mysteries of seawatching, to special insights on the likes of honey-buzzards and goshawks, and a focus on some iconic sites, his breadth of knowledge ensures there is something for every curious birder. Illuminatingly illustrated throughout with the author’s sketches and fieldnotes, at its heart this is a call to appreciate birds for themselves, as individuals and as species, and not merely as numbers on a list. It will help lead beginners towards a practical and more satisfying hobby, while also being of great interest to experienced birders who will relate to the content through their own experiences.Trade ReviewThis is a lovely book... If all those who look through binoculars were as thoughtful as this author, and wrote as well, the world, and the world of birding, would be a better place. A very good read. -- Mark Avery, author and environmental campaignerTable of ContentsPreface What is birdwatching, anyway? What to do with your interest in birds Buy a good book Get a notebook and pen Distribution, habitats and time of year Colour and light Early days More good days, bad days, ordinary days Waxwings Some dusk encounters Soaring birds and birds of prey Local patches Wonderful Wales – Croeso i Gymru Superlative Scotland Great shrikes If at first…

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Essential reading for anybody who cares about the future’ Henry Marsh, *New Statesman Books of the Year*A radical examination of Britain's relationship with the land by one of our greatest nature writers.**SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT GOLDEN BEER BOOK PRIZE 2019**The British love their countryside more than almost any other nation, yet they live in one of the most denatured landscapes on Earth. From the flatlands of Norfolk to the tundra-like expanse of the Flow Country in northern Scotland, Mark Cocker sets out on a personal quest through the British countryside attempting to solve this puzzle. Radical, provocative and original, Our Place tackles some of the central issues of our time whilst mapping out a future in which this overcrowded island of ours could be a place fit not just for human occupants but also for its billions of wild citizens.‘A tour de force… By turns hopeful, melancholy, humorous and heartfelt’ BBC Wildlife Book of the MonthTrade ReviewEssential reading for anybody who cares about the future. -- Henry Marsh * New Statesman **Books of the year** *A seriously great book, important and urgent… As soon as I finished Our Place, I packaged up my copy and sent it off to Michael Gove… this is the kind of book that demands action. -- Alex Preston * Guardian *Best known as one of our foremost nature writers, Mark Cocker spent several years researching this tour de force… stuffed with eye-opening statistics… by turns hopeful, melancholy and humorous… [Our Place] is heartfelt. -- Ben Hoare * BBC Wildlife **Book of the Month** *Thunderingly necessary… Cocker on this kind of form – eloquent, practical, dogged and wise – is the sort of dynamic chivvying force [conservation] will always need… the book he’s written – however measured, equable and intelligent – is a call for revolution. -- Richard Smyth * New Statesman *Impassioned, expert and always beautifully written… Our Place is a sobering and magnificent work. -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *It is easy to be angry about environmental destruction; easy to demand change without hope but in this potent, elegant and influencing telling of the story of what we have done to England's wildlife, Mark Cocker archives something more: a reasoned tone in a radical cause. If you care about our country, read it. -- Julian Glover * Evening Standard **Books of the Year** *What a relief it is to have this subject explored without the usual diatribes and righteous hysteria. Cocker’s quiet tone carries great authority and… [Our Place] deserves to command respect and wide attention. -- Tom Fort * Literary Review *A fierce polemic by an eminent ornithologist about Britain’s denuded natural habitat. * Sunday Times **Must Reads** *Fascinating… Our Place is a brave book... It will undoubtedly ruffle what few figurative feathers we have left. -- Katharine Norbury * Caught by the River *A new book by Mark Cocker is a major event, and [Our Place] is no exception… Cocker has always been brilliant at considering our relationship with nature… You can come away from it feeling that something can be done, that we can save Britain’s wildlife, if only there is the will to turn well-meaning generalities into action. The clock is ticking. -- Matt Merritt and John Miles * Bird Watching *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Shearwater is sheer delight, a luminous portrait of a magical seabird which spans the watery globe' Daily Mail.'Charming and impassioned ... a rich tribute to an extraordinary bird.' Horatio Clare, author of A Single Swallow and Heavy Light.A very personal mix of memoir and natural history from the author of Liquid Gold.Ten weeks into its life, a Manx shearwater chick will emerge from its burrow and fly 8,000 miles from the west coast of the British Isles to the South Atlantic. It will be unlikely to touch land again for four years.Part memoir, part homage to wilderness, Shearwater traces the author's 50-year obsession with one of nature's supreme travellers. In the finest tradition of nature writing, Roger Morgan-Grenville, author of Liquid Gold - described by Mary Colwell (Curlew Moon) as 'a book that ignites joy and warmth' - unpicks the science behind its incredible journey; and into the story of a year in the shearwater's life, he threads the inspirational influence of his Hebridean grandmother who instilled in him a love of wild places and wild animals.Full of lightly-worn knowledge, acute human observation and self-deprecating humour, Shearwater brings to life a truly mysterious and charismatic bird.Trade ReviewCharming and impassioned ... a rich tribute to an extraordinary bird. -- Horatio Clare, author of A Single Swallow and Heavy LightA truly lovely book. -- Mary Colwell, author of Curlew MoonThis is wonderful: written with light and love. A tonic for these times. -- Stephen Rutt, author of The Seafarers: A Journey Among BirdsA delightful account of a lifelong passion for seabirds. -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and author of The Swallow: A BiographyA memoir lit by wry humour and vivid prose. -- Brian Jackman, author of Wild About BritainThis is a book that birders will enjoy because it is stitched together around a fairly