Wildlife in the Anthropocene : conservation after nature /

Jamie Lorimer has written a very provocative and relevant book about the future of conservation. Lorimer (geography and the environment, Oxford Univ., UK) argues that traditional nature-based approaches to conservation are no longer relevant or effective in an era where the human footprint and human cultural forces have impacted the entire globe. This era, which has been termed the Anthropocene, represents a reality where few if any planetary processes on Earth are not influenced by human activity. Lorimer explores in detail, using case examples, the impact of culture on nature as a concept. He then presents a new, non-nature model based approach wherein wildlife supplants nature as the focus of conservation. Readers may find the first half of this book dense and pretentious as Lorimer builds a philosophical base. This becomes the springboard for the second half, which readers will find more accessible and definitely thought provoking, if not controversial. The book is well suited for graduate seminars that explore policy, governance, and conservation philosophy. It would also be suitable for an advanced undergraduate honors project. Practitioners, particularly policy makers and advisers, will be particularly interested in this book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. --John F. Organ, University of Massachusetts Amherst