Conservation Across Borders: Biodiversity in an Interdependent World / Edition 1

by Charles C. Chester

Overview

Conservationists have long been aware that political boundaries rarely coincide with natural boundaries. From the establishment of early "peace parks" to the designation of continental migratory pathways, a wide range of transborder mechanisms to protect biodiversity have been established by conservationists in both the public and private sectors.
Conservation Across Borders presents a broad overview of the history of transboundary conservation efforts and an accessible introduction to current issues surrounding the subject. Through detailed examinations of two initiatives, the International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) and the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative (Y2Y), the book helps readers understand the benefits and challenges of landscape-scale protection.

In addition to discussing general concepts and the specific experience of ISDA and Y2Y, the author considers the emerging concept of "conservation effectiveness" and offers a comparative analysis of the two projects. The book ends with a discussion of the complex relationships among civil society, governments, and international borders.

By considering the history, goals, successes, and failures of two divergent initiatives, the book offers important insights into the field of transborder conservation along with valuable lessons for those studying or working in the field.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781559636117
Publisher:	Island Press
Publication date:	03/11/2006
Edition description:	1
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Charles C. Chester teaches at Brandeis University and the Fletcher School at Tufts University with a focus on global environmental politics. He is currently editing a volume on climate change and landscape-scale biodiversity conservation, and is working with The Nature Conservancy to integrate two online resources on climate change and conservation. He has consulted for the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and has served on the boards of Bat Conservation International and Root Capital. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

Table of Contents

Preface
 
Chapter 1. Rising Above the Territories of Chance
Chapter 2. The Multiple Personalities of Transborder Conservation
Chapter 3. Border Biosphere Reserves and The International Sonoran Desert Alliance
Chapter 4. Landscape Vision and the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Chapter 5. Conservation Effectiveness in the Territories of Chance
 
Acknowledgments
List Of Interviewees
List Of Abbreviations
A Note On Web Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

"...will benefit those interested in environmental efforts, organizational development, and international cooperation between citizens of different countries."

CHOICE

"When it comes to the complex world of large landscape conservation, we must look to the past for lessons while striving ahead. This book helps us do that."

Wildlands Project, director, Ottawa, Canada - Mary Granskou

"For any conservation practitioner it is valuable to find people like Chester who devote a significant portion of their time and intellect carefully documenting, synthesizing, and contrasting major conservation efforts around the world. They help to keep them alive and continue to grow."

The International Journal of Conservation Oryx

"Written with scholarly precision yet accessible to lay readers as well as environmental activists, Conservation Across Borders is strongly recommended reading especially for anyone involved in a large-scale environmental movement, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past."

Midwest Book Review

"Conservation Across Borders is a profound book—revealing that what seems a nice idea, indeed on further thought a fundamental idea for a sustainable future, is in fact based on a complex and dynamic reality. No conservation practitioner can afford to be without it. A marvelous achievement, destined to be a conservation classic."

president, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment - Thomas Lovejoy

"...will benefit those interested in environmental efforts, organizational development, and international cooperation between citizens of different countries...Summing up: Recommended."

CHOICE - W. Ouderkirk

"For any conservation practitioner it is valuable to find people like Chester who devote a significant portion of their time and intellect carefully documenting, synthesizing, and contrasting major conservation efforts around the world. They help to keep them alive and continue to grow."

Oryx - Jon Paul Rodriguez

Conservation Across Borders: Biodiversity In An Interdependent World by Charles C. Chester (Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Fletcher School at Tuffs University) broadly chronicles the history of environmental conservation movements that have extended past the borders of nations. In particular, Conservation Across Borders focuses upon the International Sonoran Desert Alliance and the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative as case studies to help the reader understand the unique challenges of coordinating landscape-scale protective efforts. The final chapter makes a bold contribution to the newly evolving field of "conservation effectiveness", and the lessons that can be learned from modern history. Written with scholarly precision yet accessible to lay readers as well as environmental activists, Conservation Across Borders is strongly recommended reading especially for anyone involved in a large-scale environmental movement, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Midwest Book Review - James Cox

"For any conservation practitioner it is valuable to find people like Chester who devote a significant portion of their time and intellect carefully documenting, synthesizing, and contrasting major conservation efforts around the world. They help to keep them alive and continue to grow."

Oryx

"...will benefit those interested in environmental efforts, organizational development, and international cooperation between citizens of different countries."

Choice