amazing bird, but if you've never heard of shearwaters you will still get a lot out of this book if you are interested in nature, in adventures, in foreign parts, in landscapes or in people ... a very good read. -- Mark AveryA great read * birdwatching.co.uk *[A] lovely blend of natural history and memoir ... Morgan-Grenville beautifully blends science, memories, and wonder in this striking homage to an amazing bird. * Booklist *Shearwater is sheer delight, a luminous portrait of a magical seabird which spans the watery globe * Daily Mail *A captivating mix of memoir, travel and ornithological obsession ... A book not just for seabirders or island-addicts, but for all who have ever gazed longingly out to sea and pondered vast possibilities and connections. * BBC Wildlife magazine *[A] pleasant mixture of facts and an imagined narrative of the shearwater ... readers will enjoy relaxing into the story. * Library Journal *A book that delights, informs, amuses and concerns you page by page * Winchester Today *'Morgan-Grenville is a delightful writer ... his writerly tone here is perfect: serious, but not hysterical or preachy, with a gleam of hope evident.' * 10,000birds.com *'A beautiful mix of memoir and natural history ... entirely infectious.' * Scottish Field *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrees and humans essentially want the same thing – to live good, happy, purposeful lives and to flourish. We are inextricably bound.Trees provide us with the necessities of life – they clean the air we breathe, fill us with awe as we walk through forests and provide timber for the houses we live in, yet there are deeper reasons for our arboreal admiration that go beyond utility and beauty.Tree Glee looks at the psychology behind our fascination with trees, examining exactly how they comfort, restore and revitalise us and what we can learn from the wisdom of woodlands to improve our own wellbeing. It explores the importance of trees in our leafy suburbs and urban landscapes, sharing magical stories of remarkable ancient trees across the globe and inviting readers to reflect on their own personal 'treestory'.Featuring captivating photos and with chapters on forest bathing and nature therapy, woodland wellbeing and tree mythology Tree Glee explores how by deepening our appreciation and connection to trees and by celebrating and protecting them, we can flourish together.Trade Review'This lovely book is an absolute gem' -- Joanna Lumley, Tree Aid Patron'Trees are so important to our health and that of the planet. This inspirational book shows just how we can thrive together' -- Alan Titchmarsh MBE'I have loved trees as long as I can remember, and Cheryl Rickman's wonderful book illuminates the vitally important role they play, not only in maintaining the health of our planet and a habitat for so many living creatures, but also in providing us with mental and physical healing. Tree Glee also presents ideas on how you can help protect our amazing trees for the good of all' -- Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace'A blend of evocative nature writing, wellbeing advice and a call to action ... This gorgeously illustrated book offers practical tips, exercises and thought-provoking reflections to help us engage with our natural habitat and become healthier and happier as a result' * The Lady *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIsland to Island: Photograph Collection is a unique assemblage of photographs, capturing not only the incredible wildlife and beautiful landscapes found in Seychelles, but also the difficulties of managing a remote tropical island nature reserve. Complementing the author's memoir Island to Island, this beautiful collection of photographs offers a rare and unique pictorial insight into a dynamic, challenging, yet privileged, existence: living amongst a million seabirds and some of the rarest wildlife in the world whilst experiencing and dealing with an alien culture in an isolated location. This comprehensive anthology features remarkable images of wildlife, landscapes, and day-to-day living captured through the lenses of seven photographers; from the challenges of being self-sufficient in extreme conditions, monitoring seabird populations on rugged terrain, and patrolling the island at night for poachers, all are portrayed and published for the first time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFew people have had the privilege of living on an isolated nature reserve of international importance, their every move judged by countless critics. Young ranger Ajay Tegala, embarking on his placement at Blakeney Point aged just nineteen, would have to stand firm in the face of many challenges to protect the wildlife of one of Britain’s prime nature sites.In over 120 years, only a select few rangers have devoted their heart and soul to the wildlife of Norfolk’s Blakeney Point. Watching and learning from his predecessors, Ajay faced head-on the challenges of the elements, predators and an ever-interested public. From the excitement of monitoring the growing grey seal population, to the struggles of trying to safeguard nesting birds from a plethora of threats, in The Unique Life of a Ranger, Ajay shares the many emotions of life on the edge of land and sea with honesty and affection.Trade Review“This is Ajay’s first book and contains fifty illustrations of beautiful scenery as well as insight into life “behind the scenes” of the first coastal nature reserve in the National Trust’s care…” * Suffolk Norfolk Life *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A beautiful book' - Tristan Gooley'A splendid book - lively, affectionately observed, capturing the extraordinary range and variety of the Parks and all that is inspiring about our landscape' - Rory StewartA celebration of the nation's most beautiful places, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the creation of the national parks.The United Kingdom is home to no fewer than 15 national parks. These astonishingly diverse locations range from the sub-arctic mountains of the Cairngorms in Scotland to the ancient woodlands and vineyards of England's South Downs; from the dramatic Pembrokeshire coast in Wales to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lake District.Home to some of our most precious wildlife, the national parks of the UK were created to protect our cultural heritage and strengthen our connection with nature. This inspirational journey through the parks captures the spirit of the British landscape and cont

