Conservation and management of tropical rainforests : an integrated approach to sustainability /

This in-depth review of strategies to preserve forests in tropical regions brings together the principles of forest conservation and management that Bruenig views as needed to sustain a tropical forest ecosystem. There are 11 chapters, two appendixes, an exhaustive reference and further readings section (more than 500 entries), an index to species and major nontimber products, and a subject index. There are also 80 figures and 17 tables, and a section of acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols. An overview of the tropical rainforest ecosystem is followed by a chapter on how rainforests have served endemic Indians, the politics of harvesting rainforests, and the impact they have on global climate. Chapters 3 through 10 provide detailed discussions of aspects leading to sustainability, using examples from a multitude of studies. The last chapter provides interesting insight on failures of various sustainable forest programs and the future needs to maintain sustainability. The depth of information in this work obviously reflects Bruenig's more than 35 years of research and experience in tropical rainforests. For graduate and professional readers. S. L. Timme Pittsburg State University