Conservation: A Beginner's Guide

Beginner's Guide (Oneworld Publications)

by Paul Jepson, Richard J. Ladle

Modern conservation for a planet in meltdown - and why it just might work!At a time of unparalleled environmental change, there has never been a greater need for new ways of defending nature. In this forward-thinking work, Paul Jepson and Richard Ladle cover all aspects of modern conservation to provide a fascinating look into how we're fighting for the earth's species and habitats, as well as details on where conservation is heading, and how we can all contribute. Because, it'll be far more than just a pity when we lose the polar bears, pandas, and parrots.

Genres: Wildlife

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broad overview of the history of the conservation movement since its beginnings in the 19th century through to the heydays of the 1990s, when the big 3 conservation NGOs (WWF, CI and Nature Conservancy)became truly multinational in scale. Also introduces the basic science behind conservation biology, how protected areas are managed, how financing is raised, criticisms and current issues and trends. All in all a handy and slim guide useful as a jumping off point for further reading into specific areas of interest. I found the 'insider' view of conservation funding and the politics of conservation vs indigenous settlers particularly insightful, something not easily gleaned from textbooks or through the news media. Although broad strokes are used here to portray the practice of nature conservation, this book would be interesting for anyone remotely curious about the field.

[Ella M · Rating 1 out of 5]

An antiquated, somewhat colonial, and definitely limited perspective on the field of conservation. Conservation must, can, and should do better than most of what this book outlines. Also, not critical enough of the field, its practices, or its future. As someone working and studying in this field, I would say there is better material out there.

[Fahrul Amama · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth review of what conservation is all about. I enjoy reading every chapter, especially chapter 7: Conservation's Critics. "It is not a choice between doing conservation well or doing it badly: it is about trying to find ways of changing that succeed in the messy and political real world."