Review: The growth of globally protected areas has been rapid but without much of the fanfare associated with national projects. Until now, the ideas and practices of global areas had been confined to a series of reports and meetings. Here, for the first time, is an attempt to produce a comprehensive guide to global areas.

The editors have put together a very large book detailing a vast range of topics. To achieve some sense of order, the book is divided into two areas - broadly, theory and practice. Part one looks at the background to global areas. We start with a useful overview of global diversity and the biomes it creates. These are the areas we seek to protect. Chapter two moves into social areas- the fact that these areas have a human dimension - many with human occupation stretching back thousands of years. Chapter three considers the existing framework for global conservation from groups such as the IUCN to more local concerns. These chapters set the scene: from here it's a question of seeing why areas should be conserved and how. Today, the value and benefits of reserves need to be made plain and so chapter four is a key area. The final three chapters in this part focus on the issue of managment from the theoretical (governance - chapter five) to the practical present and a firm future. We need to be reminded that in many parts of the world this is not a simple activity - conservationists have been killed trying to protect their areas. There is also a need to develop the people and practices in an area so that it can continue. Part two looks at the actual ways conservation is carried out and the successes, failures and lessons that we need to learn. The breadth here is considerable covering just about every area one could wish for. There are a number of broad themes that emerge. Early chapters look at setting up areas and avoiding threats (or at least containing them). Having set up the reserve there's the practical side, especially finance and communication. If these areas are set then it follows that the next stage is to integrate management into the wider scene. There are two ways here, to look at the reserve in its natural/cultural setting and to manage the people in it from incidents to tourism. Finally there's a need to evaluate any scheme and adjust it accordingly.

This book is nothing short of a tour-de-force across the international conservation scene. It's packed with case studies and examples but is also firmly connected to the theory of international conservation. The editors must be congratualted on producing such a compendium that will be of use to both students of conservation and practitioners. This is one of the best books published in our field in 2006 and should really be a standard text in all institution and personal libraries. Go out and buy a copy!