Endangered species and extinction of species Books

Book SynopsisThrough the intricate art of origami, LaFosse and Alexander succeed in educating all ages about wildlife conservation and the importance of preserving our Earth's endangered animals. Jack Hanna.Trade Review"Through the intricate art of origami, LaFosse and Alexander succeed in educating all ages about wildlife conservation and the importance of preserving our Earth's endangered animals." --Jack Hanna, Host of Into the Wild and Wild Countdown, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium"LaFosse and Alexander's origami offers a wonderfully creative and memorable encounter with some of the world's most vulnerable animals! What better way to inspire us to help protect what is irreplaceable in nature?" --Jane Winchell, The Sarah Fraser Robbins Director of The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center at the Peabody Essex Museum"This kit provides hands-on and minds-on experiences with a dozen threatened animals from land and sea. It includes ecological notes about each animal and how to become involved with protecting them. Another sure hit from the masterful team of LaFosse and Alexander!" --George D. Buckley, Co-founder of the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program, Harvard University Extension School

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Book SynopsisThe planet is currently experiencing alarming levels of species loss caused in large part by intensified poaching and wildlife trafficking driven by expanding demand, for medicines, for food, and for trophies. Affecting many more species than just the iconic elephants, rhinos, and tigers, the rate of extinction is now as much as 1000 times the historical average and the worst since the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago. In addition to causing irretrievable biodiversity loss, wildlife trafficking also poses serious threats to public health, potentially triggering a global pandemic. The Extinction Market explores the causes, means, and consequences of poaching and wildlife trafficking, with a view to finding ways of suppressing them. Vanda Felbab-Brown travelled to the markets of Latin America, South and South East Asia, and eastern and southern Africa, to evaluate the effectiveness of various tools, including bans on legal trade, law enforcement, and interdiction; allowing legal supply from hunting or farming; alternative livelihoods; anti- money-laundering efforts; and demand reduction strategies. This is an urgent book offering meaningful solutions to one of the world's most pressing crises.Trade Review'The Extinction Market is an especially needed contribution to comprehend the tightly interwoven licit and illicit economies based around biodiversity hotspots and endangered wildlife.' -- H-Environment

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Book SynopsisMongooses are a remarkable and fascinating group of small carnivores, with 25 species occurring in Africa and nine in Asia. They live within a wide variety of habitats, from open savannah to dense rainforest, and display an amazing diversity in social behaviour, with both solitary and group-living species. Yet this family is one of the least-known group of carnivores. The general lack of public awareness about most mongoose species, and the scarce ecological knowledge of what they need to survive in the wild, are two of the many conservation threats that this group of carnivores faces, which highlights the urgent need to promote an interest in these amazing animals. As well as popularising mongooses, the book will be a valuable source of information on general scientific and conservation topics, such as social behaviour and how the loss of suitable habitats impacts animal species. Recent cinematic films and TV documentaries on meerkats and banded mongooses have been very popular, but people are much less familiar with the other mongoose species that live across Africa and Asia - most of these are rarely seen in the wild and are very poorly known, and several have not been studied in the field. One African mongoose was only discovered by western scientists in 1958, and several others are only known from a few museum specimens and recent observations in the wild. This well-researched, lavishly illustrated book will give a comprehensive overview of the whole mongoose family, including all the different aspects of mongoose biology, their role in human society and the conservation issues that they face, as well as detailed information on all 34 mongoose species.Trade Review'This should appeal to all mongoose fans, non-experts and experts alike'. Mammal Watching -------------------- '...is pleasantly easy to read and gives the reader information on the evolution of the mongoose, their lifestyle and behaviour...is well laid out and amply supplied with lovely colour photographs, maps and tables...I thoroughly enjoyed this book'. Wildlife Detective-------------------'...This comprehensive guide to everything mongoose covers all 34 species...25 of which are found in Africa...from the lovable meerkat to the rarely-seen Jackson's mongoose...it is a fascinating read for the mongoose connoisseur or wildlife enthusiast'. Travel Africa--------------------'Mongooses might be some of the most underrated mammals on the planet...It would be a cool set to see in the wild...all 34 mongoose are covered with range maps and varying amounts of detail on their ecology and behaviour...The authors have also sourced photographs for just every species'. Mammal Watching Blog------------------‘…a great little volume to learn more about these fascinating creatures… an excellent reference work… provides detailed information and is a great addition to my collection of mammal references’. Matthew L. Miller, Cool Green Science blog

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Book SynopsisYou Are Noah! sees YOU taking an active interest, in a dramatic dream – to save wildlife the world over, especially animals on the IUCN red list of endangered species. Publicity for the most ambitious of projects began with the Introduction volume of this book series, and its tie-in to Noah's Ark TV Series 1. It was then, and still is now, the Introduction to the whole programme. The TV series, which ran on Sky TV (UK) in 2021, along with the release of music singles, is now going back into production to track on camera building the world's most iconic and technologically advanced conservation park ever conceived of. The series is part of an Entertainment programme that will include: more books as well as music labels by A-list stars, and even a London West End musical. And a series of mega benefit Concerts will kick off with performances potentially in London's Wembley Stadium and New York's Madison Square Garden. Both, Entertainment and Concerts, are aimed at putting The Noah's Ark Conservation Park at the heart of eco-tourism, and its conference centre and research facilities high in conservation circles. The overriding aim being to protect wild animal species, sustainably, for decades to come. Located in large open expanses along the coast of Africa, its main attractions will be: seeing the biggest range of animals from across the world, protected by Jurassic Park strength security, with massive Eden-Project-like Geo Domes for species (with their natural vegetation) from other climates, and the largest sea life aquarium in the world. Noah's Ark's response to the biodiversity crisis our planet faces, is a beacon for many more to follow worldwide. Climate change is receiving more attention, as are recycling and prioritising renewable energy. And in line with that, especially at COP Conferences and around the world post-COVID, people are now reconnecting much more with nature. All of which is raising awareness to the overriding need for a united front on the crisis. The challenge for the project team, led by Richard Curson & Hein Prinsloo, is to inspire YOU, and all who want to save our planet, to collectively raise a tsunami wave of opinion. Opinion that changes policies worldwide to our precious biodiversity, and with that to peace and wellbeing for all humanity. It will all start simply with what YOU watch, read, say, buy and follow. Note: Project development, essentially building the park, is with Scapha Ltd (UK). While Entertainment and Concerts are with The Noah's Ark Foundation – a non-profit organisation set up to sustainably support this project, and others that aim to tackle threats to animal wildlife from industrial and agricultural development, pollution, also poaching.Trade ReviewTie-In of Noah's Ark TV Series, 2021: S1 aired on Sky TV (UK), authors interviewed on Good Morning Britain and Kay Burley. TV and book series will both be ongoing from 2022 for 5 years.

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Book SynopsisA state-of-the art analysis of conservation as practiced by zoos and aquariums worldwide today.Trade Review"The role of zoos and aquariums is constantly evolving, particularly as there is pressure to increase their contribution to conservation. This collection ably shows that zoos and aquariums are not a flotilla of little arks that have to be self-sufficient. Rather, we should be better grounded in the social fabric of our communities, better networked, and better connected to the animals outside our walls."--Jenny Gray, CEO of Zoos Victoria, Australia, and president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums "In an age of extinction, 'wild' places are increasingly being managed like zoos. What role do actual zoos and aquariums have to play? The Ark and Beyond looks at this question from all angles; the result is both informative and thought-provoking."--Elizabeth Kolbert, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" "The Ark and Beyond is essential reading for anyone interested in our tangled and evolving relationship with zoos and aquariums. At the zoo we find ourselves at the shifting borderland between the wild and the walled. This book's editors and contributors explore that territory, bringing together decades of practical and theoretical expertise in conservation biology, history, and education. Their insights will deeply inform and benefit readers wrestling with the complex questions we find ourselves asking when we lock eyes with our kindred creatures."--Curt Meine, Aldo Leopold Foundation & Center for Humans and Nature

