Assessing the Conservation Value of Freshwaters: An International Perspective

by Philip J. Boon, Catherine M. Pringle

Overview

Freshwater is a valuable resource for human populations, and has many uses such as water for drinking, hydroelectric power and recreation. This creates conflict between conservation and exploitation. This book explores various aspects of conservation evaluation, including the selection of important areas for protection, responding to threats from catchment development, and determining the restoration potential of degraded water bodies. Aimed at academic researchers, graduate students and professionals, chapters are written by pairs of UK and US authors, who compare methods used for evaluating rivers and lakes for conservation in these countries who share a long history of freshwater science, but approach nature conservation very differently. Sweden, Australia and South Africa are also examined, and there is a chapter on developing countries, allowing examination of the role of social and economic conditions in conservation ethics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521848855
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/02/2009
Series:	Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Philip J. Boon is a Policy and Advice Director at the Scottish Natural Heritage. He is founder and Chief Editor of the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

Catherine M. Pringle is a Research Professor in the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. She serves as Chair of the Conservation Ecology Graduate Program at UGA and has been a recipient of their Creative Research Medal.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Philip J. Boon and Catherine M. Pringle; 2. Background, philosophy and context Philip J. Boon and Catherine M. Pringle; 3. Freshwater conservation in action: contrasting approaches in the US and UK Catherine Pringle and David Withrington; 4. So much to do, so little time: identifying priorities for freshwater biodiversity conservation in the United States and Britain Jonathan Higgins and Catherine Duigan; 5. Responding to environmental threats within the UK and North America Christopher A. Frissell and Colin W. Bean; 6. Evaluating restoration potential T. E. L. Langford and C. A. Frissell; 7. Methods for assessing the conservation value of rivers Philip J. Boon and Mary Freeman; 8. Methods for assessing the conservation value of lakes Laurie Duker and Margaret Palmer; 9. System aqua – a Swedish system for assessing nature conservation values of freshwaters Eva Willén; 10. Evaluating Australian freshwaters for nature conservation Jon Nevill and Andrew Boulton; 11. Evaluating freshwaters in South Africa Jay O'Keeffe and Christa Thirion; 12. Evaluating freshwaters in developing countries Robin Abell and Mark Bryer; 13. Conclusions Catherine M. Pringle and Philip J. Boon.

Editorial Reviews

"I shall use the book in my own teaching on the conservation of freshwaters...I recommend it, especially as an example of science meeting policy and action, and for bridging the Atlantic"
Mark Young, Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

From the Publisher