Discover the lavish beauty and fascinating history of the 40 most important and inspiring botanic gardens from across the globe. From the Renaissance gardens of Italy to the futuristic botanic gardens of Singapore, this gorgeous book tells the story of these unique institutions. It is a history of science and learning, of politics and national interests, of societal concerns and conservation. But, most of all, it is a compelling exploration of the power and possibility of the natural world, that we are still merely scratching the surface of. Expert garden historian Deborah Trentham has selected the world's most important gardens and delves deep into the history of these horticultural institutions - sharing stories of exploration, extraordinary plants and the scientific breakthroughs which have shaped these stunning gardens. Filled with rare and beautiful plants and incredible locations from around the globe - from Norway to Morocco, Kyoto to Kew, Brooklyn to Buenos Aires, and Madrid to Malaysia - this book will transport you to far-flung places and bygone eras, and consider the future of our botanical havens and the natural wonders they protect.

This rich and beautiful guide from best-selling garden writer Ambra Edwards explores the most magnificent botanic havens from every continent across the world. There has never been a better time to celebrate botanic gardens. From Brooklyn and San Francisco, to Colombia and Brazil; Oxford and Kew, to Cape Town and Mauritius; Norway and Germany, to Sydney and Thailand, discover surprising diversity, superb vistas, and some of the most intriguing plants you can imagine. As centers for research, conservation, and education, these expansive collections are integral to our understanding of the true power of plants. But they also hold some of the most beautiful species on earth – including ferns, trees, cacti, orchids, and more – expertly cared for and presented as a feast for the senses, delighting thousands of visitors each year. Ambra Edwards introduces the gardens, bringing them to life on the page, and uncovers their history, collections, and scientific influence. This is a celebration of the wonder that is contained within the world’s greatest botanic gardens.

Plant genetic resources provide a basis for food security, livelihood support and economic development as a major component of biodiversity. The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture demonstrates the central role plant genetic diversity continues to play in shaping agriculture growth in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. It is based on information gathered from Country Reports, regional syntheses, thematic studie s and scientific literature, documenting the major achievements made in this sector during the past decade and identifying the critical gaps and needs that should urgently be addressed. The Report provides the decision-makers with a technical basis for updating the Global Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It also aims to attract the attention of the global community to set priorities for the effective management of plant genet ic resources for the future. Purchase a print copy.

With unprecedented attention on global change, the current debate revolves around the availability and sustainability of natural resources and how to achieve equilibrium between what society demands from natural environments and what the natural resource base can provide. A full understanding of the range of issues, from the consequences of the changing resource bases to the degradation of ecological integrity and the sustainability of life, is crucial to the process of developing solutions to this complex challenge. Authored by world-class scientists and scholars, The Encyclopedia of Natural Resources provides an authoritative reference on a broad spectrum of topics such as the forcing factors and habitats of life; their histories, current status, and future trends; and their societal connections, economic values, and management. The content presents state-of-the-art science and technology development and perspectives of resource management. Written and designed with a broad audience in mind, the entries clearly elucidate the issues for readers at all levels without sacrificing the scientific rigor required by professionals in the field. Volume I – Land includes 98 entries that cover the topical areas of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources such as forest and vegetative; soil; terrestrial coastal and inland wetlands; landscape structure and function and change; biological diversity; ecosystem services, protected areas, and management; natural resource economics; and resource security and sustainability. Natural resources represent such a broad scope of complex and challenging topics that a reference book must cover a vast number of subjects in order to be titled an encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia of Natural Resources does just that. The topics covered help you face current and future issues in the maintenance of clean air and water as well as the preservation of land resources and native biodiversity. Also Available Online This Taylor & Francis encyclopedia is also available through online subscription, offering a variety of extra benefits for researchers, students, and librarians, including: Citation tracking and alerts Active reference linking Saved searches and marked lists HTML and PDF format options Contact Taylor and Francis for more information or to inquire about subscription options and print/online combination packages. US: (Tel) 1.888.318.2367; (E-mail) e-reference@taylorandfrancis.com International: (Tel) +44 (0) 20 7017 6062; (E-mail) online.sales@tandf.co.uk

This volume compiles the `state of the art' knowledge on several aspects of ``Biodiversity, Conservation, and Systematics". The International Botanical Community recognizes "that plants create the ecological habitat for all terrestrial organisms, and that their management and conservation depend on a good understanding of their taxonomy". Biodiversity is considered as "an immense economic resource". Its conservation and sustainable use ensures food security, safeguards human health, and provides ecological as well as aesthetic and cultural benefits. Systematics, as a fundamental science, serves as a very important discipline for understanding biodiversity. In this volume, emphasis has been laid on the simplest Prokaryotic organisms, the diverse Algae, the "Adaptive Strategies of Bryophytes and the "Diversity in Pteridophytes". There is stress on the importance of Ethnic Knowledge, Botanic Gardens, and Reproductive Biology in conservation. Interesting aspects of `Invasive Plant Species', `Analysis of Plant Biodiversity and Evolution at Genome Level' and `Leaf Epidermal Diversity in Grasses' are discussed. Detailed accounts of the fauna and flora of Punjab have also been provided. Dr. Prithipalsingh is a Senior Reader in Botany in Kirorimal College. He has been teaching since 1971. The areas of special interest in which he is recognized as an expert include, besides Plant Taxonomy, Biodiversity Studies, Ecology and Environmental Biology. He has published numerous research papers in National and International Journals. Dr. Prithipalsingh served on the National Consultation Committee for discussing the "State of the Environment Report of India 2001" prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme. He has completed a project on "Status of biodiversity conservation in Punjab" for the Punjab Forest Department, as a member of the Tata Energy Research Institute team. As a consultant for Biodiversity with “The Energy Research Institute (TERI)”, Dr. Prithipalsingh participated in several World Bank funded research projects of the Uttar Pradesh/Uttranchal State Forest Department. He has obtained first hand information on the effect of 'fire', 'grazing', 'collection of non-timber forest products' and 'natural regeneration', focusing on the ground realities for evaluating the impact of different parameters necessary for formulating “management recommendations”.