Read more less

Book SynopsisButterflies and moths hold an enduring fascination for their unusual life cycle, as they change from one creature into another. Butterflies is an outstanding collection of photographs showcasing nature’s most beautiful and often elusive butterflies and moths – members of the Lepidoptera order – in the variety of their natural habitats. With 17,500 species of butterfly and 160,000 species of moth in the world today, they can be found on every continent apart from Antarctica, and in every nation. Arranged in chapters covering some of the most beautiful and interesting types of butterfly and moth, their habitats, their transition from egg to caterpillar and from chrysalid to adult, as well as their behaviour, the book reveals little-known facts about their life cycle, anatomy, self-defence mechanisms, feeding and migration. For example, did you know that while caterpillars chew their solid food, adult butterflies can only consume liquid, and some moths do not even have mouths? Or that many species can taste with their feet? With full captions explaining how the species breeds, feeds, and changes from caterpillar to the animal kingdom’s most stunning member, Butterflies is a brilliant examination in more than 200 outstanding colour photographs of these fascinating insects.Table of ContentsContents to include: Introduction Chapter One: Butterfly Species and Anatomy Chapter Two: Moth Species and Anatomy Chapter Three: Habitats Butterflies and moths live in a wide variety of habitats: tropical forest, grasslands, sand dunes, coastlines, mangroves and mountains, to name a few. Many of these are occupied because of the particular foods they offer the insects. Butterflies and moths adapt to survive in these habitats, employing various ingenious self-defence mechanisms. They also contribute to the ecosystem they are part of through pollination. Chapter Four: Life Cycle Butterflies and moths have four distinct stages of their life – eggs, caterpillar/larva, pupa and adult – and the transition between each is a sight to behold. Chapter Five: Behaviour Members of the Lepidoptera order display numerous fascinating behaviours. This chapter examines their feeding, migration, navigation, communication, breeding and territoriality. Butterfly species and sub-species discussed to include: Anna’s Eighty-Eight Apollo Arctic fritillary Banded orange tiger Blue morpho Blue tiger Ceylon rose Chimaera birdwing Common blue Common buckeye Cracker Dead leaf Eastern comma Elizabethan Emerald swallowtail Forest giant owl Glasswing Golden Kaiser-i-hind Helioconius hacale zuleikas Island marble Malachite Map Monarch Painted lady Peacock Peacock pansy Piedmont ringlet Purple emperor Question mark Rajah Brooke’s birdwing Red admiral Richmond birdwing Schaus’ swallowtail Silver-washed fritillary Silver-studded blue Spanish festoon Sylphina angel Ulysses Viceroy Zebra swallowtail Moth species and sub-species discussed to include: Atlas Cecropia Cinnabar Comet Dysphania militaris Elephant hawk-moth Emperor Gallium sphinx Garden tiger Giant leopard Hummingbird hawk-moth Io Japanese silk moth Lime-hawk-moth Luna Madagascan moon Noctuidae Oleander hawk-moth Pellucid hawk-moth Rosy maple Texas wasp-moth Uropyia meticulodina White-lined sphinx