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Book SynopsisBen A. Minteer calls for reflection on the ethical dilemmas of species loss and recovery in an increasingly human-driven world. He probes the tension between our impulse to do whatever it takes and the risk of pursuing strategies that undermine our broader commitment to the preservation of wildness.Trade ReviewWise and subtle book on the ethics of modern wildlife conservation. -- Jennie Erin Smith * The Wall Street Journal *What to do—and not to do—about the biodiversity crisis that we ourselves are engineering? In The Fall of the Wild, Ben Minteer takes us through the options. His assessment of the situation is balanced, clear-sighted, and humane. -- Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural HistoryIn a kind of writing that has become rare today because of its mix of honesty, eloquence and compassion, Ben Minteer has done us all a favor by giving us a clear-headed, full-hearted perspective on where the conservation movement can and should move in the future. In doing so, he joins the ranks of other great thinkers who changed the course of conservation history during their all-too-brief sojourns into Arizona's deserts and mountains, from Aldo Leopold and Joseph Wood Krutch to Ed Abbey and Paul Martin. Minteer bravely takes on the many facile assumptions of conservation's technofixologists and misanthropes alike to offer us a humbler and hopefully more effective way to save and to savor the presence of the remaining living riches of the "natural" world. -- Gary Paul Nabhan, author of Food from the Radical Center: Healing Our Lands and CommunitiesThe central ethical question addressed by Minteer is not only how far we might go to prevent biological extinction but also how far should we go. He comes to this conundrum as a distinguished environmental philosopher with a broad and deep record of thoughtful scholarship, as well as the heart of someone who obviously cares about the future of nature. And most importantly, at a time when answering the question is ever more urgent, he plots a carefully explicated, cautiously hopeful course forward. -- Harry W. Greene, author of Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as ArtIn this pithy set of essays Minteer tackles some of the thorniest questions we face as caring citizens and dwellers on the Earth. As human environmental effects accelerate and our technological capacities expand, we face complex decisions involving where and when and how to intervene in ecosystems in the name of conservation. With clarity and circumspection Minteer examines our assumptions about wildness, our human capacity to live with it (or without it), and the far-reaching ethical implications of our choices. -- Curt Meine, author of Aldo Leopold: His Life and WorkEminently readable essays on a variety of conservation approaches. * Choice *Minteer’s book provides a useful overview of current practices of and debates in conservation, in an engaging manner accessible to nonspecialists. * H-Environment *Table of Contents1. Our Vanishing (and Reappearing) Wildlife2. A Bird in the Hand3. The Call of the Quasi Wild4. Elephants Somewhere5. Promethean Dreams6. Heaven and Earth AcknowledgmentsNotesFurther ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Hussain provides context on the animal (the snow leopard) and the area (mountainous Baltistan) in question by examining how both Islam and residual traces of Bon, the area’s now extinct pre-Islam religion, influence local attitudes. . . . Readers interested in animal conservation will find much to ponder in this thoughtful study." * Publishers Weekly *"[A] fascinating account of snow leopard con-servation in Baltistan... Shafqat’s dissection of conservation discourse exposes the inverse cor-relation between resource distribution and responsibilities in conservation." * Journal of Anthropological Research *"[A] breath of fresh air, suggesting room for optimism amidst the gloom of despairing writing on the snow leopard." * Conservation and Society *"The theoretically dense and historically rich chapters provide a nuanced understanding of how the life of the snow leopard is intertwined with the life of the goat and other livestock that are kept by the poor Balti herders in open corrals to meet their everyday nutritional needs... Shafqat Hussain’s careful analysis invites us to consider the agentivity of this elegant predator in harsh remote terrains, and by combining empirical evidence and scientific analyses, explains how domestic livestock continue to sustain the numbers of this vulnerable cat in the wild." * Pacific Affairs *"Carefully documenting the history of the snow leopard and its trade around the world, evaluating the science asso-ciated with snow leopard conservation and its uncertainties, and contextualizing it with rich ethnographic work, Hussain makes an important contribution to highlight the challenges and dynamics of operationalizing global conservation priorities at the local level." * Journal of Asian Studies *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Hussain provides context on the animal (the snow leopard) and the area (mountainous Baltistan) in question by examining how both Islam and residual traces of Bon, the area’s now extinct pre-Islam religion, influence local attitudes. . . . Readers interested in animal conservation will find much to ponder in this thoughtful study." * Publishers Weekly *"[A] fascinating account of snow leopard con-servation in Baltistan... Shafqat’s dissection of conservation discourse exposes the inverse cor-relation between resource distribution and responsibilities in conservation." * Journal of Anthropological Research *"[A] breath of fresh air, suggesting room for optimism amidst the gloom of despairing writing on the snow leopard." * Conservation and Society *"The theoretically dense and historically rich chapters provide a nuanced understanding of how the life of the snow leopard is intertwined with the life of the goat and other livestock that are kept by the poor Balti herders in open corrals to meet their everyday nutritional needs... Shafqat Hussain’s careful analysis invites us to consider the agentivity of this elegant predator in harsh remote terrains, and by combining empirical evidence and scientific analyses, explains how domestic livestock continue to sustain the numbers of this vulnerable cat in the wild." * Pacific Affairs *"Carefully documenting the history of the snow leopard and its trade around the world, evaluating the science asso-ciated with snow leopard conservation and its uncertainties, and contextualizing it with rich ethnographic work, Hussain makes an important contribution to highlight the challenges and dynamics of operationalizing global conservation priorities at the local level." * Journal of Asian Studies *

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Book SynopsisChina’s nouveau riche are purchasing billions of dollars of furniture built from endangered African rosewood. Responding to Western powers’ attempts to stop the trade, Annah Zhu uncovers Chinese initiatives to plant rosewood responsibly and shows how these efforts offer a new path forward for environmentalism in a world no longer ruled by the West.Trade ReviewRead[s] like dispatches from a foreign correspondent: intrepid, open-minded, and sympathetic to her subjects. [Zhu’s] skill as an interlocutor makes for poignant reading. -- James Herndon * Asian Review of Books *An ambitious and visionary global ethnography as exquisite as its subject matter—rosewood. Zhu reveals the intricate political, economic, and ecological dynamics of supply and demand, conservation and logging, and above all the epic contention between two paradigms of environmentalism that will shape the future of another endangered species—humanity. -- Ching Kwan Lee, author of The Specter of Global ChinaThis book presents the fascinating story of the global connections forged by the rosewood trade between China, Madagascar, and Western conservationists. Zhu carefully analyzes and deftly critiques assumptions about conservationists, consumers, and loggers, and provides a much more nuanced account. Rosewood is a must-read for anyone concerned about the social and ecological impacts of the illegal wildlife trade. -- Rosaleen Duffy, author of Security and ConservationContrasting Chinese and Western imaginaries of forests, Annah Lake Zhu takes readers along on her own transformative journey between the United States, Madagascar, and China. Rosewood is a beautiful and necessary read, opening the path to nothing less than a cultural revolution in environmental conservation. -- Philippe Le Billon, author of Wars of Plunder: Conflicts, Profits and the Politics of ResourcesAnnah Lake Zhu’s Rosewood deconstructs the chasm between Western and Chinese understandings of the value of rosewood and other endangered species. Transnational environmental groups seek futilely to protect rosewood against poachers and corrupt environmental officials in remote Madagascar parks, while Chinese craftsmen and consumers seek to liberate its beauty through carved furniture that affirms the greatness of China’s cultural heritage. The book makes the provocative case that cultural relativism holds the key to conserving global biodiversity, as an increasingly dominant non-Western approach locates sustainability in engineered utility rather than utopian preservation. Fearless, challenging, and engagingly written, Rosewood is required reading for anyone concerned with global biodiversity collapse. -- Judith Shapiro, author of Mao’s War against Nature and coauthor of China Goes Green: Coercive Environmentalism for a Troubled PlanetZhu explores the difference between the prevailing Western approach to protecting endangered species, which advocates trade bans and other protections, and the Chinese one, which promotes cultivation and sustainable use…Drawing on her fieldwork in Madagascar and China, Zhu advocates for a deeper and more sympathetic understanding of China’s view on endangered species and natural resources more broadly. Her book will no doubt be controversial, but it is an important and necessary contribution. -- Temwani Mgunda * China Dialogue *

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Book SynopsisCan we live with the consequences of wiping our closest relatives off the face of the Earth, and all the biological knowledge about ourselves that would die along with them? Extinction of the great apes threatens to become a reality within a few human generations. Stanford tells us how we can redirect the course of an otherwise bleak future.Trade ReviewStanford examines the threats to apes’ survival and explores approaches to reversing or at least neutralizing those pressures. He reveals a complex web of cultural, social, economic and biological issues that explain why this problem is so exceedingly difficult to solve. -- Sarah Halzack * Washington Post *Will electronic gadgetry bring down the great apes? The link may seem surreal, but in this study of the plight of gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and bonobos, primatologist Craig Stanford reveals how mining coltan, a mineral used in electronics, destroys primate habitats and fuels the illegal bush meat trade. In his wide-ranging call for action, Stanford—co-director of the Jane Goodall Research Center in Los Angeles, California—lays out the critical threats, arguing that humanity’s closest cousins are viewed as savage ‘others’ and subjected to a genocidal urge last seen in the colonial era. * Nature *Whether this book leaves you feeling deflated or empowered, it will make you consider our ethical responsibility to conserve our closest living relatives. -- Kimberley J. Hockings * Times Higher Education *A searingly urgent little book. -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Monthly *Humans’ closest relatives, the great apes, have been almost exterminated, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. In his straightforwardly written call to save our next-of-kin, noted primatologist Stanford examines the myriad challenges nonhuman primates face today. -- Nancy Bent * Booklist *With passion and clarity, Stanford describes the nature and extent of the threats from habitat loss, hunting for meat, diseases (including those transmitted from humans), and ecotourism… It takes an experienced primatologist like Stanford to convey the true scope of the threats [apes] face and the importance of their continued existence. -- J. Nabe * Choice *Stanford persuasively argues that the continued survival of the great apes, humanity’s closest living relatives, is approaching a tipping point… Stanford begins by demonstrating why gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos merit priority, given their similarities to humans in such areas intelligence, culture, and tool-making. A pragmatist, the author observes that limited resources are probably best employed in securing tropical forests where generations of apes can live on, rather than creating sanctuaries for orphans… This is a timely call for effective action. * Publishers Weekly *Craig Stanford’s book makes compelling reading. In the past fifty years we have learned so much about our closest relatives the great apes. They have helped us better understand our own behavior. Now it is our turn to help them, and when you read this book, you will realize that we MUST. -- Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute, and U.N. Messenger of PeaceCraig Stanford’s new book appears at a turning point: will we take active steps to save our ape sibling species or accept certain disgrace in the eyes of coming generations? -- Roger Fouts, Professor Emeritus, Central Washington University

