The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference »

Currently, Jonathan M. Hoekstra directs The Nature Conservancy's Climate Change Program and teaches at the University of Washington. Jennifer L. Molnar is a senior scientist on the Conservancy's Ecosystem Services Team. Michael Jennings is an adjunct professor at the University of Idaho. Carmen Revenga and Mark D. Spalding are senior scientists on the Conservancy's Marine Team. Timothy M. Boucher is a senior conservation geographer for the Conservancy's Ecosystem Services Team. James C. Robertson is GIS manager for the Conservancy's Colorado Program. Thomas J. Heibel is a technical research associate at BCS,
Inc. Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer-Prize winning investigative journalist and author of three books including The Economy of Nature.

"What a treasure! It's exciting to see so much real information about nature and its fate presented so beautifully and accessibly. The Atlas' fact-backed case for urgent action builds steadily to a compelling conclusion. And the writing is every bit as good as the excellent graphics and photographs."—James Gustave Speth, author of Red Sky at Morning: America and the Crisis of the Global Environment

"Just as that first image of earth from space revealed the miraculous living planet we call home in a new light, this atlas rivets our attention both on its wonders and the opportunities to conserve it and provide a passport to a better future."—Thomas E. Lovejoy, The Heinz Center

"An amazing book. The story of life on earth, told through one-of-a-kind maps, stunning photos, and engaging stories. For decades, scientists have dreamed of the day when we would have enough information about the world's biodiversity to prepare maps like these. A must-have resource, source of inspiration, and guide for action."—Walter V. Reid, David and Lucile Packard Foundation

"Maps inspire conservation and partnerships everywhere we work. We should be grateful that one of the rising stars in conservation science, Jon Hoekstra, and his team, here give us superlative global data and maps of the world's riches and threats. An Atlas that focuses the mind on our investments where they can make the greatest difference."—Carter Roberts, World Wildlife Fund

VOYA

Focusing primarily on biomes and ecosystems, this valuable atlas promotes a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in preserving and maintaining these habitats and resources. Basically an analysis of the current state of the globe, the book highlights conservation challenges through chapters on habitats, species distributions, deforestation, global warming, coastal development, and pollution. While discussing such depressing issues as the world's alarming human population densities, overconsumption of resources, high levels of water stress, and the extinction of species, there are also details of positive efforts being made to mitigate damages and preserve our remaining resources. Many of the facts and statistics available here are not found in most atlases and are presented at a level any student can absorb. The eco-region maps in the appendixes are a fascinating look at the uniqueness of many places across the globe. The book is unique and well done. Reviewer: Kevin Beach

Acknowledgments x

FOREWORD • A NEW VIEW OF OUR HOME xii Mark Tercek, The Nature Conservancy

FOREWORD • CONSERVATION CONNECTIONS xiv Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford University, Stanford University

1.
Introduction 1

WHY ECOREGIONS? 6
Taylor Ricketts, World Wildlife Fund

Terrestrial Ecoregions, Realms, and Biomes 8

Freshwater Ecoregions and Basins 10

Marine Ecoregions, Provinces, and Realms 12

THE STORIES THAT MAPS TELL 14
Jon Christensen, Stanford University

2. Habitats 19

Forests and Woodlands: Giving Trees 22

Grasslands: Where the Buffalo Roamed 24

Deserts and Aridlands: Hardy Life under Harsh Conditions 26

Rivers and Wetlands: The Planet's Lifeblood 28

Lakes: Fragile Pools of Life 30

Caves and Karst: Troves of Subterranean Species 32

HOPE IN HABITATS 34
Steven J. McCormick, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Coasts and Shelves: The Sea's Sunlit Margins 36

