The Role of Science for Conservation

This book aims at visualizing to a broad audience how fifty years of scientific research can make a huge contribution to worldwide efforts in conservation. A model case is presented showing how interdisciplinary work across a broad range of scientific disciplines (Evolution Science, Botany, vertebrate Zoology, Terrestrial Ecology, Marine Ecology, Fisheries Science, Oceanography, Social and Economic Science) has contributed to the conservation and sustainable development of the Galapagos archipelago, the natural environment made famous by Charles Darwin in the nineteenth century. The book describe the state-of -the-art knowledge on the Galapagos socio-ecosystem, presents modern modelling tools for the integration of information from diverse science disciplines and shall highlight contrasting viewpoints with regard to future scenarios for reconciling conservation with the socio-economic development of the archipelago. The book is innovative in its multidisciplinary focus on conservation and in presenting up to date tools for scenario modelling. Its conclusions are applicable globally.