Biodiversity and Conservation 10: 1603–1604, 2001.

Book review

Perspectives on Biodiversity: Valuing Its Role in an Everchanging World

The National Research Council [Committee on the Non-Economic and EconomicValue of Biodiversity], National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue,Washington, DC 20418, USA, 1999, xii + 153 pp, ISBN 0-309-06581-X,paperback, £26.95

This is the report of a US National Research Council committee charged in 1995 withadvising the Department of Defense on how biological resources can be valued andmanaged, with particular reference to the Department’s land-holdings. As in manycountries, the US military hold large tracts of land for training purposes, many ofwhich are nevertheless important areas for wildlife conservation and include endan-gered species. The UK Ministry of Defence has been aware of its responsibilities as acustodian of biodiversity for many years, even producing a regular colour magazine(Sanctuary), and it is gratifying to see this concern in its US counterpart.

The Committee was chaired by Diana H. Wall (Colorado State University), a ne-matologist now well-known for her broad interests in the ecological importance ofbiodiversity. The 13 other members had complementary expertise, and many of theirnames will be familiar to all involved in biodiversity debates, for example StuartPimm, Walter Reid, Peter Vitousek, and David Wake. The Committee received oraland written evidence from a wide range of individuals from diverse organizations,and the report was extensively peer reviewed prior to publication.

Chapters are devoted to: What is biodiversity? The values of biodiversity; Dif-ferent ways of thinking about value; Economic methods of valuation; Managementand decision making; and Broadening the biodiversity manager’s perspective. CampPendleton (126 K acres) on the Pacific Coast, and the Western Rangelands (in 11western states) are presented as background case studies, but examples are detailedfrom other regions or sites in particular chapters, including Costa Rica, the Ever-glades, the Grand Canyon, and the Pacific Northwest Forests (of northern spottedowl fame). Each Chapter is well-referenced to original sources, but sadly there isno index. It is full of fascinating facts. For instance were you aware that in the USin 1996 the recreational uses of biodiversity involved 77 million people over age16, mostly ‘wildlife watchers’, and an expenditure of $16.7 billion. Or that is nowcosts around $235 million and 12 years work to produce a single marketable productin the drug industry. There is also an entertaining presentation of the $36 trillionvaluation of the world’s ecosystem services published in 1997. I found the treatmentof aesthetic, cultural and spiritual values sensitive, and enjoyed many of the case

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studies. The need to involve all stakeholders in decision-making is also well-made;this is absolutely critical, not least from my personal experience in developing andimplementing management plans for the Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve, thelargest woodland area within London.

Unsurprisingly, the Committee did not discover a magic bullet, and the book lackssurprises for those who have been watching biodiversity debates. The key conclusionscan be paraphrased as being that: (1) There is an urgent need for more informationabout biodiversity and its role in the maintenance of ecological processes, whichneeds to be organized and delivered in a manner appropriate for those that wish touse it; (2) No single models or approaches can capture both market and non-marketvalues of biodiversity in a simple and objective manner; (3) There is power in usingan analytic deliberative process in biodiversity decision making; and (4) Periodicregional assessments are essential as most decisions are taken at the local level.

I am unsure of the extent to which this book will assist a site manager, other thanby increasing his or her awareness of the issues to be taken on board. However, it willbe helpful background reading to those endeavouring to assess the conservation valueof particular sites, and can be dipped into by students both for examplar case studiesand authoritative information for assigments on the value of biodiversity.

David L. HawksworthDepartamento de Biologia Vegetal II

Facultad de FarmaciaUniversidad Complutense

Plaza de Ramón y CajalCiudad Universitaria

E-28040 Madrid, Spain