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Book SynopsisIllustrates the most endangered birds in the world and provides the advanced information on the threats each species faces and the measures being taken to save them. This title features introductory chapters that explain the threats to birds, the ways threat categories are applied, and the distinction between threat and rarity.Trade ReviewFourth Place for the 2013 BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year, British Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology One of Library Journal's Best Sci-Tech Books for 2013 "It is a sobering thought that, without heroic conservation efforts, many of these birds may soon exist only on the pages of books like this."--Natural History "Dense, richly informative... Offers a showcase of struggling birds globally--but each shot through a lens that celebrates their diversity, vibrance, elegance, and enthusiastic displays."--Audubon Magazine "A must have for those with an interest in bird conservation."--Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "A coffee table treasure or a rainy day home birding experience. I highly recommend The World's Rarest Birds as a valuable addition to the libraries of conservationists and birders alike."--Brad Sylvester, Examiner.com, Birdwatching "The book is educational, promotes conservation, looks nice, but at the same time is a reference source for those rare birds... The World's Rarest Birds is like that stuff you put in your gas tank to add oomph to your engine, but with birdbooks. A regional library of references will suddenly have high octane information on some of the least known species."--Greg Laden, Science Blogs "The content makes for disturbing reading, packed as it is with evidence and insight into how man is slowly but surely eliminating many of Planet Earth's 10,000 bird species... As the publishers quite rightly say with their accompanying literature, 'this is a book that we all wish wasn't necessary' (my emphasis). This is a sentiment that will resonate to most reading this blog but the book needs to find a wider audience rather than simply reach the already converted. The World's Rarest Birds deserves that wider audience and I sincerely hope it reaches them; otherwise we may need to produce another and more desperate volume in a short number of years. Let's hope not. This is a great book, and I have a suggestion. Buy two and send one copy to your elected representative at the highest level possible."--Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog "Absolutely fascinating from start to finish... A must have for all bird lovers!"--Rob Ripma, Nutty Birder "This fine book is simultaneously fascinating and saddening."--Herb Wilson, Portland Press Herald "Gorgeous... The details and facts listed are astounding."--Dave Lewis, Birds from Behind blog "Outstanding... A great read and a[n] exceptional contribution to the global Ornithological community."--Dan Murray, Birding New Jersey "Bring[s] to life what might otherwise be an abstract idea devoid of the impetus of emotion--the glory and wonder of nature, and the truly, dazzlingly, urgent need to protect what's left of it."--Cathy Taibbi, Wildlife Conservation Examiner "If you're a world birder or an armchair birder this is a fascinating if sobering book."--Harry Fuller, Towhee Blog "Beautiful... The book is intended to educate and mobilize birders, naturalists and the general public to take action to save threatened birds and to raise awareness for the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme."--Penny Miller, A Charm of Finches "Filled with beautiful pictures and drawings, and a wealth of information on endangered bird species, this book is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in bird conservation, and a delight for people everywhere who love birds and enjoy learning about them."--Bill Saur, Passionate Birder "I loved this book; I would include it as one of the top books of the year."--Wildlife Extra "An extraordinary bird book... If you support conservation, and wish to protect the Earth's rarest birds, you need to read The World's Rarest Birds."--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "A monumental effort to elevate the visibility of bird conservation efforts worldwide."--Beth Buczynski, Care2.com "As well as being well-researched, authoritative and up to date, this is also an impressive product. It is large-format, heavy and substantial with a 'quality feel' and is liberally illustrated throughout. Unfortunately, it is not a particularly joyful read for it is disturbing to find not only Velvet Scoter but also such species as Egyptian Vulture within its pages. Reading this book is therefore something of a bitter-sweet experience. It is a beautiful production and the birds are alluring indeed but their possibly brief tenure on this planet provides ample cause for despair."--Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert "Extraordinary images and design, along with authoritative text, make The World's Rarest Birds the best book on rare birds of the world that I've seen. I'm very glad to have it, but at the same time saddened that it has to exist at all. But since there are birds in trouble we need a book like this to tell their stories. It belongs on the table--not the shelf--of anyone who cares about birds."--Grant McCreary, Birder's Library "This lovely, coffee-table sized book is a wonder... The take away lesson in this book is obvious: The species described in the book are in peril; conservation actions for each are necessary, and time is of the essence."--Birding Community e-Bulletin "[A] splendid book... Those who read the book will be like the blind men and the elephant. Photographers will see a photography book. Birdwatchers will see a field guide to rare birds. Conservationists will see extinction. And dilettantes will see a coffee-table book. All will be in some measure correct."--Matt Young, Panda's Thumb "[A] remarkable book... The 'coffee table' format belies the extraordinary amount of research and the sheer volume of information presented. The authors have produced a reference book of outstanding quality. But this is no ordinary reference book to be occasionally picked off the shelf, dusted down and browsed rather it is a treasure chest of stories of discovery, loss and re-discovery. I found each visit to these beautifully presented pages unearthed more gems and yet more extraordinary insights into our most threatened birdlife."--Keith Clarkson, Birding Frontiers "[A] handsome volume... Most people will never see an Australian night parrot, a Floreana mockingbird, or a Jamaican pauraque. This book is an inexpensive way for birders and general readers to travel the world to see the rare and endangered. Perhaps it can motivate more people to manage habitats for all species."--Linda Scarth, Booklist "This guide, filled with photos and descriptions of conservation efforts, illustrates the perils faced by rare and endangered avian species."--Science News "It can only be hoped that this beautiful book succeeds, however modestly, in its aim of increasing awareness of these threatened species--and of birds like the great knot that may well become endangered in the near future given the unsustainable path that we seem to be following."--David Diskin, South China Morning Post "An essential and timely study of conservationism and natural history."--Guy de Federicis, Blogcritics.org "Gorgeous photography, cool maps, graphs and tables, all will entice you to learn more about these birds and to care."--Robert Mortensen, Birding is Fun "A beautifully illustrated book vividly depicting the most endangered birds on our once beautiful planet, elaborating on the threats confronting these species, and the measures needed to protect them from dying out."--Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "A vivid portrait of animals under threat."--Maggie Fazeli Fard, Washington Post "This gorgeous oversized hardcover is a roll-call of the world's endangered birds, listed by region... [A]nyone who loves birds will learn a lot from this sobering reference that documents the variety of endangered birds and the tragic thoroughness and destructive reach of man'kind.'"--Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist, The Guardian "This is a coffee-table volume scrapes the glossy veneer from rarity, places a marker firmly in the ground in a measured manner and unflinchingly highlights the endangered and vulnerable along with the challenges that face us to make them less so. If it succeeds in raising awareness for even some of the species it highlights it will be a major achievement. Buy a copy and give it to your MP or MEP with a personal message to do more; it's the least we can do."--Alan Tilmouth, Birdguides "If you do any sort of world birding, or even just dream about it, this is nothing short of scripture."--Eric Salzman, ABA Blog "It is sad to think that many of the birds depicted in this book may become extinct within our lifetime as a result of human impact and this book deserves a place on many a coffee table as a stark reminder of our influence on this planet."--BTO Online "An authoritative volume that's also a delight to hold, even if it's frequently disturbing to read."--Bradley Winterton, Taipei Times "This is an excellent book; packed with information, well-designed, full of excellent photographs and with lots of well-written and interesting text. The photographs are marvellous. And the illustrations of those birds for which no decent photographs exist, by Tomasz Cofta, are excellent too... It is a book that is a joy to have--but a shame that it needs to exist."--Mark Avery blog "Far from being just a list of rare birds and pretty pictures then, [The World's Rarest Birds] is a well-written, superbly-illustrated reference book that should be valid for years to come."--Charlie Moores, Talking Naturally "Everyone who has an interest in our wonderful amazing weird and surprising birds should have a copy of The World's Rarest Birds. Its 350 pages are packed with stunning images and loaded with facts to inspire us all to do more to protect our wild birds and the wild places they live... We highly recommend this book to all."--Biggest Twitch "This book is packed with information and, for its price, it provides an impressive amount of material. In total, 650 species are featured and the volume harnessed the work of 321 photographers from around the world. It represents a truly impressive feat and I challenge any travelling birder not to be obsessed with it! How sad, though, that such a work of beauty details a story that can only be described as the tragic failure of mankind."--Birding World "This has clearly been a labor of love for the team who produced the book. The result is a testament to the efforts and design skills of the authors, the generosity of the photographers who donated their images, and the expertise of the many other contributors. Stunning images emphasize the beauty and irreplaceability of these species, while the range maps--many merely a small dot on a regional map--are a stark reminder of how close we are to losing so much. The book is very modestly priced and is likely to become a convenient and standard source of information for birders, students, conservationists and professional ornithologists."--Paul Dolman, Ibis "This substantial volume, with the motto 'Let the birds speak for themselves', gives visual and textual confirmation to the threats faced by a substantial fraction of the birds of the world. Hirschfeld, Swash, and Still provide images and conservation information for 650 avian species worldwide, focusing the reader's attention on the varieties of problems avifauna face... This valuable work deserves a place in every library ornithology collection."--Choice "The World's Rarest Birds, though hefty, is so valuable: It offers short informative profiles of 591 of the most at-risk species, the birds classified as Endangered, Critically Endangered, or Extinct in the Wild. Instead of numbers on a chart, it allows us to see Cuba's Zapata Wren, Kenya's Taita Thrush, South America's Yellow Cardinal, and other species as birds worth caring about. A photo or a painting depicts each one--an astonishing accomplishment."--Joel Greenberg, Bird Watching "Essential for birders, both armchair and actual, and readers in ecology and conservation. The scope, depth and organization are exemplary."--Sally Bickley, Library Journal "A landmark volume of unparalleled coverage... An exemplary volume of long-term value, teaching us never to take for granted the presence of birds in our lives."--Library Journal Best Sci-Tech Books of 2013 "This fascinating table-sized book contains a wealth of data on the world's rarest birds. It is loaded with nice photos, tables and maps."--FHB, Wildlife Activist "This landmark book features stunning photographs of 500 of these species--the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book... [O]ne-of-a-kind."--World Book Industry "This book is one of the most important bird publications ever."--Bill Harvey, BirdingASIA "This reference book would be ideal for any library with an interest in ornithology and conservation alongside bird watchers across the globe. The research that has gone into producing this book must have been immense... Hopefully the book will at least increase awareness of all these threatened species. It has been a bitter-sweet read."--Helen Ashton, Reference reviews "As a quick reference and an authoritative and up-to-date conservation resource, this book belongs not only on the shelves of professionals, but will equally appeal to birders, nature enthusiasts, and anyone who feels concern for the loss of biodiversity."--Susan B. McRae, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsThe World's Rarest initiative 7 Introduction to the world's birds 8* Diversity and distribution 8 * Endemic Bird Areas 8 * Important Bird Areas 9 * Birds and humans 10 The world's rarest birds 11* The IUCN/BirdLife species category assignment process 12 * Going or gone? 16 * The known unknowns 20 * The distribution of threatened birds 22 * Last chances to save 24 The threats birds face 25* Agriculture and aquaculture 28 * Logging/plant harvesting 30 * Invasive and other problematic species 32 * Hunting and trapping 34 * Residential and commercial development 36 * Fire and fire management 38 * Climate change and severe weather 39 * Geological events 40 * Human disturbance 41 * Pollution 42 * Transport and other infrastructure 44 * Energy production and mining 45 * Dams and water abstraction 46 * Fishing 47 The need for conservation 48 Threats without borders 50 The Regional Directories (see overleaf for full listing) 54* Structure of the regional sections 54 * Glossary of terms 56 Acknowledgements 332 Appendix 1 - Extinct Species 336 Appendix 2 - The bird families with globally threatened species 339 Index 347 The Regional Directories Europe and the Middle East 58* The conservation challenges 62 * Regional Directory 64 Africa and Madagascar 68* Africa and Madagascar - the conservation challenges 72 * Threatened bird hotspot - Madagascar 74 * Threatened bird hotspot - Angola 76 * Conservation challenge - Grassland Management 78 * Regional Directory 80 Asia 100* Asia - the conservation challenges 104 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Philippines 106 * Threatened bird hotspot - Indonesia 108 * Conservation challenge - Vultures 110 * Conservation challenge - Bustards 112 * Conservation challenge - Hornbills 114 * Conservation challenge - The world's most threatened flyway 116 * Regional Directory 118 Australasia 150* Australasia - the conservation challenges 154 * Threatened bird hotspot - Australia 156 * Threatened bird hotspot - New Zealand 158 * Threatened bird hotspot - Australasian Islands 160 * Threatened bird hotspot - New Caledonia 162 * Regional Directory 164 Oceanic Islands 180* Oceanic islands - the conservation challenges 186 * Threatened bird hotspot - Hawaii 190 * Threatened bird hotspot - Polynesia & Micronesia 194 * Threatened bird hotspot - Galapagos 196 * Threatened bird hotspot - Indian Ocean Islands 198 * Threatened bird hotspot - Atlantic Ocean Islands 200 * Conservation challenge - The albatross conundrum 202 * Regional Directory 206 The Caribbean, North and Central America 236* The threatened birds - an overview 240 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Caribbean 242 * Threatened bird hotspot - North America 244 * Threatened bird hotspot - Central America 246 * Regional Directory 248 South America 264* South America - the bird continent 268 * Threatened bird hotspot - Choco (Colombia and Ecuador) 270 * Threatened bird hotspot - Peru 272 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Amazon Basin 274 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Atlantic Forest 276 * Conservation challenge - Hunting and trapping 278 * Regional Directory 280 Data Deficient Species 322

