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Cover image of The Annihilation of Nature
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The Annihilation of Nature

Human Extinction of Birds and Mammals

Gerardo Ceballos, Anne H. Ehrlich, and Paul R. Ehrlich

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Environmental scientists reveal the victims of humanity’s massive assault on nature.

Gerardo Ceballos, Anne H. Ehrlich, and Paul R. Ehrlich serve as witnesses in this trial of human neglect, where the charge is the massive and escalating assault on living things. Nature is being annihilated, not only because of the human population explosion, but also as a result of massive commercial endeavors and public apathy. Despite the well-intentioned work of conservation organizations and governments, the authors warn us that not enough is being done and time is short for the most vulnerable of the...

Environmental scientists reveal the victims of humanity’s massive assault on nature.

Gerardo Ceballos, Anne H. Ehrlich, and Paul R. Ehrlich serve as witnesses in this trial of human neglect, where the charge is the massive and escalating assault on living things. Nature is being annihilated, not only because of the human population explosion, but also as a result of massive commercial endeavors and public apathy. Despite the well-intentioned work of conservation organizations and governments, the authors warn us that not enough is being done and time is short for the most vulnerable of the world's wild birds and mammals. Thousands of populations have already disappeared, other populations are dwindling daily, and soon our descendants may live in a world containing but a minuscule fraction of the birds and mammals we know today.

The Annihilation of Nature is a clarion call for engagement and action. These outspoken scientists urge everyone who cares about nature to become personally connected to the victims of our inadequate conservation efforts and demand that restoration replace destruction. Only then will we have any hope of preventing the worst-case scenario of the sixth mass extinction.

Reviews

Reviews

... an unabashed and heartfelt plea for going into battle on behalf of nature. No holds are barred.

... an impassioned plea for conservation.

This powerful message of loss, in plain language with 83 color photographs, should resonate with readers interested in nature and the environment. It may stimulate support for conservation activity.

This beautifully designed book... is both a useful history of the problem and a visual reminder of what the world still stands to lose if it doesn’t change course.

Three eminent conservationists show how humans have driven thousands of animal populations into extinction and how, in turn, humanity itself is threatened. It's an important topic underreported by the media and worthy of public discussion. This book serves as a wake-up call.

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About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
8
x
10
Pages
208
ISBN
9781421417189
Illustration Description
83 color photos
Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. The Legacy
2. Natural Extinctions
3. The Anthropocene
4. Long-Silenced Songs
5. Birds in Trouble
6. Mammals Lost
7. Vanishing Mammals
8. Why it All Matters
9. Drivers of Death
10

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. The Legacy
2. Natural Extinctions
3. The Anthropocene
4. Long-Silenced Songs
5. Birds in Trouble
6. Mammals Lost
7. Vanishing Mammals
8. Why it All Matters
9. Drivers of Death
10. Beyond Mourning
Appendix. Common and Scientific Names of Plants and Animals Mentioned in the Book
Recommended Reading

Author Bios
Gerardo Ceballos
Featured Contributor

Gerardo Ceballos

Gerardo Ceballos, one of the world’s leading ecologists, is a professor at the Institute of Ecology at National Autonomous University of Mexico (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.
Anne H. Ehrlich
Featured Contributor

Anne H. Ehrlich

Anne H. Ehrlich is a senior research scientist emeritus at Stanford University. She is the coauthor of Extinction: The Causes and Consequences of the Disappearance of Species and The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment.
Paul R. Ehrlich
Featured Contributor

Paul R. Ehrlich

Paul R. Ehrlich (PALO ALTO, CA) 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.