Read more less

Book Synopsis Whether you have a lifelong love of nature or you cannot identify whether something is an elder or an alder, a daisy or a dandelion, or a heron or a herring gull, The Wonders of the Wild Places is the book for you. From the mountains to the sea, woodland to farmland, heaths and riversides we have many habitats in the United Kingdom, and The Wonders of the Wild Places provides information about some of the many species which inhabit these habitats. It is packed with interesting facts about nature designed to encourage you to go out and about and enjoy the wonders of the wild places. If you have ever wondered how birds migrate or which invertebrate has the largest brain, The Wonders of the Wild Places provides the answers – and many more. It covers many subjects from folklore to language, social history to the latest science. The Wonders of the Wild Places also explains the current threats to the natural world and provides details of what is being done to protect nature and also has suggestions of how individuals can help nature, from cleaning up your nearest beach to building a bug hotel. After reading The Wonders of the Wild Places you will never see the natural world in the same way again.

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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.

Read more less

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.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new collection of vibrant essays to inform, stimulate and inspire every nature lover. Times of darkness offer opportunities to reflect. In Mistletoe Winter, Roy Dennis offers his reflections on the natural world from the past year – from the welcome signs of change to the ongoing problems we are posing for nature, and what humankind can and must do about them. As in his companion volume, Cottongrass Summer, Roy Dennis balances his alarm at the crisis confronting the natural world with his own sense of optimism that new generations can make crucial changes for the future. One of our most prominent advocates for our planet and its species, he writes with insight and originality. This volume will provide inspiration and ideas for everyone who cares about our planet and its species.Trade Review'A fascinating read.' -- Bird Watching'Wonderful.' -- Mark AveryTable of ContentsIntroduction; Mistletoe; Footprints in the snow; A four-minute warning; Deep snow, predators and prey; Uisge beatha – the water of life; Translocating mountain hares; Ptarmigan alarm call; Fighting for a special place; The uncertain lockdown spring of 2020; Losing our lapwings; Opening gates, opening minds; When it’s gone, it’s gone; Sea eagles: shooting the messenger; Sixty years of ospreys; Green bridges; Saving the California condor; Oystercatchers on a cliff edge; An octogenarian dangling from a rope; Nature’s woodworkers; Grazing and range management; Morven’s son; The paradox of Pallas’s sandgrouse; Wilding rewilding; The bearded vulture, a rewilding icon; Chalk and cheese conservation; Rewilding offshore islands; Landmarks of a year; The altruism of diligent creatures; A great day’s birding; The Rocky Mountain goat solution; A record-breaking golden eagle; Woodcocks in trouble; The long life of a knot; Capercaillies in crisis; Pears for bears

Read more less

Book SynopsisStart Small, Think Bigis a primary science picture book series with a big fold-out map that takes young readers from the small and familiar to new areas of knowledge where they have to think big!Small, Sparkling Raindropis about the water cycle, showing why clean, healthy rivers are vital for people and wildlife.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn instruction manual for change, Urban Beekeeping explores how we can adapt urban spaces to create a more sustainable future, both for bees and for ourselves.Urban beekeeping has become a booming pastime in cities throughout the world. But why just fit bees into our cities, when we could reshape our cities to fit them?This guide from beekeeping expert Cormac Farrell takes readers through the process of creating a thriving urban hive, covering topics including: The various bee species, and how to determine which will thrive in your space. Setting up your apiary. Planting to feed your bees. The different types of hive and how best to utilise them. Connecting with your bees and managing the hive. Keen beekeepers, environmentally conscious gardeners and even urban planners will find a wealth of knowledge on how to create local green spaces where nature can thrive. From community gardens to rooftop api