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of The Independent's Best Nature Books of 2014 "Engrossing, entertaining and covering a vast range of subjects, this is a highly recommended read."--Matt Merritt, Birdwatching Magazine "Engaging reading. The book will remain a firm favourite with those, like me, for whom these are special birds."--Mike Toms, BBC Wildlife Magazine "Marvellous and touching."--Trevor Heaton, Eastern Daily Press (Weekend) "From the beginning I was struck with the detail and sheer readability of the text and finished the first 40 pages of the Introduction, The Sparrowhawk and The Osprey without a break... A Sparrowhawk's Lament is a desirable little volume which I thoroughly enjoyed, and one I can recommend to blog readers for the next rainy, non-birding day."--Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog "Each of these stories (and others) is addressed in detail, providing a comprehensive and important historical record. Indeed the book's major achievement is its thoroughness--Cobham has spared no pains in his travelling, in his research and in his collaborations... This is a thorough and comprehensive account of Britain's birds of prey and our long and complex relationship with them."--Andy Stoddart, AndyStoddart.weebly.com "A thoughtful and deeply personal book by someone who has spent a lifetime indulging his keen interest in Britain's 15 breeding birds of prey."--Ian Carter, British Birds "Rich in cultural detail, descriptive illustrations, and personal recollections, A Sparrowhawk's Lament: How British Breeding Birds of Prey Are Faring paints a canvas demonstrating how cultural perceptions can be changed to improve conservation outcomes."--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "The book is an uplifting tale of wonderful birds, some great places and a lot of gifted raptor enthusiasts."--Mark Avery, Birdwatch "[T]he book pulls no punches and is one of the best books about birds of prey I have read."--RC, Highland News "A book to be read right through or dipped into at leisure, A Sparrowhawk's Lament is a fitting tribute to our birds of prey and those who work to conserve them. Whether beginner or specialist, everyone will learn something about our formidable, yet vulnerable diurnal raptors."--Curious Naturalist Blog "Engrossing and enjoyable to read."--David Lewis, Birds from Behind "David Cobham has written a very understandable biology and history of birds of prey. It was a pleasure to read the words, but the content was, of necessity, sometimes disturbing. I would recommend this book to all who like birds, particularly raptors. British birders and those who visit (like me) will gain a lot of valuable information. It would make a great present to anyone studying hawks."--Roy John, Canadian Field Naturalist "[A] comprehensive and important historical record."--Sussex Wildlife Trust "A very detailed and engrossing account of the health or otherwise of Britain's birds of prey."--Michael McCarthy, Independent "This excellent book has detailed, entertaining accounts of the 15 species of diurnal raptors (falcons, hawks, eagles) breeding in Great Britain. Embellishing the text are 93 superb drawings by wildlife artist Pearson. His artwork has a soft, pastel, chalk-like quality and consists only of shades of gray and white, yet is precise. Cobham draws on his vast experience studying raptors, captive breeding, conservation, and re-establishing rare species. He offers penetrating glimpses into the history of these fascinating birds, sometimes going back centuries, and the unusual people who are drawn to them."--Choice "This is a book that will delight general ornithologists and birders, as well as those who see raptors as the summit of avian evolution."--Charles H. Middleburgh, Charles Middleburgh Blog "Having studied birds for over 70 years I thought I knew quite a bit about birds of prey, but through reading this book I have learnt far more."--Bryan Sage, Country-Side "This is an interesting and educational book for raptor lovers and others seeking to learn about the raptors of Great Britain."--R.E.H., Wildlife ActivistTable of ContentsForeword 5 Introduction 6 The Sparrowhawk 9 The Osprey 26 The Honey Buzzard 42 The Red Kite 59 The White-tailed Eagle 77 The Marsh Harrier 95 The Hen Harrier 112 The Montagu's Harrier 131 The Goshawk 148 The Common Buzzard 165 The Golden Eagle 183 The Kestrel 203 The Merlin 218 The Hobby 237 The Peregrine Falcon 253 Conclusion 269 Further reading 270 Acknowledgements 271

