Habitat management is commonly used to maintain and enhance the biological interest of many areas of semi-natural habitat where natural processes no longer create suitable conditions for desired species. Habitat restoration and creation is increasingly being used to increase the extent of
ecologically important habitats in order to mitigate the impacts of human development. The modification of past management techniques and the introduction of new ones can provide additional benefits.
Habitat Management for Conservation is a practical handbook which describes the range
of techniques used to manage land for biodiversity conservation. The opening sections discuss the general principles of habitat management, including decision-making, mitigating damaging effects of climate change, and monitoring the success of management. These are followed by a series of chapters
which describe how to manage specific habitats: grasslands, dwarf-shrub vegetation and shrublands, forests, woodlands and scrub, freshwater wetlands, coastal habitats, arable land, and gardens, backyards and urban areas. For each of these habitats the book discusses the main factors influencing
their value for wildlife, highlights the key decisions that need to be made, and describes and compares the effects of individual management techniques.
This comprehensive guide will be essential reading for graduate students and an invaluable resource for land managers, land-use
advisors and others involved in conservation land management worldwide.
1. Introduction
2. Philosophies of habitat management
3. Setting objectives and monitoring
4. General techniques and considerations
5. Dry grasslands
6. Dwarf-shrub habitats and shrublands
7. Forests, woodlands and scrub
8. Freshwater wetlands and waterbodies
9.
Coastal habitats
10. Arable land
11. Urban areas and gardens
References
There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.
Malcolm Ausden is a Senior Ecologist at the RSPB, the UK and Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity, where he advises on the management of their network of 200 reserves and oversees monitoring on them. He is a particularly keen birder, moth enthusiast and botanist, and is interested in
all types of natural history. Malcolm has written a number of book chapters on habitat management and monitoring techniques and is involved in efforts to improve dissemination of information on habitat management through the website conservationevidence.com. Other interests include foreign travel,
photography and painting.
