- Email: [email protected]
Mkomazi: The Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation of a Tanzanian Savannah
260
Book reviews / Biological Conservation 101 (2001) 259–261
Mkomazi: The Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation of a Tanzanian Savannah M. Coe, H. McWilliam, G. Stone, M. Parker (Eds.), The Royal Geographical Society, London, 1999, 608 pp. ISBN 0 90764 975 0 (pbk), £25.00. Each year ecology books are published in profusion, but very few take an in-depth look at the wildlife of a single location. Mkomazi: The Ecology, Biodiversity, and Conservation of a Tanzanian Savannah, does just this by presenting an enlightening account of the wealth of wildlife and its conservation in a scientifically little known part of Africa — the Mkomazi game reserve. The book summarises the findings of a 5-year investigative survey that included detailed investigations of the reserve’s biological and ecological diversity. Each of three carefully written sections covers a different aspect of the reserve. Section 1 focuses on the ecology and biodiversity of Mkomazi, whilst Sections 2 and 3 describe the impact of local farming communities around the margins of the reserve and the implications for the management of Mkomazi. Section 1 is particularly informative, with detailed descriptions of methods used for surveying along with comprehensive inventories of species supplied in a checklist. Information contained in the remaining two sections will make a valuable contribution to the integration of the reserve
with the local population and with the long-term management of Mkomazi. This book may well prove an archetype to the way future research should be carried out and presented. Firstly, the various topics dealt with in the book encompass a wide range of disciplines rarely seen in other books of this nature. Secondly, the comprehensive results of the studies are not gathering dust on some office desk but written-up and presented in a clear and very readable style. Consequently, the content of Mkomazi is accessible for both professional and amateur enthusiasts making it an ideal companion for those visiting the game reserve. This book, however, may find a broader audience in undergraduate students who wish to develop an appreciation of interdisciplinary research and the integration of conservation with local economies. Mkomazi provides an accessible, eloquent and fascinating read that describes in exquisite detail one of Tanzania’s national treasures. David Aplin Royal Holloway College University of London Egham Surrey TW20 OEX, UK E-mail address: [email protected]
PII: S0006-3207(01)00058-1
Mustelids in a Modern World: Management and Conservation of Small Carnivore-Human Interactions Huw. I. Griffiths (Ed.), Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 2000. 342 pp, pbk, ISBN 90-5782-066-8, US$84. Despite its attention grabbing title this book misses the opportunity to publish a much needed, informed and comprehensive account of assimilated knowledge on this important group of mammals. I would have hoped the book would have been very different had it been commissioned, or perhaps represented the output from a structured symposium, rather than as the Preface states ‘‘from informal discussion’’ held around the mustelid session at the Euro–American Mammal Congress in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in July, 1998. Unfortunately there is a lack of coherence and we are presented with a series of generally unrelated chapters covering a disparate range of topics on a plethora of species. The only common link is that they are all members of the family Mustelidae and have suffered, at least historically, some anthropogenic influence. Some editorial attempt to link chapters together, or to provide a clearly stated
rationale to the organisation of the text might have greatly improved its value. The editor has done little but include the text of papers as they were likely presented at that forum, with little attempt to adopt a house style to the presentation of text, tables or figures. Furthermore the lack of editorial guidance has led to considerable repetition of facts, and there are numerous typographical errors that should have been corrected at proof. Chapters tend to be of three types: Species related, detailing the historical exploitation and persecution and occasional recovery of particular species e.g. wolverine, black-footed ferret, river otter, or for a geographic area — the New World (here taken to be more or less synonymous with North America), Canada, the Balkans etc; Management implications, including a rather confused comparison of the status and problems posed in the UK and NZ (two systems that are SO different that we should perhaps question why a comparison is merited), and other chapters which give interesting and informative reviews of the exploitation of wild furbearers in the US and the effect of agro-forestry operations on the present-day harvest. The final type of
Book reviews / Biological Conservation 101 (2001) 259–261
Mkomazi: The Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation of a Tanzanian Savannah M. Coe, H. McWilliam, G. Stone, M. Parker (Eds.), The Royal Geographical Society, London, 1999, 608 pp. ISBN 0 90764 975 0 (pbk), £25.00. Each year ecology books are published in profusion, but very few take an in-depth look at the wildlife of a single location. Mkomazi: The Ecology, Biodiversity, and Conservation of a Tanzanian Savannah, does just this by presenting an enlightening account of the wealth of wildlife and its conservation in a scientifically little known part of Africa — the Mkomazi game reserve. The book summarises the findings of a 5-year investigative survey that included detailed investigations of the reserve’s biological and ecological diversity. Each of three carefully written sections covers a different aspect of the reserve. Section 1 focuses on the ecology and biodiversity of Mkomazi, whilst Sections 2 and 3 describe the impact of local farming communities around the margins of the reserve and the implications for the management of Mkomazi. Section 1 is particularly informative, with detailed descriptions of methods used for surveying along with comprehensive inventories of species supplied in a checklist. Information contained in the remaining two sections will make a valuable contribution to the integration of the reserve
with the local population and with the long-term management of Mkomazi. This book may well prove an archetype to the way future research should be carried out and presented. Firstly, the various topics dealt with in the book encompass a wide range of disciplines rarely seen in other books of this nature. Secondly, the comprehensive results of the studies are not gathering dust on some office desk but written-up and presented in a clear and very readable style. Consequently, the content of Mkomazi is accessible for both professional and amateur enthusiasts making it an ideal companion for those visiting the game reserve. This book, however, may find a broader audience in undergraduate students who wish to develop an appreciation of interdisciplinary research and the integration of conservation with local economies. Mkomazi provides an accessible, eloquent and fascinating read that describes in exquisite detail one of Tanzania’s national treasures. David Aplin Royal Holloway College University of London Egham Surrey TW20 OEX, UK E-mail address: [email protected]
PII: S0006-3207(01)00058-1
Mustelids in a Modern World: Management and Conservation of Small Carnivore-Human Interactions Huw. I. Griffiths (Ed.), Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 2000. 342 pp, pbk, ISBN 90-5782-066-8, US$84. Despite its attention grabbing title this book misses the opportunity to publish a much needed, informed and comprehensive account of assimilated knowledge on this important group of mammals. I would have hoped the book would have been very different had it been commissioned, or perhaps represented the output from a structured symposium, rather than as the Preface states ‘‘from informal discussion’’ held around the mustelid session at the Euro–American Mammal Congress in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in July, 1998. Unfortunately there is a lack of coherence and we are presented with a series of generally unrelated chapters covering a disparate range of topics on a plethora of species. The only common link is that they are all members of the family Mustelidae and have suffered, at least historically, some anthropogenic influence. Some editorial attempt to link chapters together, or to provide a clearly stated
rationale to the organisation of the text might have greatly improved its value. The editor has done little but include the text of papers as they were likely presented at that forum, with little attempt to adopt a house style to the presentation of text, tables or figures. Furthermore the lack of editorial guidance has led to considerable repetition of facts, and there are numerous typographical errors that should have been corrected at proof. Chapters tend to be of three types: Species related, detailing the historical exploitation and persecution and occasional recovery of particular species e.g. wolverine, black-footed ferret, river otter, or for a geographic area — the New World (here taken to be more or less synonymous with North America), Canada, the Balkans etc; Management implications, including a rather confused comparison of the status and problems posed in the UK and NZ (two systems that are SO different that we should perhaps question why a comparison is merited), and other chapters which give interesting and informative reviews of the exploitation of wild furbearers in the US and the effect of agro-forestry operations on the present-day harvest. The final type of