Read more less

Book SynopsisFederal Twist is set on a ridge above the Delaware River in western New Jersey, USA. It is a naturalistic garden that has loose boundaries and integrates closely with the natural world that surrounds it. It has no utilitarian or leisure uses (no play areas, swimming pools or outdoor dining) and the site is not an obvious choice for a garden (heavy clay soil, poorly drained: quick death for any plants not ecologically suited to it). The physical garden, its plants and its features, is of course an appealing and pleasant place to be but Federal Twist's real charm and significance lie in its intangible aspects: its changing qualities and views, the moods and emotions it evokes, and its distinctive character and sense of place. Monty Don commented after his visit, "it made me rethink what a garden can be and do." This book charts the author's journey in making such a garden. How he made a conscious decision not to "improve the land", planted large, competitive plants into rough grass, experimented with seeding to develop sustainable plant communities. And how he worked with light to provoke certain moods and allowed the energy of the place, chance and randomness to have its say. Part experimental horticulturist and part philosopher, James Golden has written an important book for naturalistic and ecological gardeners and anyone interested in exploring the relationship between gardens, nature and ourselves.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVirunga National Park, the green lung in the eastern DR Congo, is Africa's oldest nature reserve. This publication, written by around forty experts, explores the complex history of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA concise introduction to the concept of species, discussing its complexity, use and importance in biology, philosophy, ethics, policymaking and conservation. The book provides a history of the concept and its' problems and benefits for any interested reader, including those without previous knowledge of biology or philosophy.Trade Review'The species problem is a vexing and important one, and John Wilkins has done more than anyone else to dig into its history and integrate it with philosophy past and present. Thus he was the perfect author for this book, which is a wonderful, accessible entryway to the diverse set of issues bearing on why species have been such a 'thing' for 2000 years. My own conclusion is to follow Darwin and acknowledge the species rank is a meaningless human construct - the full tree of life is what matters, not just the single level within it arbitrarily called species. But to decide whether to agree with me or not, you need to absorb the content in this book.' Brent D. Mishler, author of What, if Anything, are Species?, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley'The species problem is one of the most complex issues in evolutionary biology and philosophy of biology, and not many would have succeeded in producing a comprehensive overview of it and doing justice to both science and philosophy. Written by one of the most eminent scholars in the field, Understanding Species is an informative and, due to the author's eloquent writing style, at the same time also very entertaining read. It both quenches your thirst for knowledge and makes you want to dive deeper into the topic. What more can you ask of a book? Highly recommended!' Frank E. Zachos, Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria, author of Species Concepts in Biology (2016)'A species is like jazz: you know one when you meet it, but on closer inspection it's very hard to define. In this engaging book, John Wilkins guides us deftly through the philosophical minefield of what species are, how you recognise them, and how trying to find definitions for species is increasingly important for science and conservation.' Henry Gee, author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth'This book is a stunning achievement, and I think nobody other than Wilkins could have tied together the disparate perspectives needed to write it. Species problems are notoriously thorny and multi-disciplinary, yet Wilkins manages to shine great light on them. Most impressively he does this in ways that many people, rather than just species experts, can understand, engage, and enjoy. The writing is snappy, the choice of topics smart, and the rewards for readers will be many.' Matthew J. Barker, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Concordia University, MontréalTable of ContentsForeword; Preface; 1. How species matter; 2. Classifying species; 3. Making species; 4. A short history of species and kinds; 5. Philosophy and species; 6. Finding species; 7. Extinction, or how species are lost; 8. The value of species; 9. Replacing species; 10. Conclusions and summary; Summary of misunderstandings of species; Readings; Figure credits; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE MARSH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD (2019)A pioneering look at how climate change is affecting British wildlife winners, losers, new arrivals and future prospects.There is no escaping the fact that the British climate is changing, and our wildlife is changing with it. In this remarkable account, Trevor Beebee examines the story so far for our plant, fungi and animal species. Warmer and wetter winters, combined with longer summers, have worked to the advantage of plants such as the rare Lady Orchid, and a whole range of insects. The UK is also hosting new arrivals that come in on the wing.But there is adversity, too. Alpine plants and seabirds particularly Kittiwakes are suffering declines as our countryside warms. Given the evidence so far, can we predict what the future holds for our British ecosystems?Fascinating but frightening, compelling and concerning this book brings together all you need to know about how the climate is impacting wildlife. - ChriTrade ReviewFascinating but frightening, compelling and concerning … this book brings together all you need to know about how the climate is impacting wildlife. -- Chris PackhamFor anyone interested in natural history, Climate Change and British Wildlife is a hugely important read. A painstaking volume of research has evidently been invested in producing this book, with the author's own decades of observation and expertise also playing their part ... Beebee has done a brilliant job of capturing the hard facts of science, yet presenting what could easily prove an exhausting topic in an insightful and compelling manner ... thoroughly recommended. -- Josh Jones * Birdguides *This is the sixth volume of the British Wildlife Collection and it maintains its established standard of excellence. Based upon its content and style, I think that this is the best environmental book that I have read in a long time. -- John Hopkins * British Wildlife magazine *This is a must-read for anyone with an interest in British wildlife ... the triumph of this book is the level of detail whilst being an engaging read. -- Claire Boothby * BTO book reviews *A well-illustrated and thought-provoking text. -- Antoinette Mannion * British Ecological Society's 'The Niche' magazine *A broad, approachable and accurate summary of where we are in the early 21st century, as climate change really begins to kick in. -- Trevor James * British Naturalists' Association's 'Country-Side' magazine *Table of ContentsPreface What’s going on? How are plants responding? Invertebrate tales Freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates Fungi, lichens and microbes Freshwater and terrestrial communities Coastal and marine environments As time goes by What the future may hold Conservation in a warming world References Abbreviations Species names Credits Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisBirds of the West Indies is the first field guide that covers and depicts all birds known to occur in the region, including infrequently occurring and introduced forms. Now fully updated and expanded, this stunningly illustrated book features detailed accounts of more than 600 species, describing field marks, range, status, voice and habitat. More than 100 beautiful colour plates depict plumages of all species, and the book includes distribution maps, a colour code for endemics, and an incisive introduction that discusses avifaunal changes in the West Indies over the past fifteen years.Table of ContentsIntroduction to New Edition Introduction Species Accounts and Colour Plates Index of English and Scientific Names

