The story of conservation from its origins in 1903, when the Society for the Preservation of Wild Fauna of the Empire was founded in London, to the present day, in which it has become a huge international enterprise. Yet, it is not simply an account of what happened, but rather, why it happened. The book explores the big questions and ideas that have driven conservation for a century. How can the diversity of life be maintained as human demands upon the planet expand, seemingly without end? How can we reconcile preservation with human rights and the development needs of the poor? Is...

In this updated edition, the author analyses the problems that conservation faces and seeks the new ideas and energy that it needs for the future. Concepts such as biodiversity and sustainability, and changes in our understanding, appreciation and concern for nature and culture are tightly intertwined, as are those between economics and the countryside. Adams explores these links and the scientific, cultural and economic significance of conservation. He argues that conservation must move beyond the boundaries of parks and reserves to embrace the whole countryside, and that it must be built...