Newswise — A comprehensive book of essays, highlighting the most pressing conservation issues facing the globe, was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The essays, penned by top thought leaders, focus on such issues as diseases shared by animals and people; and the challenge of saving wildlife in political hotspots, such as Afghanistan. State of the Wild: A Global Portrait of Wildlife, Wildlands, and Oceans, the book is a definitive, in-depth look at the current trends affecting wildlife across all continents.
The book features a wide range of writers, from David Quammen, author of 11 books on natural history; to top scientists including climate expert James Hansen of NASA; and Wildlife Conservation Society President and CEO Dr. Steven E. Sanderson.
The book " the second of a series " is a biennial production of WCS and Island Press. The special section for this volume is entitled: "Emerging Diseases and Conservation: One World-One Health," which examines the rapidly developing issues of diseases shared by humans, wildlife, domestic animals and ecosystems. Several essays by leading experts analyze how habitat degradation, increased livestock production, wildlife trade, and other ecosystem disturbances have fostered conditions ripe for resurging and emerging pathogens such as avian influenza, SARS and West Nile virus.
Other essays address key issues in the conservation of species and wild places; people, culture, and conservation; and the art and practice of conservation. State of the Wild's leading-edge overviews serve as a valuable reference, and its accessible style is perfect for a broader audience. State of the Wild brings the deeper stories behind wildlife conservation into the public forum.
"Conservationists often focus on losses, rather than successes," said Sanderson. "We sometimes miss the opportunity to be part of a human-friendly solution for the Earth's future. State of the Wild allows us to think more broadly about living with wildlife as conservationists and stewards of the Earth."
State of the Wild draws on the intellectual resources of all WCS departments, while non-WCS authors represent institutions such as the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Island Conservation, The National Aviary, and universities across the globe.
"State of the Wild affords us a comprehensive, engaging look at the ecological health of our planet today. With careful, thoughtful essays that provide an up-to-date account of the state of conservation of species and ecosystems, this book is a call-to-action, a sobering analysis of global conservation and biodiversity and what the world is doing to help," said Maya Lin, environmental artist and advocate for sustainable design, who reviewed the book.
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. Visit: http://www.wcs.org
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