Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar

As part of a global effort to identify those areas where conservation measures are needed most urgently, World Wildlife Fund has assembled teams of scientists to conduct ecological assessments of all five continents. Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar is the latest contribution, presenting in a single volume the first comprehensive assessment of biodiversity patterns, threats to biodiversity, and resulting conservation priorities across the African continent and its islands. Looking at biodiversity and threats in terms of biological units rather than political units, the book offers a comprehensive examination of African biodiversity across all biomes and multiple taxonomic groups.

In addition to the seven main chapters, the book includes twenty essays by regional experts that provide more depth on key issues, as well as nine detailed appendixes that present summary data used in the analyses, specific analytical methodologies, and a thorough text description for each of Africa's 119 terrestrial ecoregions.

Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar provides a blueprint for conservation action and represents an unparalleled guide for investments and activities of conservation agencies and donor organizations.

The authors are affiliated with the Conservation Science Department of World Wildlife Fund.

Eric Dinerstein is Chief Scientist and Vice-President for Science at the World Wildlife Fund-US. He has participated in or overseen conservation research around the world, he is one of the editors of WWF's Ecosystem Assessment series, and he is the author of a monograph on rhinos: Return of the Unicorns: The Natural History and Conservation of the Greater-One Horned Rhinoceros (Columbia University Press).