Claude Martin

Greystone Books

ISBN: 9781771641401

AUD $27.95

Although I am not a forester, I was easily able to understand the needs for conservation and sustainable uses of global tropical rain forests described in this book. It begins with a history of man’s relationships with rain forest and a wake-up call for all to realise the issues facing rain forests now. Frightening examples of deforestation are given with the ensuing loss of biological diversity made clear by examples.

The book contains sections by specialists with further detail to what Martin is alluding. There are also boxes with salient discussions from experts. These boxes are not well reference and some are not in the Contents.

The problems of assessing deforestation and mapping forests makes data collection difficult but Claude Martin gives useful and telling tables and graphs of what is happening to rain forests. His descriptions and explanations from comprehensive data are well presented for understanding. Field studies are explained and help follow the causes of loss and environmental, social and economic causes of decline. System-based solutions—is there time?—are well chosen and explained, assisted by goods and services valuation arguments that should give managers and entrepreneurs cause for thought.

Oil palm and soy growing and cattle farming in South America, oil palm growing in south-east Asia and farming in Africa all require rain forest space and new roads are opening areas for transporting goods in and out. Forests are often cleared by fires and replaced by agriculture. Conflicts between conserving forests and other interests are fully described and the solutions to these threats are suggested using the resilience of rain forests. Brazil has shown the best management of its forests in the last few years. I liked the way all definitive statements were backed up by figures and graphs. These were cited from a large range of literature kept under chapter groups at the end of the book. Photographs are illustrative of the points made in the book and they are together towards the middle of the book.

A whole chapter describes the alternatively modelled effects of climate change and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD+) is described carefully and the contrast between Indonesian and Brazilian emissions from deforestation explained. Throughout the book we hear of the danger of population pressure, commercial pressure and poor governance but climate change is also a major determinant of the future of tropical rain forests. The author was optimistic that, with correct management procedures, the future of remaining rain forest was better now than it had been in the past.

My speciality is marine issues but this book was easily understood and many of the root causes of decline in rain forests were similar to those in the undersea world. Arguments for and against rain forest conservation seem very similar to those of marine and coastal areas with the underlining theme of conservation of biodiversity.

I was impressed with this book and surprised at the ease at which I understood the science and suggested remedies to loss, decline and change. I can recommend this book as an interesting and strong advocate for rain forest conservation.

Reviewed by Hugh Kirkman