            
 |
|
|
Wildlife Conservation in China: Preserving the Habitat of China's Wild West
|
||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Comments/Reviews
Description: Very little is known about the issue of wildlife conservation within China. Even China specialists get a meager ration of stories about pandas giving birth in zoos, or poachers in some remote setting being apprehended. But what does the future hold for China's wildlife?
In this thoughtful work the leading U.S. expert on wildlife projects in Western China presents a multi-faceted assessment of the topic. Richard B. Harris draws on twenty years of experience working in China, and incorporates perspectives ranging from biology through Chinese history and tradition, to interpret wildlife conservation issues in a cultural context.
In non-technical language Harris shows that, particularly in its vast western sections where most species of wildlife still have a chance to survive, China has adopted a strongly preservationist, "hands-off" approach to wildlife without confronting the larger and more difficult problem of habitat loss. This policy treats wildlife conservation as a strictly technical problem--and thus prioritizes captive breeding to meet the demand for animal products--while ignoring the manifold cultural, social, and economic dimensions that truly dictate how wild animals will fare in their interaction with the physical and human environments. The author concludes that any successes this policy achieves will be temporary.
Selected Contents:
Map of China
Foreword by George B. Schaller
Preface
Acknowledgments
Note on Sources
Photographys follow page 120
1. Introduction
2. China's Wild West: Geography Is Destiny
3. The Chinese Perception of Wildlife
4. Animals: Wild, Captive and Domestic
5. Chinese Legal Institutions and Wildlife
6. Nature Reserves: Poor Substitutes for Comprehensive Nature Resource Management
7. Species Stories
8. Trophy Hunting: Opportunities Squandered
9. Chinese Wildlife Science
10. A Future for Wildlife in Western China
Name of Animals Mentioned in Text
Photo credits Notes
Bibliography
Index
Comment(s): "Western China is a land of mystery, striking landscapes, and abundant biological resources. Rich Harris is an astute observer of the dramatic changes that have affected the natural resources of this region over the past two decades (and which continue unabated today), and their impact on the region's people and its biodiversity. In Wildlife Conservation in China he presents a thoughtful, penetrating and honest analysis of the challenges, and draws upon these observations to outline a model for future wildlife conservation in the region." -- Andrew T. Smith, Arizona State University
"This is an important book that everyone interested in Tibet and the environment should read." -- Melvyn C. Goldstein, Case Western Reserve University
"Few conservationists have the training required to fully understand, let alone address, the multi-faceted problems facing wildlife conservation. What makes Wildlife Conservation in China so exceptional is that Rich Harris not only succeeds in doing this, but he does so with respect to a vast nation with languages and cultures so different from his own. Harris's breadth and depth of analysis are simply astounding. This book is a must read for anyone interested in nature conservation and Asian cultures, or a more informed approach to understanding complex, interdisciplinary problems." -- Richard Reading, Director of Conservation Biology, Denver Zoological Foundation
"Rich Harris has written a masterful study of challenges to wildlife conservation in China's western regions ... which contain 55 percent of China's territory but less than 7 percent of its population. ... Harris is a wildlife biologist. Based on his exhaustive survey of western and Chinese sources as well as his field studies of China's wildlife over 20 years, he crafts a comprehensive description and analysis of the status of species and ecosystems. He enlivens the treatment with case studies, local detail, and personal anecdotes, which makes for very interesting reading. ... I recommend the volume highly not only to environmental specialists and China scholars but also to general readers." -- Jerry McBeath, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Review(s): Written by an American wildlife scientist who has considerable on-the-ground experience in western China, this book has something for everyone. ... A thought-provoking read for both environmentalists and those interested in social policy. The China Quarterly
With a farsighted Foreword by the renowned field biologist, George Schaller, Richard Harris presents a well-conceived and ably written examination of the challenges China faces in conserving wildlife in its vast western regions. ... Wildlife Conservation of China should be required reading for anyone interested in conservation of biodiversity and nature resource management in western China. For that matter, anyone who thinks they are a 'China Hand' should find the book valuable. ... Wildlife Conservation in China offers a rich multidimensional analysis of biodiversity conservation issues and provides stimulating and though-provoking arguments for changing the course of wildlife conservation efforts in China's Wild West. Harris should be commended for this ground-breaking work. Environmental Conservation
The excellent 16-page photo section and the extensive notes section greatly enrich and complement the text. ... This knowledge is essential in developing effective wildlife policy and management paradigms in China. The Journal of Wildlife Management
Through his work and travels, Harris was able to develop some authentic insights into the challenges of wildlife conservation in China, as his book clearly shows. He discusses many important issues not even touched upon in most other books and papers written on the topic. ... The text is a reflection of a well-informed author who has clearly put much thought into the problems in the Chinese field. His opinions about hunting and sustainable use, nature reserves, and captive breeding of wildlife in western China, as well as his frankness and critiques about wildlife protection law are invaluable to stakeholders. The Wildlife Professional
Harris is the first biologist to address in detail the sociocultural context and environmental law and policy framework (or lack thereof) that so deeply influence doing conservation in China. This is a major achievement. ... Another strength is his informal tone; this book is accessible to laypeople and experts alike. The 36-page literature-cited section (with both Chinese and English references) is the best current bibliography on Chinese conservation topics. Conservation Biology
As environmental issues in China begin to garner widespread attention, Richard Harris's timely volume on the relatively ignored problem of wildlife conservation fills an important gap in the literature. Equally important, Harris provides a broad survey of both English and Chinese-language scholarship on this important topic. Nomadic Peoples, Vol.12, No.2
The matters presented in this volume will offer students and researchers a very useful point of entry into the major environmental challenges currently confronting China. The China Journal
The book is a considerable success and deserves a wide readership, not only by wildlife specialists and enthusiasts, but also those with a more general interest in China. The book is produced to a high standard, with excellent layout, lists of animals in English, Latin and Chinese, detailed and flaw-free references, and a well-presented index. Biological Conservation
    
|