Wetlands

School Library Journal

YA-- The necessity for all humankind to work together to save our Earth is the theme of this excellent work. The opening chapter provides a helpful introduction to the topic and includes both the current situation and importance of wetlands. Chapters on individual continents delve more deeply into the specifics in each area and provide an important global perspective. The role of Ramsar, the international organization to protect the wetlands, is discussed. Recent data illustrate just how fragile these threatened ecosystems are. Excellent photographs of both flora and fauna will attract the attention of beginning biology students, but the discussions are for more advanced students. An excellent glossary, clear diagrams, and maps are especially helpful. Detailed indexing is provided but can be confusing as it is in three separate parts--general, species, and geographic. --Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Booknews

A comprehensive continent-by-continent overview of the world's wetlands, the vital ecosystems between land and water that are now imperiled around the globe. Written for a popular audience and supported by 200 lovely color photographs, the coverage includes the nature of the wetland areas, their role in the world economy, their contribution to the quality of life on earth, and their increasing destruction by pollution, draining, development, and dumping. The copyright is held by the International Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau. 91/4x121/4". Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)