Assessing the Conservation Value of Freshwaters
An International Perspective

Explores ways of assessing the nature conservation value of rivers and lakes, principally in the UK and US.

Philip J. Boon (Edited by), Catherine M. Pringle (Edited by)

9780521848855, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 April 2009

304 pages, 8 b/w illus. 36 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.9 cm, 0.62 kg

'… the standard of writing is good … anyone wishing to have a sound introduction to the evaluation of rivers and lakes for conservation purposes will find this volume a very good source of authoritative information.' The Geographical Journal

Freshwater is a valuable resource for human populations, and has many uses such as water for drinking, hydroelectric power and recreation. This creates conflict between conservation and exploitation. This book explores various aspects of conservation evaluation, including the selection of important areas for protection, responding to threats from catchment development, and determining the restoration potential of degraded water bodies. Aimed at academic researchers, graduate students and professionals, chapters are written by pairs of UK and US authors, who compare methods used for evaluating rivers and lakes for conservation in these countries who share a long history of freshwater science, but approach nature conservation very differently. Sweden, Australia and South Africa are also examined, and there is a chapter on developing countries, allowing examination of the role of social and economic conditions in conservation ethics.

1. Introduction Philip J. Boon and Catherine M. Pringle
2. Background, philosophy and context Philip J. Boon and Catherine M. Pringle
3. Freshwater conservation in action: contrasting approaches in the US and UK Catherine Pringle and David Withrington
4. So much to do, so little time: identifying priorities for freshwater biodiversity conservation in the United States and Britain Jonathan Higgins and Catherine Duigan
5. Responding to environmental threats within the UK and North America Christopher A. Frissell and Colin W. Bean
6. Evaluating restoration potential T. E. L. Langford and C. A. Frissell
7. Methods for assessing the conservation value of rivers Philip J. Boon and Mary Freeman
8. Methods for assessing the conservation value of lakes Laurie Duker and Margaret Palmer
9. System aqua – a Swedish system for assessing nature conservation values of freshwaters Eva Willén
10. Evaluating Australian freshwaters for nature conservation Jon Nevill and Andrew Boulton
11. Evaluating freshwaters in South Africa Jay O'Keeffe and Christa Thirion
12. Evaluating freshwaters in developing countries Robin Abell and Mark Bryer
13. Conclusions Catherine M. Pringle and Philip J. Boon.

Subject Areas: Freshwater life [WNCS2], Conservation of the environment [RNK], Applied ecology [RNC]