Approaching the contributions of a world-wide sector of scientific institutions to addressing the extinction crisis, Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation brings together a diversity of perspectives. There are more than 3,600 botanical gardens worldwide, where trees, shrubs, herbs, and other plants are studied and managed in collections. They are foremost among efforts to conserve the diversity of living plant species and ensure that crucial biodiversity is available for the future of humanity. This book is a showcase for plant conservation, restoration, biodiversity, and related scientific and educational work of botanical gardens around the world, featuring both thematic overview chapters and numerous case studies that illustrate the critical role these institutions play in fighting extinction and ensuring plant diversity is available for sustainable use. FEATURES A wide range of case studies derived from practical experience in a diversity of institutional, national, and biogeographical settings, Reviews of topics such as networking amongst institutions, the importance of global policy agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Profiles of botanical gardens contributions at the national level to conservation priorities, Real-world examples of programs in plant conservation for both critically endangered wild plant diversity and unique horticultural or cultural germplasm. Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation includes contributions from institutions from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, and institutions of all sizes and histories, from long-established national gardens to new gardens offering their perspectives on developing their roles in this vital undertaking.

Taking a global and multidisciplinary approach, The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Travel and Tourism brings together a team of international scholars to examine the travel and tourism industry, which is expected to grow at an annual rate of four percent for the next decade. In more than 500 entries spanning four comprehensive volumes, the Encyclopedia examines the business of tourism around the world paying particular attention to the social, economic, environmental, and policy issues at play. The book examines global, regional, national, and local issues including transportation, infrastructure, the environment, and business promotion. By looking at travel trends and countries large and small, the Encyclopedia analyses a wide variety of challenges and opportunities facing the industry. In taking a comprehensive and global approach, the Encyclopedia approaches the field of travel and tourism through the numerous disciplines it reaches, including the traditional tourism administration curriculum within schools of business and management, economics, public policy, as well as social science disciplines such as the anthropology and sociology. Key features include: More than 500 entries authored and signed by key academics in the field Entries on individual countries that details the health of the tourism industry, policy and planning approaches, promotion efforts, and primary tourism draws. Additional entries look at major cities and popular destinations Coverage of travel trends such as culinary tourism, wine tourism, agritourism, ecotourism, geotourism, slow tourism, heritage and cultural-based tourism, sustainable tourism, and recreation-based tourism Cross-references and further readings A Reader’s Guide grouping articles by disciplinary areas and broad themes

I: Genetics and conservation biology.- Introductory remarks: Genetics and conservation biology.- Global issues of genetic diversity.- II: Genetic variation and fitness.- Introductory remarks.- Genetic variation and fitness: Conservation lessons from pines.- Genetic diversity and fitness in small populations.- Mutation load depending on variance in reproductive success and mating system.- Extinction risk by mutational meltdown: Synergistic effects between population regulation and genetic drift.- III: Inbreeding, population and social structure.- Introductory remarks.- Inbreeding: One word, several meanings, much confusion.- The genetic structure of metapopulations and conservation biology.- Effects of inbreeding in small plant populations: Expectations and implications for conservation.- The interaction of inbreeding depression and environmental stochasticity in the risk of extinction of small populations.- Genetic structure of a population with social structure and migration.- Guidelines in conservation genetics and the use of the population cage experiments with butterflies to investigate the effects of genetic drift and inbreeding.- IV: Molecular approaches to conservation.- Introductory remarks.- Rare alleles, MHC and captive breeding.- Andean tapaculos of the genus Scytalopus (Aves, Rhinocryptidae): A study of speciation using DNA sequence data.- Genetic distances and the setting of conservation priorities.- Multi-species risk analysis, species evaluation and biodiversity conservation.- V: Case studies.- Introductory remarks.- On genetic erosion and population extinction in plants: A case study in Scabiosa columbaria and Salvia pratensis.- Effects of releasing hatchery-reared brown trout to wild trout populations.- Genetics and demography of rare plants and patchily distributed colonizing species.- Response to environmental change: Genetic variation and fitness in Drosophila buzzatii following temperature stress.- Alternative life histories and genetic conservation.- The principles of population monitoring for conservation genetics.- VI: Genetic resource conservation.- Introductory remarks.- Optimal sampling strategies for core collections of plant genetic resources.- Conservation genetics and the role of botanical gardens.- Animal breeding and conservation genetics.- Scenarios.- Introductory remarks.- A: The genetic monitoring of primate populations for their conservation.- B: Heavy metal tolerance, plant evolution and restoration ecology.- C: Genetic conservation and plant agriculture.- D: Fragmented plant populations and their lost interactions.- E: Host-pathogen coevolution under in situ conservation.- Concluding remarks.

This book highlights the challenges and trends resulting from the relationship between tourist motivations, World Heritage Sites and local cultural uniqueness. With a special focus on Portugal and Brazil, several chapters refer to international cultural heritage experiences and destinations in Belgium, Cuba, Croatia, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Spain and Turkey. The volume shows that there is some crossover between tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and explores themes such as festivals and events, marketing, branding, sustainability, authenticity, preservation, wine tourism, ethnic tourism, religious tourism, literary tourism, museology and garden tourism. It will appeal to readers interested in tourism management, quality of the tourist offer, tourism heritage products, and characteristics of the tourism demand in the scope of cultural heritage.