Biodiversity is the key indicator of a healthy palnet and healthy society. Losses of biodiversity have now becom widespread and current rates are potentially catastrophic for species and habitat integrity. Biodiversity, Sustainability and Human Communitties advocates both the preservation of the best remaining habitas and the enhancement of new biodiverse habitats to ensure that they cope with human impact, climate change and alien species invasion. The authors argue that these aims can be achieved by a mix of strict protection, inclusive involement of people inside and adjacent to reseves, and by combingin livelihoods and social well-being in all future biodiversity management. Case studies from regions around the world, including Europe, the United States, Latin America and Aft\rica, are examined and discussed, and the contributors include political scientists, economists and ecologists.
Tim O'riordan is Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, and member of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.
Susanne stoll-kleemann is an independent researcher into bildiversity and sustainability affiliated to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and to the Free University of Berlin.
Cover illustration: Edward Parker/WWF-UK: People and Planet Inheritors of the planet from 4-22 years involved in environmental activities on their own reserve La Cocha, near Psto, Columbia.
Part 1 Setting the scent
Part 2 Policy and management
Part 3 Case sutdies
Part 4 Perspective