Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States [Hardcover]

Bruce A. Stein (Editor), Lynn S. Kutner (Editor), Jonathan S. Adams (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0195125193 | ISBN-13: 978-0195125191

From the lush forests of Appalachia to the frozen tundra of Alaska, and from the tallgrass prairies of the Midwest to the subtropical rainforests of Hawaii, the United States harbors a remarkable array of ecosystems. These ecosystems in turn sustain an exceptional variety of plant and animal life. For species such as salamanders and freshwater turtles, the United States ranks as the global center of diversity. Among the nation's other unique biological features are California's coast redwoods, the world's tallest trees, and Nevada's Devils Hole pupfish, which survives in a single ten-by-seventy-foot desert pool, the smallest range of any vertebrate animal.
Precious Heritage draws together for the first time a quarter century of information on U.S. biodiversity developed by natural heritage programs from across the country. This richly illustrated volume not only documents those aspects of U.S. biodiversity that are particularly noteworthy, but also considers how our species and ecosystems are faring, what is threatening them, and what is needed to protect the nation's remaining natural inheritance. Above all, Precious Heritage is a celebration of the extraordinary biological diversity of the United States.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

This comprehensive (and extremely handsome) book analyzes patterns of biological diversity in the U.S.-a vast area that stretches from above the Arctic Circle to below the Tropic of Cancer. The country's 200,000 species (double previous counts) are not faring well. Roughly one third are at risk; 500 are already extinct or missing. Precious Heritage identifies the first ever "hot spots" where conservation efforts would be especially important, and challenges us to consider the scale of habitat conservation that will be needed to protect entire ecological systems. Some of the leading experts on the subject, E. O. Wilson writes in the foreword, "invite us to turn inward, not by abandoning global conservation but by conserving our own fauna and flora in a manner that will set a shining example for the rest of the world."

Editors of Scientific American

Review

"[This] is a skillfully written and visually appealing book that calls on the American people to fully appreciate the rich, but threatened, biodiversity of the United States. Under the joint direction of The Nature Conservancy and the Association for Biodiversity Information, the twenty-six contributors to Precious Heritage survey and describe America's biodiversity and discuss the serious stresses this rich heritage is undergoing. After many chapters dedicated to this thorough exposition, Precious Heritage culminates its American journey by offering concrete suggestions for safeguarding the natural heritage that is described and beautifully photographed throughout this valuable book. . . . In its totality, Precious Heritage offers readers an invaluable education in U.S. biodiversity. . . .Such a shining example is Precious Heritage, and this book will encourage efforts to protect America's natural endowment." -- Environmental Law

"Precious Heritage is worth owning and is satisfying to read. The writing is interesting, the layout is attractive, the photographs are excellent (although I wish that some had been larger), and the paper is of high quality. . . . [It's themes place] the emphasis on geographic patterns and connections, on conserving ecosystems in order to conserve species and ecological processes, and on the conflict between agriculture and biodiversity. I highly recommend this book for general reading, for college courses, and for persuading legislators of the opportunities for protecting unique, wonderful, and vulnerable species and ecosystems in the United States." -- Wild Earth

"Overall, the book is engagingly written, lavishly illustrated both with photos and maps that display the results of the analyses, and peppered with detailed examples of the species and communities that are the focus of our conservation concern. It is also extremely well edited. Although it has over 25 authors, the book reads with a common voice and consistent style. I can think of no other data-rich reference book that also provides anecdotes about Louis Agassiz, J.J. Audubon, the Bartrams, Lewis and Clark, and Phil Pister[I]t will make a welcome addition to the library of anyone interested in any aspect of conservation in the United States, including those who are responsible for managing natural areas. The book's ability to provide detailed information on species and communities in specific regions of the United Statesas well as describe conditions in the United States as a whole makes it an entertaining read and a valuable reference."--Natural Areas Journal

"[M]ay be the most comprehensive survey of biological diversity in America. ... until now, the information ... had never been pulled together to produce a portrait of the status of wild America."--The New York Times

"[A] welcome resource for everybody who wants to do the right thing for future generations while still living well today. ... In a very accessible format -- clearly written text accompanied by numerous figures, maps, charts and tables -- Precious Heritage explains how the data has been collected and analyzed, indicates what it can tell us, and provides avenues for preservation. ... all planners -- governmental, corporate, not-for-profit -- should have a copy of Precious Heritage on their desks ..."--Corporate Environmental Strategy

"[T]he most comprehensive look yet at the United States' creatures, plants, and biomes in a richly illustrated, 400-page tome ..."--Science

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 399 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 16, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195125193
• ISBN-13: 978-0195125191
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biodiversity, April 6, 2000

By 

David C. Culver (American University, Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States (Hardcover)

The word biodiversity often conjures up visions of tropical rain forests, and for good reason. They contain more species than anywhere else in the world. But, as this lavishly illustrated and well written book attests there is a great deal of biodiversity in the U.S. In fact, U.S. is the richest country in terms of numbers of species for several groups inclulding freshwater mussels and crayfishes. The authors take us through the groups of plants and animals in the U.S. with a combination of natural history descriptions, photographs, maps, and when appropriate, data summaries. The maps are really noteworthy, because they add a great deal to the book both visually and in terms of understanding the patterns. The book is well worthy the cost just for the photos and maps. Later chapters address the patterns of rarity, threats, and protection strategies. In terms of style and content, it rests between David Wilcove's, The Condor's Shadow and Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment by Taylor Ricketts et al. Precious Heritage belongs on the bookshelves of everyone interested in and concerned about biodiversity in the U.S.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for both environemtnalist and professionals, April 5, 2000

By 

J. Estill "---" (GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States (Hardcover)

This book should be on the shelf of environmentalist interested in biodiversity as well as professional conservation biologists. The authors provide a well written introduction to our understanding of biodiversity and the ways that we measure it. They also provide overviews of the geographic trends in biodiversity, the current threats to this diversity, and offer a perspective on the ways that we proactively maintain this "precious heritage". The book also provides a perspective that allows professional conservation biologists to see their work in a large scale biogeographic framework, and provides some of the data needed to allow scientists to move from writing epitaphs for dying species to proactively conserving diversity.