The Changing Wildlife of Great Britain And Ireland

The last major report on the state of the British countryside was written 25 years ago. This volume makes a long overdue assessment of what has happened to biodiversity in the intervening period. How has the outlook changed over the last 25 years? Have concerns expressed then been vindicated by events? What has been the impact of legislation enacted since that time? Has increased public awareness of biodiversity and green issues had an impact? In this first critical stock-check of the islands' wildlife since 1974, specialists in over twenty groups of organisms, from viruses to dragonflies and mosses to mammals, review the factors affecting losses, gains and change. Issues of agriculture, climate, pollution, habitat management, effectiveness of the statutory conservation agencies, legislative measures for species protection and species recovery programs are considered and analyzed. Data capture for the future is highlighted, and the issue of who will do the work is raised. The prognosis is one of ongoingconcern.