Book Summary of Challenges in the Conservation of Biological Resources: A Practitioner's Guide by Daniel J. Decker, Marianne E. Krasney, Gary R. Goff, Charles R. Smith, David W. Gross, (eds)

Challenges in the Conservation of Biological Resources: A Practitioner's Guide, Daniel J. Decker, Marianne E. Krasney, Gary R. Goff, Charles R. Smith, David W. Gross, (eds), (Colorado: Westview Press, 1991), 380 pp.

Challenges in the Conservation of Biological Resources: A Practitioner's Guide will be of interest to those who wish to broaden their understanding of the complexities of the relationship between the conservation of biological resources and endangered species and habitat preservation. The work is a collection of the writing of multiple authors divided into five sections, each with an overarching topic. The first of these sections addresses the basic considerations for the conservation of biological resources. Following an introduction by Daniel J. Decker are three essays. The first of these asserts the need for a focus on practitioners in conservation; the second proposes roles for land and resource managers in conserving biological diversity. The final essay of this section is J. Baird Callicott's "Conservation of Biological Resources: Responsibility to Nature and Future Generations".

The second section examines the conceptual foundations of conservation with an introduction by Thomas A. Gavin who also contributes an essay which offers new approaches in managing biodiversity. Other essays in this section include: one promoting landscape ecology as an approach to resource management, another which urges the consideration of the human dimension in landscape management and an essay which examines restoration ecology. The third section addresses the tools and techniques for conserving biological diversity. Gary R. Goff contributes the introduction to this section. The first and second essays are best considered together. The former is an examination of population viability analysis; the latter considers genetic management of small populations. Lynn A. Maguire discusses the use of decision analysis to manage endangered species. The final two chapters discuss the elements and application of geographic information systems for resource conservation.

Section four presents case studies in conservation of biological resources as a way of integrating the theory and tools presented previously. This constitutes the largest section in the work. The multiple authors consider cases involving: the large scale landscape ecology advocated in section two, the management of coastal and wetland areas as well as suburban landscapes which support insect species, and agricultural areas which support grassland bird species. The final section considers the implications of conservation of land and biological resources for management, education and policy. Charles R. Smith offers an epilogue which addresses challenges in the conservation of biological resources.

Challenges in the Conservation of Biological Resources: A Practitioner's Guide is a well organized collection of essays on the conservation of biological resources. The systematic approach to the topic at hand will be useful to the informed reader.