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 "[Wignall] presents a sound examination of an 80-million-year span, which began nearly 260 million years ago, that is considered by scientists to have been the most extreme extinction event in Earth's history... [A] great example of scientific sleuthing."--Publishers Weekly "[An] excellent introduction to the latest thinking about this key period in Earth's history... Wignall's book is enthralling."--Matthew Cobb, New Scientist "In this scholarly but accessible analysis, geologist Wignall explores the perfect storm of cataclysms, plate tectonics and other forces that led to 'The Great Dying'--and the rebound of life in its aftermath."--Gemma Tarlach, Discover magazine "Well written and persuasive."--Choice "Over the 170-odd pages [Wignall] discusses in great yet concise detail the point and counterpoint of large igneous provinces, massiv accumulations of millions of cubic kilometers of igneous rock, and mass extinctions that occurred repetitively and in synchrony from the middle of the Permian to the middle of the Jurassic... A well-researched, thorough, and stimulating volume for anyone looking for a scientific account of this time period and the notable geological and biological events that took place over its course."--William Gearty, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsILLUSTRATIONS ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi PROLOGUE xv CHAPTER 1 A TIME OF DYING 1 CHAPTER 2 EXTINCTION IN THE SHADOWS 12 CHAPTER 3 THE KILLING SEAS 39 CHAPTER 4 TROUBLED TIMES IN THE TRIASSIC 89 CHAPTER 5 TRIASSIC DOWNFALL 117 CHAPTER 6 PANGEA'S FINAL BLOW 137 CHAPTER 7 PANGEA'S DEATH AND THE RISE OF RESILIENCE 154 NOTES 177 REFERENCES 179 INDEX 191

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Book SynopsisThe 1978 decision in TVA v Hill, the Court's first decision interpreting the Endangered Species Act, remains one of the most instructive cases in American environmental law. This work reveals that the snail darter case was just one part of a long struggle over whether the TVA should build the Tellico Dam.Trade ReviewMurchison's insightful study provides a revealing look at one of the U.S. Supreme Court's most important environmental decisions and a milestone in late twentieth-century conservation politics. Jeffrey K. Stine, author of Mixing the Waters: Environment, Politics, and the Building of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway ""I lived the legal saga of the snail darter for six years, and so understand better than most just how effectively Murchison has explored and analyzed that case's remarkably complex and shifting agglomeration of law, politics, institutional history, and environmental consciousness. The book is an impressive accomplishment."" Zygmunt Plater, coauthor of Environmental Law and Policy: Nature, Law, and Society, and petitioner and attorney in the snail darter case

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Book SynopsisFish from inland waters provide a major source of animal protein, particularly in areas far removed from the sea. The current high demand for fish, and the increased awareness of the role of the environment in supporting human well being, have led to a situation where attitudes to inland water resources are rapidly changing.Trade Review"... of great use to the practitioner who needs one easy-to-use source of more detailed references." (Fish and Fisheries) "Inland fisheries are a complex subject that is well covered in this first rate book." (Fishing Boat World) "This book bridges the gap between books on aquaculture and those on fisheries from our ocean waters. It will serve as an essential reference for those involved in inland fisheries management" (Aquaculture Magazine)Table of ContentsAuthorship. Acknowledgements. Guidelines. 1. Introduction. Resource availability. Political and economic climate. The changing situation of fisheries. A new vision for management. 2. Objectives. Objectives for the fishery. Regional differences in management strategy. 3. The Nature of Inland Waters. Types of inland water. 4. The Nature of Fish Populations. Fish populations in different types of inland water. The size structure of fish populations. Dynamics of fish populations. Biomass and production. Migration and movements. Responses of fish populations to stress. 5 The Fisherman and the Fishery. The fisherman and society. 6 Fishing Techniques. Types of fishing regime. Fishing technology. Social and policy implications of fishing technology. Seasonality of fishing. 7 Fish Utilization. Fish as food and nutrition. Fish preservation. Marketing. 8 Resource Evaluation. Stock assessment. Catch assessment. Analysis of markets. Analysis of consumption. Area-catch studies. Environmental data. 9 Social and Economic Evaluation. Evaluation of the social and institutional context of a fishery. Sampling. 10 Integrating Information. Resource mapping. Geographical information systems. Summary and conclusions. 11 Fishery Management. Social and policy consideration. Strategies for regulation of fisheries. Measures for regulation. 12 Environmental Management. Other users of the inland water resource. Impacts of other users. Remedial measures. Basin planning. 13 Enhancement. Techniques for enhancement. Summary of enhancement strategies. Cost effectiveness. 14 Mitigation and Rehabilitation. Objectives of rehabilitation. Habitat requirements of fish. Protection of water quality. Control and use of vegetation. Rehabilitation of lakes and reservoirs. Rehabilitation of rivers. 15 Biodiversity and Conservation Issues. Importance of biodiversity. Management of biodiversity. 16 Legislation. International instruments. National legislation. Regional legislation. 17 Conclusion. Changing patterns for the resource. Monitoring. Needs for participatory management. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe amazing true stories of the greatest wildlife champions of our time. Wildlife conservation is at a critical juncture. While large, charismatic mammals may be the first animals that come to mindthe mere 3,000 wild tigers still in existence, the giraffes declared endangered for the first time just last yearit is not only these magnificent keystone species disappearing. A full third of all studied birds, reptiles, and mammals have suffered devastating population losses, and a third of all insects are now endangered, including crucial pollinators that sustain worldwide food supply. Over 15,000 animal species are now considered to be threatened with extinction. There are, however, bright spots that provide optimismmany of them due to the efforts of a small group of scientists and activists. In Saving Endangered Species, Robert W. Shumaker brings together ten conservation heroes, seven of them winners of the Indianapolis Prize, three of them recipients of the Jane Alexander Global WildTrade ReviewI'm telling everyone within reach, read Saving Endangered Species, be motivated and inspired, become engaged, celebrate the scientists on the front lines of worldwide conservation and preservation.—Rita Kohn, Nuvo NewsThis collection represents several steps in the right direction, providing useful perspective and inspiration for those conservationists who have just started their careers or will soon do so as well as for people who can get a better sense of what we can all do by being more conscious of our environmental impacts.—Jefferey V. Yule, Dixie State University, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsForeword: Reach BeyondHarrison Ford, 2018 Recipient of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador AwardINTRODUCTION. Conservation Science, Biodiversity, and the Indianapolis PrizeDr. Robert W. Shumaker, President and CEO of the Indianapolis ZooCHAPTER 1. Dancing with Cranes: Their Story Is My StoryDr. George Archibald, 2006 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeCHAPTER 2. The Natural History of a Field BiologistDr. George B. Schaller, 2008 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeCHAPTER 3. Among the ElephantsDr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, 2010 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeCHAPTER 4. Wild Things and Wild PlacesJane Alexander, 2012 Recipient and Namesake of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador AwardCHAPTER 5. Polar Bears, Melting Ice, and Turning Conservation on Its HeadDr. Steven C. Amstrup, 2012 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeCHAPTER 6. Deep in Time, Broad in Scope: Conservation Science Empowers Communities and Saves Species in MadagascarDr. Patricia Chapple Wright, 2014 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeCHAPTER 7. Challenging Boundaries: The Legacy of Dian FosseySigourney Weaver, 2016 Recipient of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador AwardCHAPTER 8. Lessons from the Dodo: Saving the Endangered Wildlife of MauritiusDr. Carl Jones, 2016 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeCHAPTER 9. Forests and Primates Worldwide: A Lifetime of Challenges, Opportunities, and TriumphsDr. Russell A. Mittermeier, 2018 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeAFTERWORD. The Steep and Rugged PathwayMichael I. Crowther, CEO, Indianapolis Zoological Society (2002–2019)Index

