Cultivating Knowledge of Conservation Biology among the Developing
World
15 October 2010
"The global biodiversity crisis must be dealt with rapidly. Our conscientious efforts to build and share our knowledge on environmental conservation are a small but distinct step in that direction."
Prof Navjot Sodhi , NUS Department of Biological Sciences
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY FOR ALL: Prof Navjot Sodhi of the NUS Department of Biological Sciences
With the publication of Conservation Biology for All, conservation scientists from the developing world now have an authoritative textbook on biodiversity matters. Published early this year by Oxford University Press, the book will be available free online from January 2011.
It was conceived and edited by Prof Navjot Sodhi of the NUS Department of Biological Sciences and Prof Paul R. Ehrlich, Bing Professor of Population Studies at Stanford University. Prof Ehrlich is also a Fellow of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics and has authored numerous best-selling books such as The Population Bomb.
"The global biodiversity crisis must be dealt with rapidly. Our conscientious efforts to build and share our knowledge on environmental conservation are a small but distinct step in that direction," noted Prof Sodhi.
Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students as well as scientists, managers and personnel in governmental and non-governmental organisations, the book covers a wide range of topics of importance in conservation biology. Its chapters were written by renowned experts in the field on issues such as habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, overharvesting, climate change and endangered species management.
Elaborating on their motivation behind producing the book, Prod Sodhi said: "Most of the difference that needs to be made in conservation is in developing tropical countries where most of the biodiversity lies. We have developed countries having knowledge control and what we want to do here is to break this knowledge stranglehold."
He said that the arrangement with Oxford University Press is to sell the book for the first 12 months. During this period, royalties obtained will be used for some copies to be made freely available. Readers from the developing world who wish to have copies of the book during this period can obtain it free of charge from a program through the Natural History Bookstore. Prof Sodhi added that none of the authors and editors will gain financially from the project.
Moving forward, Prof Sodhi plans to have a second volume of the book to allow scientists from the developing world to convey their views in conservation biodiversity. He along with Prof Peter Raven plans to collect the views of about 50 biologists on what they think are the major problems in their countries as well as how to mitigate them.