Geodiversity: Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature [Hardcover]

Murray Gray (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470848952 | ISBN-13: 978-0470848951 | Publication Date: December 29, 2003 | Edition: 1

A counterpoint to biodiversity, geodiversity describes the rocks, sediments, soils, fossils, landforms, and the physical processes that underlie our environment. The first book to focus exclusively on the subject, Geodiversity describes the interrelationships between geodiversity and biodiversity, the value of geodiversity to society, as well as current threats to its existence. Illustrated with global case studies throughout, the book examines traditional approaches to protecting biodiversity and the new management agenda which is starting to be used instead.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…thought-provoking and timely volume." (Progress in Physical Geography, Vol.29, No.1, 2005)

From the Back Cover

Since the UN Convention on Biodiversity was signed, attention has been focused on protecting and enhancing biological diversity. However, this does not include the rocks, landforms and processes that form the physical elements of our own environment. These elements have their own diversity – a geodiversity.

Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature is the first book to focus specifically on the geodiversity of the planet and the threats to this diversity, to explain the value of inanimate nature and to assess the approaches that should be taken to conserve it.

This text is unique in several ways:

• Reviews different approaches taken around the world, including USA, Canada, Europe and Australia
• Reviews new ideas including Natural Areas, Landscape Character, georestoration, landform design, sustainable use of geomaterials, Environmental Impact Assessment and Geodiversity Action Plans
• Compares geo- and biodiversity, es tablishes the need for integration of nature conservation strategies, and provides a vision for the future

Beginning with an overall definition and description of geodiversity, this book examines the value of geodiversity to society and the threats that exist to it. It then goes on to survey traditional approaches to protect geodiversity and the new management agenda which is starting to be used in addition. It concludes by looking at the interrelationships of geodiversity and biodiversity and their place in sustainable land management approaches.

This book is for geologists and geomorphologists, nature conservationists, ecologists, landscape planners and architects. It would also make an excellent reference for undergraduates taking courses in Environmental Management, Nature Conservation, Resource Management or Applied Geology within Departments of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, as well as Landscape Architecture, Planning and Archaeology.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470848952
• ISBN-13: 978-0470848951
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,015,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If we can protect biodiversity, can we also protect....rock?, March 31, 2005

By 

James Safranek "Holocene Meltwater" (Steinbeck Country) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Geodiversity: Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature (Paperback)

Gray's answer is yes! Look at it this way: is the Grand Canyon worth protecting because its geology is one-of-a-kind? Of course the answer is yes. But Gray's book makes it clear preservation of other critically important'geoheritage' sites is just as critical as habitat protection. Gray argues for protecting sites with outstanding scientific value for current and future generations. (Utah may be the only state in the U.S. now atttempting to protect private land from development due to an important geological exposure near SLC first noted by G. K. Gilbert.) The U.K. is way ahead on this heritage protection front; after reading this book, it's clear the U.S. needs state by state asessments of geodiversity in need of protection. This book will be useful to geologists with a preservation bent, geographers, and practicing planners involved with env. impact analysis.