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsContributorsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Defining Wildlife and Wildlife Management, by Paul R. Krausman2. The History of Wildlife Conservation in North America, by Robert D. Brown3. The Wildlife Professional, by John F. Organ4. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management, by Daniel J. Decker, Shawn J. Riley, and William F. Siemer5. Structured Decision Making, by Michael C. Runge, Michael S. Mitchell, and James B. Grand6. Scale in Wildlife Management: The Difficulty with Extrapolation, Replication, and Unappreciated Impediments, by John A. Bissonette7. Wildlife Population Dynamics, by L. Scott Mills and Heather Johnson8. Wildlife Health and Diseases, by David A. Jessup9. Hunting and Trapping, by Jim Heffelfinger10. Impacts of Weather and Accidents on Wildlife, by Michael R. Conover, Jonathan B. Dinkins, and Michael J. Haney11. Nutritional Ecology, by Katherine L. Parker12. Plant-Animal Interactions, by Kelley M. Stewart13. Water and Other Welfare Factors, by James W. Cain III, Paul R. Krausman, and Steven S. Rosenstock14. Predator-Prey Relationships and Management, by Clint W. Boal and Warren B. Ballard15. Animal Behavior , by John L. Koprowski and W. Sue Fairbanks16. Habitat, by R. William Mannan and Robert J. Steidl17. Wildlife Restoration, by Michael L. Morrison18. Climate Change and Wildlife, by Marta Jarzyna, Benjamin Zuckerberg, and William F. Porter19. Conservation Planning for Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat, by Susan Rupp, Anna M. Muñoz, and Roel R. Lopez20. Managing Populations, by William P. Kuvlesky Jr., Leonard A. Brennan, Bart M. Ballard, David G. Hewitt, Fred C. Bryant, Tyler A. Campbell, Charles A. DeYoung, Fidel Hernandez, and Scott E. HenkeIndex

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Book SynopsisIlluminating the conditions for global governance to have precipitated the devastating decline of one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the world’s foremost organization for managing and conserving tunas, seabirds, turtles, and sharks traversing international waters. Founded by treaty in 1969, ICCAT stewards what has become under its tenure one of the planet’s most prominent endangered fish: the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Called “red gold” by industry insiders for the exorbitant price her ruby-colored flesh commands in the sushi economy, the giant bluefin tuna has crashed in size and number under ICCAT’s custodianship.With regulations to conserve these sea creatures in place for half a century, why have so many big bluefin tuna vanished from the Atlantic? In Red Gold, Jennifer E. Telesca offers unparalleled access to ICCAT to show that the institution has faithfully executed the task assigned it by international law: to fish as hard as possible to grow national economies. ICCAT manages the bluefin not to protect them but to secure export markets for commodity empires—and, as a result, has become complicit in their extermination.The decades of regulating fish as commodities have had disastrous consequences. Amid the mass extinction of all kinds of life today, Red Gold reacquaints the reader with the splendors of the giant bluefin tuna through vignettes that defy technoscientific and market rationales. Ultimately, this book shows, changing the way people value marine life must come not only from reforming ICCAT but from transforming the dominant culture that consents to this slaughter.Trade Review"Both unusually thorough and unusually heartfelt, Red Gold is filled with high quality factual detail yet is framed with graceful, thoughtfully considered language. As close as I’ve been to this extraordinary fish as a living creature and as the object of intense debate and conflicting policies over the years, I admire the job Jennifer Telesca has pulled off. I also learned a lot."—Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and Becoming Wild"Engaging and well-argued, Red Gold is an exemplary documentation of how bad-faith science conducted at the behest of corporate interests provides cover for the over-exploitation of ‘natural resources.’"—Daniel Pauly, author of Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines and the Future of Global Fisheries"Red Gold offers a deep and disturbing portrait of the intersecting impacts of the global food chain, international regulation, and ocean conservation. Jennifer E. Telesca’s powerful prose and analytic insight chart the drama of human-induced species decline in the name of conservation. Combining ethnography, political economy, legal studies, and scientific research with fast-paced storytelling, she provides an intimate account of ocean governance and environmental loss."—Brenda Chalfin, author of Neoliberal Frontiers: An Ethnography of Sovereignty in West Africa"Jennifer E. Telesca’s wide-ranging study of the giant bluefin tuna challenges many deeply held dogmas. We overfish because of the tragedy of the commons and think the solution is regulation. But Telesca argues that we are regulating our way to extinction. The tragedy is not of the commons, but of commodification. The drive to extinction will not stop until we value these animals as fellow travelers on this planet, rather than as resources from whom we can extract value."—Dale Jamieson, director, Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, New York University"In his decades of reviewing environmental policy literature, this reviewer has encountered few books that more passionately or poetically express grief over loss of a species than this extended epitaph for the giant warm-blooded Atlantic bluefin tuna."—CHOICE"It is worth taking a deep dive into Red Gold"—Public Books"Jennifer Telesca, in her first ethnographic monograph, writes with exuberance and determination as she examines the geoeconomics of Atlantic Bluefin tuna capture fisheries management. Using Atlantic Bluefin tuna as her ethnographic subject, Telesca follows the fish on her breathtaking travels across the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and through a long history of capture by human societies."—Political and Legal Anthropology Review "Telesca brilliantly analyzes the social and cultural dimensions of institutions engineered for economic and political ends. Red Gold can be read as an excellent ethnography and sociology of science of international deliberations, marine policymaking, and fisheries science."—American AnthropologistTable of ContentsContentsAbbreviationsPrologue. The Life and Death of Bluefin Tuna: Homage to an Ocean Giant Introduction. The Very Elder Gods Become Red Gold: Value on the High Seas1. A History of the Bluefin Tuna Trade: The Emergence of Commodity Empires2. A “Stock” Splits: Profiteering through International Law3. Saving the Glamour Fish: The Limits of Environmental Activism4. Alibis for Extermination: The Manipulation of Fisheries Science5. The Libyan Caper: A Rogue Player Wins the GameConclusion. All Hands on Deck: Confronting the Sixth ExtinctionAcknowledgmentsAppendix A. Contracting Parties to the ICCAT Convention, 1967–2012 Appendix B. Allocations in Export Quotas for Atlantic Bluefin TunaAppendix C. An Organizational Chart of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas through 2012NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIlluminating the conditions for global governance to have precipitated the devastating decline of one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the world’s foremost organization for managing and conserving tunas, seabirds, turtles, and sharks traversing international waters. Founded by treaty in 1969, ICCAT stewards what has become under its tenure one of the planet’s most prominent endangered fish: the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Called “red gold” by industry insiders for the exorbitant price her ruby-colored flesh commands in the sushi economy, the giant bluefin tuna has crashed in size and number under ICCAT’s custodianship.With regulations to conserve these sea creatures in place for half a century, why have so many big bluefin tuna vanished from the Atlantic? In Red Gold, Jennifer E. Telesca offers unparalleled access to ICCAT to show that the institution has faithfully executed the task assigned it by international law: to fish as hard as possible to grow national economies. ICCAT manages the bluefin not to protect them but to secure export markets for commodity empires—and, as a result, has become complicit in their extermination.The decades of regulating fish as commodities have had disastrous consequences. Amid the mass extinction of all kinds of life today, Red Gold reacquaints the reader with the splendors of the giant bluefin tuna through vignettes that defy technoscientific and market rationales. Ultimately, this book shows, changing the way people value marine life must come not only from reforming ICCAT but from transforming the dominant culture that consents to this slaughter.Trade Review"Both unusually thorough and unusually heartfelt, Red Gold is filled with high quality factual detail yet is framed with graceful, thoughtfully considered language. As close as I’ve been to this extraordinary fish as a living creature and as the object of intense debate and conflicting policies over the years, I admire the job Jennifer Telesca has pulled off. I also learned a lot."—Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and Becoming Wild"Engaging and well-argued, Red Gold is an exemplary documentation of how bad-faith science conducted at the behest of corporate interests provides cover for the over-exploitation of ‘natural resources.’"—Daniel Pauly, author of Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines and the Future of Global Fisheries"Red Gold offers a deep and disturbing portrait of the intersecting impacts of the global food chain, international regulation, and ocean conservation. Jennifer E. Telesca’s powerful prose and analytic insight chart the drama of human-induced species decline in the name of conservation. Combining ethnography, political economy, legal studies, and scientific research with fast-paced storytelling, she provides an intimate account of ocean governance and environmental loss."—Brenda Chalfin, author of Neoliberal Frontiers: An Ethnography of Sovereignty in West Africa"Jennifer E. Telesca’s wide-ranging study of the giant bluefin tuna challenges many deeply held dogmas. We overfish because of the tragedy of the commons and think the solution is regulation. But Telesca argues that we are regulating our way to extinction. The tragedy is not of the commons, but of commodification. The drive to extinction will not stop until we value these animals as fellow travelers on this planet, rather than as resources from whom we can extract value."—Dale Jamieson, director, Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, New York University"In his decades of reviewing environmental policy literature, this reviewer has encountered few books that more passionately or poetically express grief over loss of a species than this extended epitaph for the giant warm-blooded Atlantic bluefin tuna."—CHOICE"It is worth taking a deep dive into Red Gold"—Public Books"Jennifer Telesca, in her first ethnographic monograph, writes with exuberance and determination as she examines the geoeconomics of Atlantic Bluefin tuna capture fisheries management. Using Atlantic Bluefin tuna as her ethnographic subject, Telesca follows the fish on her breathtaking travels across the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and through a long history of capture by human societies."—Political and Legal Anthropology Review "Telesca brilliantly analyzes the social and cultural dimensions of institutions engineered for economic and political ends. Red Gold can be read as an excellent ethnography and sociology of science of international deliberations, marine policymaking, and fisheries science."—American AnthropologistTable of ContentsContentsAbbreviationsPrologue. The Life and Death of Bluefin Tuna: Homage to an Ocean Giant Introduction. The Very Elder Gods Become Red Gold: Value on the High Seas1. A History of the Bluefin Tuna Trade: The Emergence of Commodity Empires2. A “Stock” Splits: Profiteering through International Law3. Saving the Glamour Fish: The Limits of Environmental Activism4. Alibis for Extermination: The Manipulation of Fisheries Science5. The Libyan Caper: A Rogue Player Wins the GameConclusion. All Hands on Deck: Confronting the Sixth ExtinctionAcknowledgmentsAppendix A. Contracting Parties to the ICCAT Convention, 1967–2012 Appendix B. Allocations in Export Quotas for Atlantic Bluefin TunaAppendix C. An Organizational Chart of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas through 2012NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisAmid the historical decimation of species around the globe, a new way into the language of loss An endling is the last known individual of a species; when that individual dies, the species becomes extinct. These “last individuals” are poignant characters in the stories that humans tell themselves about today’s Anthropocene. In this evocative work, Lydia Pyne explores how discussion about endlings—how we tell their histories—draws on deep traditions of storytelling across a variety of narrative types that go well beyond the science of these species’ biology or their evolutionary history.Endlings provides a useful and thoughtful discussion of species concepts: how species start and how (and why) they end, what it means to be a “charismatic” species, the effects of rewilding, and what makes species extinction different in this era. From Benjamin the thylacine to Celia the ibex to Lonesome George the Galápagos tortoise, endlings, Pyne shows, have the power to shape how we think about grief, mourning, and loss amid the world’s sixth mass extinction.