Read more less

Book SynopsisFeatures almost 300 colour photographs and brings together more than 60 years of research by a leading voice in British woodland ecology. Trees define woodland. They provide a complex, multi-layered habitat for a great range of wildlife, but they are also wildlife themselves, reacting to their circumstances and each other. Woodlands are important to people, supplying timber, food and fuel, accumulating carbon, and offering places of refuge and refreshment. But they are also under threat: some stand in the way of progress', and all are becoming increasingly vulnerable to disease and climate change.In Trees and Woodlands, George Peterken brings together decades of scientific research, while also incorporating his personal experiences, to explore the ecology, nature conservation and wider cultural value of our native trees and shrubs, and the various ways they have combined as woodland. Peterken accepts that all woodlands have been shaped by people as well as nature, and heTrade ReviewGeorge Peterken has written a multilayered book about British woodland that is hugely informative, laced with insights and opinions, and superbly illustrated with carefully chosen photographs, most of which were taken by himself. Few, if any, people can match Peterken’s knowledge of the woodlands of Britain built over a long career embracing intertwined strands of research, conservation and forestry -- Rob Fuller * British Wildlife *This is a fascinating and insightful commentary on trees and our relationship with them. * Countryside *I doubt there is anyone living who is better experienced and skilled to write this book ... George Peterken's book is the one for you. * BSBI News *Yet another great example of the British Wildlife Collection […] I loved this book * Birdwatching Magazine *Peterken writes very clearly and complex issues are carefully explained in a straightforward and entertaining manner. The book is beautifully produced and the photographs and tables add greatly to the strong line of argument … a splendid book which will be invaluable for all those with an interest in landscape history, conservation and management -- Charles Watkins * Landscape History *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Introducing woodlands 2. The forms of trees and shrubs 3. Forest dominants 4. Pioneers, small trees, shrubs and climbers 5. Natural woodland 6. History: how people have used woodland 7. Woodland types 8. Woodland and trees as habitats 9. Utility and well-being 10. Cultural appreciation of woodland 11. Looking forward Bibliography Index

