Do We Need Pandas?
The Uncomfortable Truth About Biodiversity
1st Edition
Published on 28. April 2011
160 pages
978-0-85784-004-2 (ISBN)
Description
How much do we really know about the species that make up the natural world?
All over the world, biodiversity is gravely threatened - by overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Yet life on Earth has previously experienced five episodes of mass extinction, and nature has repeatedly proved itself to be a resilient, regenerative force.
In this fascinating book, ecologist Dr. Ken Thompson surveys the Earth's biodiversity, its origins and some of the threats it currently faces. Thought-provoking and deeply engaging, Do We Need Pandas? offers a non-technical overview of our ecosystems and expands on the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss.
Importantly, it also examines what we should be doing to secure the survival not only of the species with which we share the planet, but of ourselves - and whether we need to be more concerned about ecosystems as a whole than about iconic species such as the orangutan and giant Panda.
All over the world, biodiversity is gravely threatened - by overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Yet life on Earth has previously experienced five episodes of mass extinction, and nature has repeatedly proved itself to be a resilient, regenerative force.
In this fascinating book, ecologist Dr. Ken Thompson surveys the Earth's biodiversity, its origins and some of the threats it currently faces. Thought-provoking and deeply engaging, Do We Need Pandas? offers a non-technical overview of our ecosystems and expands on the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss.
Importantly, it also examines what we should be doing to secure the survival not only of the species with which we share the planet, but of ourselves - and whether we need to be more concerned about ecosystems as a whole than about iconic species such as the orangutan and giant Panda.
Reviews / Votes
I would recommend this book as a very good read to anyone involved in nature conservation. * Journal of Biological Education * To those of us who do not have ready access to scientific periodicals, this short book is a revelation. * Garden Talk * Do We Need Pandas? is an accessible and engaging read. The author's ideas are well organised, with specific examples cited to demonstrate what is being discussed. * National Library of Scotland * I'm not a scientific expert [...] but I could see the well-reasoned logic of Thompson's argument. And, if all those delegates in Nagoya could read this and note that just $5 billion (US) could solve the most urgent conservation problem, they might be won over, too. * Resource Magazine * Closing with reasons to be cheerful, it offers a fresh and fascinating look at a subject of increasing importance. * Positive News * By putting the focus only on what nature can do for us, Thompson leaves open to possibilities that ecosystems that do not deliver sufficient services might be thrown out with all the biodiversity that they contain. * Nature * This readable book persuasively explains the calamity of the modern biodiversity crisis and presents a thoughtful analysis of how best to conserve the world's species. * Plant Life *More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
7 black and white illustrations.
ISBN-13
978-0-85784-004-2 (9780857840042)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2010
Green Books
€36.08
Article not available at the moment
Person
Dr. Ken Thompson recently retired as Senior Research Fellow and Honorary Senior Lecturer of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield. He is author of several books, including The Books of Weeds, An Ear to the Ground: Understanding Your Garden and No Nettles Required: The reassuring truth about wildlife gardening, and co-author of The Ecology of Seeds.
Content
Foreword by Tony Kendle
Introduction
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity: where and why?
Inside species
What is biodiversity worth?
Threats to biodiversity
Are species necessary?
Reasons to be cheerful?
Glossary
References
Introduction
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity: where and why?
Inside species
What is biodiversity worth?
Threats to biodiversity
Are species necessary?
Reasons to be cheerful?
Glossary
References
