Conserving Biodiversity in Arid Regions

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Case Studies on Conserving and Sustainably Using Biodiversity in Arid and Semiarid Regions of Southern Nations

   1. Case Studies on Conserving and Sustainably Using Biodiversity in Arid and Semiarid Regions of Southern Nations

      • John Lemons, Reginald Victor

      Pages 1-25

3. Africa

   1. The Domestication of Indigenous Trees as the Basis of Sustainable Land Use in Africa

      • R. R. B. Leakey

      Pages 27-40

   2. Conservation Farming with Biodiversity in South Africa: A Preliminary Evaluation of Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Bokkeveld Plateau

      • J. S. Donaldson, A. Mills, P. O’Farrell, S. Todd, A. Skowno, I. Nanni

      Pages 41-54

   3. Strategies for In Situ Conservation of Crop Genetic Resources in Dryland Areas of Africa

      • M. Grum, V. Guerette, B. Kone, A. Sidibe, M. Kouressy, T. Huvio et al.

      Pages 55-62

   4. A Participatory Approach for Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources

      • Lambert G. Ouedraogo, Haoua Sary, Christiane S. Yameogo-Gamene, Oblé Neya

      Pages 63-71

   5. Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation in Africa Through Indigenous Knowledge

      • M. B. K. Dakoh

      Pages 73-86

   6. Participation of Local Communities in the Management of Wetlands in Magadi Area, Kenya

      • Nathan N. Gichuki, Jane M. Macharia

      Pages 87-103

   7. The Value of Local and Indigenous Knowledge for the Development of Information Systems for Conservation Management

      • K. Kellner, O. J. H. Bosch

      Pages 105-118

   8. Best Practices in the World’s Oldest Desert

      • M. K. Seely, J. R. Henschel

      Pages 119-128

   9. A Commentary on Strategies and Incentives to Improve Biodiversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones

      • Hassan M. Hassan

      Pages 129-136

4. Asia

   1. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Trans-Altai Gobi Desert of Mongolia

      • Ch. Dugarjav, B. Tsetseg

      Pages 137-156

   2. Ecological Assessment of Degradation Processes in the Mongolian Part of Baikal Basin

      • P. D. Gunin, S. N. Bazha

      Pages 157-177

   3. Plant Diversity and Succession of Artificial Vegetation Types and Environment in an Arid Desert Region of China

      • Li Xin-Rong, Zhang Jing-Guang, Liu Li-Chao, Chen Huai-Shun, Shi Qing-Hui

      Pages 179-188

   4. Plant Production and Diversity at Desertification Stages in Horqin Sand Grassland Region, China

      • Chang Xueli, Zhao Halin

      Pages 189-197

   5. Aquatic Biodiversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Asia and Water Management

      • Brij Gopal

      Pages 199-215

   6. Traditional Management of Biodiversity in India’s Cold Desert

      • K. Chandrasekhar, R. Gavali, K. S. Rao, R. K. Maikhuri, K. G. Saxena

      Pages 217-229

   7. Conserving Biodiversity in Arid Regions: Experiences with Protected Areas in India

      • Malavika Chauhan

      Pages 231-248

   8. Co-Management Processes to Maintain Livestock Mobility and Biodiversity in Alpine Rangelands of the Tibetan Plateau

      • Camille E. Richard

      Pages 249-273

5. Latin America and the Caribbean

   1. Theoretical Models for Regeneration of Medicinal Plants and Their Application in Sustainable Wild-Harvesting

      • Gloria Montenegro, Miguel Gómez, Ana Maria Mujica, Barbara N. Timmermann

      Pages 275-289

On the eve of the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in autumn 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended five specific areas as focal points of discussion for the global forum: Water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity. In his address, "Towards a Sustainable Future," delivered just four months before the WSSD, Secretary General Annan contended that concrete progress in each of these areas, often referred to by their acronym WEHAB, would be key to improving the quality of life not only in the developing world but across the globe. For most people, I think it is fair to say that the inclusion of biodiversity in a list that focuses on basic human needs may not be self-evident. Water, energy, health and agriculture, yes. But why biodiversity? The truth is that biodiversity is just as critical to global well-being as water, energy, agriculture and health. This is because biodiversity both drives and shapes nature's intricate and dynamic structure in an enduring form and force that enables both current and future generations to enjoy its bounty.

• Mangrove
• Vegetation
• biodiversity
• development
• ecosystem
• environment
• production
• wetland

• University of New England, Biddeford, USA

  John Lemons

• Centre for Environmental Studies and Research, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman

  Reginald Victor

• Third World Academy of Sciences, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

  Daniel Schaffer

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