Description

A NEW SCIENTIST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022

‘Thought-provoking … a welcome antidote to the simplistic and divisive thinking that can sometimes taint the well-meaning world of conservation.’ Katie Burton, Geographical

Our planet hasn’t seen the current rate of extinction since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, and global conservation efforts are failing to halt this. As a society, we face choices which will determine the fate of Earth’s estimated 8.7 million species, including humans. As wildlife declines, conservation needs to make trade-offs. But what should we conserve and why?

Are we wrong to love bees and hate wasps?

Are native species more valuable than newcomers (aka invasives)?

Should some animals be culled to protect others, or for our own economic interests?

What do we want the ‘natural world’ to look like, and how can we shape a world in which wildlife and people can thrive?

Publisher Review

Thought-provoking and topical ... an illuminating analysis of where human efforts may best be directed * Observer * Conservation often requires tough decisions. Rebecca Nesbit takes an entertaining and unflinching look at one of the toughest decisions of all - what do we save if we can't save everything. A fascinating read for anyone interested in the future of the planet -- Adam Hart, author and BBC science presenter Thought-provoking ... Nesbit challenges some widely held assumptions, many I held myself, and is skillful in doing so ... a welcome antidote to the simplistic and divisive thinking that can sometimes taint the well-meaning world of conservation. -- Katie Burton * Geographical *