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This
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This page contains a list of books and some book reviews on the subject of rainforests and wildlife. All of the book reviews here, have already appeared in previous issues of the World Land Trust Newsletter, but have been brought together to form a single resource.
The Rough Guides ( Lonely Planet Publications )
These and other books on wildlife, conservation and travel, can be ordered through:
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary,
by Katherine M Emmas & 15 Others,
Producciones de la Hamaca & Orang Utan Press,
Price £18.95
A splendid compliation, full of useful information that has interest well beyond its title. Like its precursor (A Belizean Rainforest: The Community Baboon Sanctuary; by Horwich & Lyon, 1990, Orang Utan Press), it deals with the ecology, as well as detailed descriptions of the species, history and conservation issues. Unfortunately, like its precursor, it is poorly produced. The photographic reproduction is not good, many of the drawings are second rate, and the layout and design could be improved. However, it is a book for anyone with the slighest interest in Belize and thoroughly recommended.
The Amphibians & Reptiles of Yucatan Peninsula,
by Julian C. Lee,
Comstock Publishing Associates,
Price £137.50 h.b.
This fine volume covers the whole of Belize and the States of Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo and part of Chiapas in Mexico, and the Department of El Peten in Guatemala.
It comprises 500 pages, with 211 colour photographs, 182 maps and 189 black and white illustrations. In addition to detailed species descriptions, there is a comprehensive bibliography and an extended chapter on the ethnoherpetology of the region - the relationship of the Maya in particular. There is also a gazetteer of all the localities mentioned.
Not for the beginner, this reference work is for the serious herpetologist. Its price alone will deter all but the most dedicated. Its format, like most North American faunal handbooks, has detailed keys and comprehensive listings of localities for each species. They are very much biased to identification by museum-based taxonomists and it is a bit disappointing to find statements such as: "At lease eight (several undescribed) species [of Eleuth erodactylus frogs] occur in the Yucatan Peninsula..." It would have been more useful to describe these new species which is not impossible in a work of this size and scope.
For the serious herpetologist this book is a must. Hopefully a paperback edition will be much cheaper.
All the Animals of Belize
For a long time good books on Belize's wildlife were very difficult to find, but recently several have been published. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico , written and illustrated by Fiona A Reid, is a magnificent leap forward, allowing the field naturalist to have a go at identifying all the mammals of the region. Superb illustrations, plus detailed descriptions and distribution map. Very highly recommended.
Then there are three books restricted to Belize, all illustrated with photographs:
100 Birds of Belize will, hopefully, enthuse Belizean school children to take up birdwatching, and will also be useful for tourists (the serious birder will still need a field guide).
Both Snakes of Belize and Frogs & Toads of Belize are comprehensive, and are useful for specialist and tourist alike.
The Snakes of Belize. Long time supporters of Programme for Belize will find a photo of Belizean Tony Garel in the September 1990 issue of PFB News, showing John Burton delivering a free British Airways ticket to him so that he could go to Jersey Zoo for one of their training courses. Tony has since become a serious herpetologist and the Snakes of Belize demonstrates not only his commitment to herpetology but also to conserving Belize's wildlife heritage.
Each species is illustrated with a colour photo, mostly of very high quality, and a short
descriptive text is sufficient to identify most species likely to be encountered. A must for
anyone going into the field.
GERALD DURRELL - The Authorised Biography,
by Douglas Botting. Pub: HarperCollins.
Price £24.99
Reviewed by John Burton
This definitive biography of Gerald Durrell commences thus:
“I met Gerald Durrell only once in the flesh. It was in the early summer of 1989 at the
London Butterfly House in Syon Park, where he and his wife, Lee, ceremonially launched
an initiative called Programme for Belize - intended to save for posterity a superb tract of
tropical forest in the north-east of that country ...”
This should be enough to encourage all supporters to want to read this biography. While Durrrell’s direct connections with the WLT was only relatively minor, it was nonetheless significant. But much more important, and this is the theme of Douglas Botting’s book, was the huge impact of Durrell on the world’s perceptions of wildlife, and in particular endangered species.
Durrell was a complex person, and this is a truly warts and all biography. But the fact that he had the occasional failing makes him even more endearing. Douglas Botting had complete access to all Durrell’s papers, as well as the Jersey Zoo archives, and with his usual skill makes light reading of a story densely packed with detail. Durrell alive was an inspiration to generations of budding naturalists (myself included). His own books, together with this revealing and compulsive biography will doubtless inspire many generations to come.
New editions of the Belize and the Central America editions have just been produced and, as always, they are packed full of all the information you could need. Peter Eltringham, author of the Belize title, and a co-author of Central America, is a keen supporter of the WLT. He has recently sent us copies of the new editions, and always makes sure that the PFB Field Stations get a write-up, and are donated copies. Oh that all authors were as thoughtful. Many thanks to Peter.
The 2nd edition of the Costa Rica edition has just been published, and gives excellent coverage of the country’s national parks and wildlife.
There is also an excellent Rough Guide to Brazil, now in its third edition.
The Silviculture of Mahogany.
by J E Mayhew & A C Newton. Pub: CABI.
Price £25.00
Reviewed by Dominic White, WLT Projects Manager, and forester.
“This 226 pp book will be a must for foresters and practitioners involved in growing and managing mahogany, and will also be useful for forestry students. The book focuses in impressive detail on plantation silviculture and the role that plantation-grown mahogany can play in terms of global supply. However, data on managing mahogany in natural forests is limited. The Introduction states that attempts have been made to include this information but lack of available data made it difficult to justify. However, the book does refer to the work of Programme for Belize, highlighting the sustainable forestry project.”
A Guide to the Birds and Mammals of Coastal Patagonia
by Graham Harris. Pub: Princeton University Press.
Price £41.00
A stunning book. Graham Harris not only wrote this comprehensive guide, but he also illustrated it with exquisite colour plates, delicate line drawings showing behaviour and species distribution maps.
It has long been known that field guides are essential in stimulating conservation awareness. If the public cannot
identify what they are seeing, it is not very unlikely that they will be seriously interested in conserving it. This
book will, therefore, be a tremendous boost to Patagonian conservation. Graham Harris was co-founder and is
current President of Fundacion Patagonia Natural, the local organisation WLT is supporting. For anyone
planning to visit, or with an interest in this area, this book is an must. At £41 it is expensive but considering its
specialist nature and the quality of production I think it is excellent value.