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Book SynopsisLife on Earth is facing a mass extinction event of our own making. Human activity is changing the biology and the meaning of extinction. What Is Extinction? examines several key moments that have come to define the terms of extinction over the past two centuries, exploring instances of animal and human finitude and the cultural forms used to document and interpret these events. Offering a critical theory for the critically endangered, Joshua Schuster proposes that different discourses of limits and lastness appear in specific extinction events over time as a response to changing attitudes toward species frailty. Understanding these extinction events also involves examining what happens when the conceptual and cultural forms used to account for species finitude are pressed to their limits as well. Schuster provides close readings of several case studies of extinction that bring together environmental humanities and multispecies methods with media-specific analyses at the terminus of life. What Is Extinction? delves into the development of last animal photography, the anthropological and psychoanalytic fascination with human origins and ends, the invention of new literary genres of last fictions, the rise of new extreme biopolitics in the Third Reich that attempted to change the meaning of extinction, and the current pursuit of de-extinction technologies. Schuster offers timely interpretations of how definitions and visions of extinction have changed in the past and continue to change in the present.Table of ContentsIntroduction | 1 Part I 1 Photographing the Last Animal | 43 2 Indigeneity and Anthropology in Last Worlds | 69 Part II 3 Literary Extinctions and the Existentiality of Reading | 109 4 Concepts of Extinction in the Holocaust | 134 Part III 5 Critical Theory for the Critically Endangered | 167 6 What Is De-Extinction? | 198 Conclusion | 231 Acknowledgments | 247 Notes | 251 Index | 279

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Book SynopsisOver the course of his photography career, Daniel Kariko came to realise that many of his most stunning subjects could be found in his own home. Kariko utilises a combination of a Scanning Electron Microscope and optical Stereo Microscope to achieve a portrait-like effect for insects and arthropods. Vibrant in colour and surprising in personality, these images reveal such details as the glittering eyes of a horsefly, the strong legs of a centipede and the fetching smile of a honeybee. Each photograph comes with a full-body illustration from artist Isaac Talley and character descriptions from entomologist Tim Christensen. Blurring the lines of art and science, Aliens Among Us is a guidebook for anyone interested in putting a face to the creepy-crawlies under the couch.Trade Review"Kariko draws on different areas of interest – from historical natural science collections to Renaissance and Baroque painters – to bring us images of invertebrates as we’ve never seen them before. Using microscope imaging techniques, he carefully creates captivatingly detailed and beautiful portraits of common invertebrate species that he finds during his daily routines in North Carolina. The results can only be described as works of art." -- 20+ best books on insects and invertebrates - BBC Wildlife Magazine

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Book SynopsisExamines what literature reveals about human attitudes towards elephants and who shows compassion towards them. Elephants are in dire straits – again. They were virtually extirpated from much of Africa by European hunters in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but their numbers resurged for a while in the heyday of late-colonial conservation efforts in the twentieth. Now, according to one estimate, an elephant is being killed every fifteen minutes. This is at the same time that the reasons for being especially compassionate and protective towards elephants are now so well-known that they have become almost a cliché: their high intelligence, rich emotional lives including a capacity for mourning, caring matriarchal societal structures, that strangely charismatic grace. Saving elephants is one of the iconic conservation struggles of our time. As a society we must aspire to understand how and why people develop compassion – or fail to do so – and what stories we tell ourselves about animals that reveal the relationship between ourselves and animals. This book is the first study to probe the primary features, and possible effects, of some major literary genres as they pertain to elephants south of the Zambezi over three centuries: indigenous forms, early European travelogues, hunting accounts, novels, game ranger memoirs, scientists’ accounts, and poems. It examines what these literatures imply about the various and diverse attitudes towards elephants, about who shows compassion towards them, in what ways and why. It is the story of a developing contestation between death and compassion, between those who kill and those who love and protect.Death and Compassion is the first study to probe various literary genres. It examines what these literatures imply about human attitudes towards elephants and who shows compassion towards them. It is the story of a developing contestation between death and compassion, between those who kill and those who love and protect.Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Compassion for elephants? Chapter 1 No simple sort of mirror: Compassion and the pre-colonial Chapter 2 Experiment and devastation: Travelogue and the advent of zoology Chapter 3 A most delightful mania: Hunters’ tales Chapter 4 Not very good at remorse: Elephants in fiction Chapter 5 A tear rolled down her face: Teen fiction and the elephant mind Chapter 6 Bosses of the bushveld: Game ranger memoirs Chapter 7 Repeatedly folded frontier: The ‘field-research memoir’ Chapter 8 The cult of the remnant: The elephants of Knysna and Addo Chapter 9 The elephant was unhappy: Poetry as compassion Afterword Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThere are many hypotheses describing the interactions involved in biological invasions, but it is largely unknown whether they are backed up by empirical evidence. This book fills that gap by developing a tool for assessing research hypotheses and applying it to twelve invasion hypotheses, using the hierarchy-of-hypotheses (HoH) approach, and mapping the connections between theory and evidence. In Part 1, an overview chapter of invasion biology is followed by an introduction to the HoH approach and short chapters by science theorists and philosophers who comment on the approach. Part 2 outlines the invasion hypotheses and their interrelationships. These include biotic resistance and island susceptibility hypotheses, disturbance hypothesis, invasional meltdown hypothesis, enemy release hypothesis, evolution of increased competitive ability and shifting defence hypotheses, tens rule, phenotypic plasticity hypothesis, Darwin's naturalization and limiting similarity hypotheses and the propagule pressure hypothesis. Part 3 provides a synthesis and suggests future directions for invasion researchTable of ContentsPart I: Introduction to invasion biology and the hierarchy-of-hypotheses approach Chapter 1: Invasion biology: searching for predictions and prevention, and avoiding lost causes Chapter 2: The hierarchy-of-hypotheses approach Chapter 3: Hierarchy of hypotheses or hierarchy of predictions? Clarifying key concepts in ecological research Chapter 4: Mapping theoretical and evidential landscapes in ecological science: Levins’ virtue trade-off and the hierarchy-of-hypotheses approach Chapter 5: A hierarchy of hypotheses or a network of models Chapter 6: The hierarchy-of-hypotheses approach updated – a toolbox for structuring and analysing theory, research and evidence Part II: Hypothesis network and 12 focal hypotheses Chapter 7: A network of invasion hypotheses Chapter 8: Biotic resistance and island susceptibility hypotheses Chapter 9: Disturbance hypothesis Chapter 10: Invasional meltdown hypothesis Chapter 11: Enemy release hypothesis Chapter 12: Evolution of increased competitive ability and shifting defence hypotheses Chapter 13: Tens rule Chapter 14: Phenotypic plasticity hypothesis Chapter 15: Darwin’s naturalisation and limiting similarity hypotheses Chapter 16: Propagule pressure hypothesis Part III: Synthesis and outlook Chapter 17: Synthesis Chapter 18: Conclusions and outlook

