A Practitioner's Guide to Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation
A Practitioner's Guide to Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation brings together knowledge and experience from conservation practitioners and experts around the world to help readers understand the global challenge of conserving biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. More importantly, it offers specific strategies and suggestions for managers to use in establishing new conservation initiatives or improving the effectiveness of existing initiatives.
The book: offers an understanding of fundamental issues by explaining how ecosystems are structured and how they support biodiversity; provides specific information and approaches for identifying areas most in need of protection; examines promising strategies that can help reduce biodiversity loss; and describes design considerations and methods for measuring success within an adaptive management framework.
The book draws on experience and knowledge gained during a five-year project of The Nature Conservancy known as the Freshwater Initiative, which brought together a range of practitioners to create a learning laboratory for testing ideas, approaches, tools, strategies, and methods.
For professionals involved with land or water management-including state and federal agency staff, scientists and researchers working with conservation organizations, students and faculty involved with freshwater issues or biodiversity conservation, and policymakers concerned with environmental issues-the book represents an important new source of information, ideas, and approaches.
Preface and Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: The Global
Challenge of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation
The Freshwater Crisis: Why Should We Care?
Our Challenge
Chapter 2: Freshwater
Fundamentals: Watersheds, Freshwater Ecosystems and Freshwater
Biodiversity
Watershed Form and Function
Freshwater Ecosystems and Their Variability
Freshwater Biodiversity
Chapter 3: Focusing
Freshwater Conservation Efforts
What Biodiversity Should Be Conserved and Where Should It
Be Conserved?
How Can the Biodiversity Be Most Effectively Conserved?
Integrating Regional and Conservation Area Planning
Chapter 4: Understanding
Threats to Freshwater Biodiversity and Developing Effective
Conservation Strategies
Introduction
Water Use and Management
Dams
Surface Water Diversions
Altered Bed and Bank Structure
Groundwater Exploitation
Land Use and Management
Agriculture
Urbanization and Industrialization
Forestry
Mining
Recreation
Overharvesting and Fisheries Management
Invasive Alien Species
Chapter 5: Measuring
Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation Success
Designing a Freshwater Monitoring Program: Purposes, Priorities, and
Indicators
Designing a Freshwater Monitoring Program: Crucial Components of a
Monitoring Program
Key to Conservation Success: Monitoring within an Adaptive Management
Framework
Appendices
Appendix A. Ecological Characteristics of Freshwater Ecosystem Types
Appendix B. Indicators of Freshwater Ecological Integrity
You may purchase this title at fine bookstores across the United States. Outside the USA, see our international sales information.