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Exploring bees though the eyes of melittologist Professor Laurence Packer in Bees of the World is an extravaganza of astounding photography and detailed accounts of the seven living species of bee known today."---Ann Chilcott, BeeListener"The book provides clear, accurate accounts of the seven bee families, presenting all the key information on generic bee characteristics, habits, and habitat, illustrated with lovely photographs that how bees in their natural habitats." * Pest Magazine *"This is a fine book, stacked with information, and it should be on the shelf of everyone who cherishes the natural world and its captivating diversity."---David M. Gascoigne, Travels With Birds"This is a delightful, handsome book to keep or give to another. It has already been tremendously useful to me (I’ll be citing it on many of my pages!), and I am sure it will be of great value and interest to many more bee enthusiasts all over the world."---Amanda Williams, Buzz About Bees"This is certainly no mere ‘coffee table book’ but I will thoroughly enjoy using spare moments to flick through the sumptuous photographs and expand my knowledge of these fascinating insects via the informative text."---Adrian Knowles, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Every page-turn reveals beautiful photos and informative figures, making easy reading of diverse and fascinating material."---J. Burger, Choice"A good and well researched book that can bring us all new understanding to the importance of the role of predators in bringing a healthy ecosystem."---Steven Rutherford, British Naturalists Association

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisBears have fascinated people since ancient times. The relationship between bears and humans dates back thousands of years, during which time we have also competed with bears for shelter and food. In modern times, bears have come under pressure through encroachment on their habitats, climate change, and illegal trade in their body parts, including the Asian bear bile market. The IUCN lists six bears as vulnerable or endangered, and even the least concern species, such as the brown bear, are at risk of extirpation in certain countries. The poaching and international trade of these most threatened populations are prohibited, but still ongoing. Covering all bears species worldwide, this beautifully illustrated volume brings together the contributions of 200 international bear experts on the ecology, conservation status, and management of the Ursidae family. It reveals the fascinating long history of interactions between humans and bears and the threats affecting these charismatic species.Trade Review'The quality of the information and the general conciseness of the text make this long overdue book a thoroughly enjoyable read … Bears of the World fills a much needed niche in providing an expert overview of accurate, relevant, up‐to‐date, and highly readable information. As the only complete reference work on this subject, its value is immense for professionals in the field of bear ecology and management, and for interested naturalists and conservationists.' Jean‐Pierre d'Huart, The Journal of Wildlife Management'This is a professional job throughout, including excellent photos, maps, and other illustrations … Highly recommended.' D. A. Lovejoy, CHOICETable of ContentsPart I. Systematic, Ecology and Behaviour: 1. Systematic, evolution and genetic of bears; 2. Mating strategies; 3. Interspecific interactions between brown bears, ungulates and other large carnivores; 4. Adaptations and Competitive Interactions of Tropical Asian Bear Species Define Their Biogeography: Past, Present, and Future; 5. Remarkable adaptations of the American black bear help explain why it is the most common bear: a long-term study from the centre of its range; Part II. Species Accounts: 6. Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); 7. Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus); 8. Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus); 9. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus); 10. Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus); 11. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus); 12. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos; Eurasia); 13. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos; North America); 14. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus); Part III. Human – Bear Coexistence: 15. Human–Bear Conflicts at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century: Patterns, Determinants, and Mitigation Measures; 16. Principles of Human–Bear Conflict Management in Challenging Environments; 17. Patterns of bear attacks on humans, factors triggering risky scenarios and how to reduce them; 18. Effects of human disturbance on brown bear behavior; 19. Bears in human-dominated landscapes: The case studies of the Cantabrian, Apennine and Pindos Mountains; Part IV. Conservation and Management: 20. Conservation and management of bears; 21. How is climate change affecting polar bears and giant pandas?; 22. Managing for inter-population connectivity of the world's bear species; 23. Ex-situ conservation of bears: Roles, status and management; 24. The Challenge of Brown Bear Management in Hokkaido, Japan; 25. Potential ecological corridors for remnant Asiatic black bear populations and its subpopulations linked to management units in Japan; 26. Captive bears in Asia: Implications for animal welfare and conservation; 27. Human Dimensions of Asiatic Black Bear Conflicts and Management in Japan; 28. Ecological and social dimensions of sloth bear conservation in Sri Lanka.

Read more less