This book Drylands: Biodiversity, Conservation and Management, edited by Victor R. Squires, Mahesh K. Gaur and Salah Attia Ismail, fills a gap in the literature admirably. It gets away from species lists and designation of species and habitats as endangered or at risk. Instead, it opens up discussion on a range of issues relating to the important matters of biodiversity, land management and efforts at conservation (wise use) of natural resources that support an areas biodiversity. Dryland ecologists, land use change specialists, policy makers from UN agencies or from bilateral and...