Before They Vanish: Saving Nature's Populations — and Ourselves

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Paul R. Ehrlich (Bing Professor of Populations Studies Emeritus, Stanford University) Gerardo Ceballos (Instituto de Ecologia, UNAM, UNAM)

Before They Vanish

Saving Nature's Populations — and Ourselves

Paul R. Ehrlich (Bing Professor of Populations Studies Emeritus, Stanford University), Gerardo Ceballos (Instituto de Ecologia, UNAM, UNAM), Rodolfo Dirzo (Stanford University)

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English

Johns Hopkins University Press
20 August 2024

Biology, life sciences; Applied ecology; Endangered species & extinction of species; Environmental science, engineering & technology

Legendary conservationists show us that we still have the power to prevent critical consequences of the sixth extinction in this game-changing book.

Can we save threatened animals and ecosystems in the midst of a mass extinction? The answer is a resounding yes! Before They Vanish shows us how. In this wise and impassioned book, renowned conservation scientists Paul R. Ehrlich, Gerardo Ceballos, and Rodolfo Dirzo urge us to shift our thinking rather than succumb to grief over the losses that humanity faces. This comprehensive look at a crucial but often overlooked aspect of conservation—population extinction, or the loss of a species within a specific geographic location—guides us onto a new, hopeful path.

The authors argue that conservationists have placed too much emphasis on the extinction of entire species, which occurs gradually enough that we only detect it in the direst of cases. By that time, meaningful action may be impossible. By shifting our focus to identifying extinction threats at the more localized population level, we can intervene more rapidly and effectively to prevent broader declines before it's too late. This change in perspective represents a critical step in saving these vanishing species; early detection and intervention may be our last, best hope for stemming the tide of this global crisis.

Using examples from the worlds of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, the authors explain the concept of population extinction, its causes and consequences, and how to prevent the mass destruction of the amazing and unique creatures with whom we share our planet. This call to action is a must-read for anyone concerned with saving endangered and threatened species, our natural world—and ourselves.

By: Paul R. Ehrlich (Bing Professor of Populations Studies Emeritus Stanford University), Gerardo Ceballos (Instituto de Ecologia, UNAM, UNAM), Rodolfo Dirzo (Stanford University)
Imprint: Johns Hopkins University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 31mm
Weight: 680g
ISBN: 9781421449692
ISBN 10: 1421449692
Pages: 392
Publication Date: 20 August 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Foreword Jared Diamond Preface Chapter 1. From Origins to Extinction Chapter 2. The Sixth Mass Extinction Chapter 3. Lost and Vanishing Mammals Chapter 4. Bird Songs Long Gone and Declining Chapter 5. The Silent Crisis: Other Vertebrates Chapter 6. Ignored Victims: Invertebrates Chapter 7. Vanishing Green: Plants—Our Emerald Treasure Chapter 8. Microbes: A Hidden World Chapter 9. Defaunation Chapter 10. Drivers of Extinction Chapter 11. Nature's Decline: The Costs Chapter 12. The Cure: A Bittersweet Pill Notes References Standard and Scientific Name Index Subject Index

Paul R. Ehrlich is the emeritus Bing Professor of Population Studies in the Department of Biology and the president of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University. He is the author of The Population Bomb and Human Natures: Genes, Cultures, and the Human Prospect. Gerardo Ceballos, one of the world's leading ecologists, is a professor at the Institute of Ecology at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). He has established more than twenty protected areas in Mexico and is the author or coauthor of more than 55 books. Ehrlich and Ceballos are coauthors of The Annihilation of Nature: Human Extinction of Birds and Mammals. Rodolfo Dirzo, one of the world's leading conservation scientists, is the Bing Professor of Environmental Science in the Departments of Biology and Earth Systems Science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment.

Reviews for Before They Vanish: Saving Nature's Populations — and Ourselves

One of the most powerful and important books on the global environmental crises humanity faces. —Independent Australia A call to action....Civilisation depends on natural systems for the services they provide. Allowing them to disappear not only threatens civilisation itself but, as the authors insist, it is 'just plain morally wrong.' —Sustainable Population Australia Ehrlich and his colleagues present powerful evidence of global wildlife decline and more extinctions to come....Grief for what has been lost permeates the book. And the authors, whose careers have spanned a period of dramatic wildlife decline, use personal anecdotes and rich imagery to powerful effect. —Nature