Coral Reefs: Crown Jewels of the Ocean 38

Mangrove Forests: Bridging Land and Sea 40

Seagrass Beds: Marine Meadows 42

Salt Marshes: Living Filters along Our Coasts 44

High Seas and Deep Oceans: Earth's Uncharted "
Inner Space" 46

3. Species 49

Plants: A Vital Variety 52

Freshwater Fish: A Diverse Cast 54

Amphibians: Fragile Markers of the Planet's Health 56

Reptiles: Prehistoric Survivors 58

MIGRATIONS 60
Martin Wikelski, Max Planck
Institute for Ornithology and Konstaz University, and David S. Wilcove, Princeton University

Birds: Everyday, Everywhere Wildlife 64

Mammals: Shared Destiny with Our Closest Kin 66

Endemic Species:
In the Narrowest Niches 68

Evolutionary Distinction: Branches on the Tree of Life 70

PROMOTING LIVELIHOODS, SAVING NATURE 72
Greg Mock, former editor, World Resources Report

4. A World of Change 75

Human Population: Outnumbering Nature 78

Consuming Nature: Running Out of Planet? 80

Climate Change: The Planetary Emergency 82

ULTIMATE AGENTS OF GLOBAL CHANGE 84
Joel E. Cohen, Rockefeller and Columbia Universities

Habitat Loss on Land: Going, Going,… 88

Coastal Development: Reshaping the Seashore 90

Bottom Trawling and Dredging: Scouring the Seafloor 92

Landscape Fragmentation: Going to Pieces 94

Thwarted Fish Runs: Up against a Wall 96

GLOBAL CONTAMINATION OF THE BIOSPHERE 98
John Peterson Myers, Environmental Health Sciences

Freshwater Pollution: Clear but Hazardous 102

Nitrogen Pollution: Too Much of a Good Thing 104

Ruin of the Reefs: Fading Jewels, Lost Wealth 106

Into the Wild: The Cost of Expanding Human Access 108

POVERTY AND NATURE'S SERVICES 110
M. Sanjayan, The Nature Conservancy

Forest Clearing: Uprooting Nature 112

Water Stress: Overused and Undermanaged 114

Overfishing: Emptying the Oceans 116

Wildlife Trade: Sold into Extinction 118

FUTURE OF FISHERIES 120
Jackie Alder, United Nations Environment Programme, and Daniel Pauly, University of British Columbia

Fire: Healthy Doses of Destruction 122

Dams and Reservoirs: Clogging Earth's Arteries 124

Sediment Flow: Starving Some Habitats, Smothering Others 126

Melting Ice and Rising Seas: Squeezing the Coasts 128

Disappearing Glaciers: Ice Storage on a Slippery Slope 130

NATURE CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE 132
Jonathan M. Hoekstra, The Nature Conservancy

Terrestrial
Invaders: Unwelcome Guests 134

Freshwater
Invaders: Good
Intentions with Costly Consequences 136

Marine
Invaders: Stowaways Attacking Our Coasts 138

Terrestrial Animals at Risk: More in Jeopardy Each Year 140

Freshwater Animals at Risk: Are Their Futures Drying Up? 142

Marine Animals at Risk: Sea Life Unraveling 144

5. Taking Action 147

Protected Areas on Land: Triumph for Nature 150

Protecting Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands: Thinking beyond Park Boundaries 152

Marine Protected Areas: Oases for Fish and People 154

Protecting Nature's Services: Dividends from the Wealth of Nature 156

CONVERGENT CONSERVATION 158
Scott A. Morrison, The Nature Conservancy

International Cooperation: Saving the Whales—and More 160

Greening the Marketplace: Certifiably Profitable 162

Collaborative Solutions: Problem-Solving Partnerships 164

CONSERVATION ON OUR WATCH 166
Gretchen C. Daily, Marilyn Cornelius, and Charles J. Katz, Jr., Stanford University, and Brian Shillinglaw, New Forests,
Inc.

Rule of Law: Protecting the Commons 168

Individual Action: Parting the Waters 170

Restoring Nature: Mending the Web of Life 172

6. Conclusion Our Future, Our Choices 175

Appendix A: Ecoregions
Index Maps 180
Appendix B: Technical Notes and References 200

Index 229
About the authors 234