Freshwater Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment (World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments) [Paperback]

Robin Abell (Author), David M. Olson (Author), Eric Dinerstein (Author), Patrick Hurley (Author), James T. Diggs (Author), William Eichbaum (Author), Steven Walters (Author), Wesley Wettengel (Author), Tom Allnutt (Author), Colby J. Loucks (Author), Prashant Hedao (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 155963734X | ISBN-13: 978-1559637343 | Publication Date: December 1, 1999 | Edition: 1

North America's freshwater habitats and the extraordinary biodiversity they contain are facing unprecedented threats from a range of sources, including flow alteration, habitat fragmentation, introduced species, and overall land use changes. With nearly every freshwater system suffering from some degree of degradation and conservation resources limited, there is an urgent and practical need to set priorities.As an initial step in identifying those areas where protective and restorative measures should be implemented first, World Wildlife Fund-US assembled a team of leading scientists to conduct a conservation assessment of freshwater ecoregions. "Freshwater Ecoregions of North America" presents that assessment and outlines measures that must be taken to conserve, and in many cases restore, native biodiversity. The book: identifies freshwater ecoregions that support globally outstanding biological diversity assesses the types and immediacy of threats to North American ecoregions identifies gaps in information that hamper an accurate evaluation of biodiversity provides a broad-scale framework for conservation activitiesIn addition, it offers appendixes that provide detailed descriptions of methodologies, raw scores and statistical analysis of results, and an integrated biological distinctiveness and conservation status index. Also included are 21 full-color maps."Freshwater Ecoregions of North America" is an authoritative reference on a subject of vital importance, and will be an essential tool for scientists, conservation professionals, students, and anyone interested in the conservation of North America's freshwater systems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Island Press; 1 edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155963734X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559637343
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,769,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful New Approach, April 19, 2000

By 

J Cash (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freshwater Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment (World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments) (Paperback)

The first approach anywhere that looks not only at scale of biodiversity loss and priorities for conservation for our often over-looked freshwater resources. This book is essential for anyone who truly cares about North America's diverse natural habitats.

The maps in the book are wonderful. They effectively convey areas which are spectacular and also the areas that are most threatened.

5.0 out of 5 stars Green Lantern..., December 26, 2000

By 

Emmanuel Levinas (Jerusalem) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freshwater Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment (World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments) (Paperback)

In the sphere of the social sciences, a long standing bias has existed against the so-called "natural sciences:" the lack of rhetorical power, and more simply, of terminological variability, has turned away sociologists, anthropologists, and historians from the literature of natural science. This bias is evident, but at base, irrational, at least by the uniform standards for scholarship that transcends disciplines. After all, the sociologist cannot simply write-off the work of the economist, just because of language.

This important work, although highly priced, must be read by social scientists as well as by natural scientists. Editor Robin Abell, with her talented staff at WWF-USA, have put together an inherently readable account of what "ecoregions" are threatened, while enumerating the attributes and possible threats to these areas. A reader, like myself, who knows little about such things , is sure to find themself surprisingly drawn to what otherwise seem like trivialities. For example, the consistent format of the volume, from section to section, provides the reader with a template, or general design, by which whole areas of geography can be understood.

And this understanding goes past the parochial association of one region with the "political unit" it is found in.

The title of this mini-review was not only meant to be teasing: it is my hope that more writers and editors adopt the style that Abell et al. have established. Perhaps then important subjects like this can climb closer to the center of the public conscience.