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Book SynopsisA unique and comprehensive book on the value of biodiversity and genetic resources and on the economics of ecosystem services. It is really Tisdells' legacy to future generations studying natural resource economics and management.'- Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Ghent University, Belgium'With Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions Clem Tisdell has given us a framework to critically explore one of the overarching issues of our time-the unprecedented scale of the destruction of the biological systems upon which we ultimately depend. This book should become the definitive text for the economics of biodiversity and ecosystems.'- John Gowdy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USThe stock of the world's biological diversity and the state of its ecosystems are major determinants of the availability of commodities, both essential and desirable, for human life. This leading-edge study provides an overarching and balanced approach to the economics of biological conservation; considering man made and natural components, and their interdependence.Recognising the deficiencies of many contemporary studies, which focus almost entirely on natural capital, Clement Tisdell utilizes the concept of heritage biological capital, including germplasm, as part of his analysis of changes in the stock of biological capital. This comprehensive synthesis casts doubt upon some propositions and policies for resource conservation recommended by eminent ecologists in areas such as GM crops and livestock husbandry as well as agroecosystems and the concept of sustainable agricultural intensification. The propositions presented are lent strength by the author's decision to relate his analysis to pertinent contemporary institutional developments and scientific advances.The broad scope and rational scepticism with which this book has been compiled make it an ideal read for economists interested in ecological and environmental economics, natural scientists with an interest in biodiversity conservation and higher level policy makers in ecological and environmental fields.Trade Review‘A unique and comprehensive book on the value of biodiversity and genetic resources and on the economics of ecosystem services. It is really Tisdells’ legacy to future generations studying natural resource economics and management.' -- Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Ghent University, Belgium‘With Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions Clem Tisdell has given us a framework to critically explore one of the overarching issues of our time—the unprecedented scale of the destruction of the biological systems upon which we ultimately depend. This book should become the definitive text for the economics of biodiversity and ecosystems.’ -- John Gowdy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, US‘Ultimately, the book centres on explaining contemporary environmental economics, not theorizing ways to escape from current challenges, making it a highly informative, if not hopeful text.’ -- Science and Public PolicyTable of ContentsContents: PART I BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION: BASIC ECONOMIC ISSUES 1. An Introduction to the Economic Issues Involved in Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function 2. Classifying the Stock of Genetic Resources and Ecosystems: Their Economic Nature and Patterns of Biodiversity Change 3. Socio-Economic Processes Transforming the Genetic Stock and Altering Ecosystems 4. Sustainable Development and Changes in the Genetic Stock and in Ecosystems PART II HUMAN DEVELOPED BIOLOGICAL CAPITAL: GERMPLASM AND ECOSYSTEMS 5. Crops and the Socio-Economics of Biodiversity Loss and Change 6. Livestock and the Socio-Economics of Biodiversity Loss 7. Advances in Genetic Engineering and Changes in Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Economic and Ecological Considerations 8. Human Developed and Modified Ecosystems: Their Economic Value 9. Declining Effectiveness of Techniques Designed to Control Pests and Diseases: Economics, Evolution and Human Choices 10. Property Rights in Human-Developed Genetic Material: An Economic Assessment PART III NATURAL BIOLOGICAL CAPITAL: WILD GENETIC RESOURCES AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS 11. The Conservation and Loss of Wild Biodiversity and Natural Ecosystems: Basic Economic Issues 12. Allocating Land Use to Minimize the Opportunity Cost of Conserving Wild Species in Their Natural Habitats 13. Property Rights in Non-Captive Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation 14. Economic Incentives to Conserve Wildlife on Private Lands: Analysis, Policy and Examples 15. Biodiversity Conservation, Loss of Natural Capital and Interest Rates: The Relationships are Irregular 16. Valuing and Sustaining Natural Ecosystem Services: Assumptions, Estimates and Public Policies 7. Economics and Spatial Aspects of Ecosystem Use: Land Sharing Versus Land Sparing – Wildlife Conservation and Forestry Index

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Book SynopsisInvasive alien plants and animals are known for their disruption of ecosystems and threat to biodiversity. This book highlights their major impact on human health. This includes not only direct effects through contact with the species via bites, wounds and disease, but also indirect effects caused by changes induced in ecosystems by invasive species, such as more water hyacinth increasing mosquito levels and thereby the potential for malaria. Covering a wide range of case studies from different taxa (animals and plants), and giving an overview of the diverse impacts of invasive species on health in developed and developing countries, the book is a significant contribution that will help in prioritizing approaches to controlling invasive species and mitigating their health effects. It covers invasive plants, marine species, spiders and other arachnids, ticks and dust mites, insects, mosquitos and other diptera, freshwater species (invertebrates and fishes), amphibians and reptiles, birds and mammals. Key Features Collects together the major health impacts for the first time Covers animal and plant invasive species Examines issues in developed and developing countries The broad spectrum of the analyzed case studies will ensure the appeal of the book to a wide public, including researchers of biological invasions, doctors, policy-makers and managers, and students of invasive species in ecology, animal and plant biology and public health medicine.Table of ContentsIntroduction: From Local Strategy to Global Frameworks: Effects of Invasive Alien Species on Health and Well-being 1: Poisonous and Venomous: Marine Alien Species in the Mediterranean Sea and Human Health 2: Invasive Alien Plant Impacts on Human Health and Well-being 3: Human Health Impact by Alien Spiders and Scorpions 4: Ticks and Dust Mites: Invasive and Health-affecting Borderline Organisms 5: Bugs, Ants, Wasps, Moths and Other Insect Species 6: The Invasive Mosquitoes of Medical Importance 7: Invasive Freshwater Invertebrates and Fishes: Impacts on Human Health 8: Risks for Human Health Related to Invasive Alien Reptiles and Amphibians 9: Do Alien Free-ranging Birds Affect Human Health? A Global Summary of Known Zoonoses 10: Impact of Alien Mammals on Human Health 11: Climate Change and Increase of Impacts on Human Health by Alien Species

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Book SynopsisA detailed examination of all aspects of parrots from behavior to their conservation.Parrots' colour and charisma, coupled with the fact that they mimic human speech, make them fascinating to many people. They are ancient birds with unique bill and foot structures that enable them to forage on fruits in the canopy of forest trees as well as on seeds in grasslands. Because they depend on fruits and seeds all year round, most species are confined to the tropics or sub-tropics, where the world's biodiversity is at its greatest. There are over three hundred species of parrots, of which more than one hundred are recognised as rare, endangered, vulnerable or threatened with extinction. Parrots are largely distributed in tropical areas of developing countries where economies are weak and uncertain, and where there is great dependence on the exploitation of natural resources, particularly hard wood evergreen forests, which are preferred parrot habitats. Unfortunately, high levels of corruption are common to these regions, with much illegal trade in animals and little or no law enforcement. Collectors of parrots in the first world pay huge sums for rare parrots. However, research, education and conservation actions are greatly reducing illegal trade in African parrots. This book provides complete coverage of all aspects of the biology of extant African, Malagasy and Mascarene parrots, and reviews our knowledge of extinct and fossil parrots from the region. Particular themes include the behavioural and ecological characteristics of parrots, their species characteristics and conservation biology. Current concepts in avian and conservation biology are also discussed. Parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands is aimed at ornithologists, conservation biologists, avian ecologists, academics, bird watchers and parrot fans alike. It is well illustrated, with high quality original photographs, and includes distribution maps, figures and tables.Table of ContentsConservation biology; systematics; biogeography; intelligence and communication; breeding biology of African parrots; diet and metabolism of African parrots; African longtailed, Vasa and Fossil Parrots; African Parrots; African Lovebirds; Case study of the endangered Cape Parrot; African Parrots in crisis; African Parrot action plan.

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Book Synopsis

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