Synopses & Reviews
Could more than a million species disappear in the 21st century?
Written by a leading scientist in the field, Driven to Extinction draws upon fascinating case studies from around the world, providing balanced and well-reasoned insight into the potential impacts of climate change on the diversity of life. Richard Pearson focuses on the science of the issue, revealing what has happenedas well as what is likely to happento some of the world's weirdest and most wonderful species as global temperatures continue to rise.
Review
Both Martha Cruse, Research Intern, and I have had a chance to read Richard Pearson's
Driven to Extinction. We found it a nuanced and fascinating book about the interrelationship of two of the greatest challenges humanity will face in this century- holding climate change within manageable bounds and preserving biodiversity in the face of rapidly changing habitat and a changing climate and ocean environment. Not only will considerable human ingenuity be required to hold climate change within a rate that gives human civilization and fragile ecosystems some hope of flourishing , restoration ecologists will need to show similar imagination not only in preventing extinction of species but also in maintaining species in real numbers in the natural environment. Richard Pearson provides hope that preservation and restoration ecologists are up to meeting the latter challenge. I hope that we in the climate protection movement around the world can show a similar intellectual suppleness.” --John Topping, President of the Climate Institute
About the Author
RICHARD PEARSON is a scientist at the American Museum of Natural History with a Ph.D. from Oxford University. His research has been funded by grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation, and his findings have been published in several scientific journals, including
Nature.
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most respected museums in the world, with millions of visitors each year.