Synopses & Reviews
A country uncommonly rich in plants, animals, and natural habitats, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shelters a significant portion of the worldand#8217;s biological diversity, including rare and unique organisms and an unusual mixture of tropical and temperate species. This book is the first comprehensive account of Vietnamand#8217;s natural history in English. Illustrated with maps, photographs, and thirty-fiveand#160;original watercolor illustrations, the book offers a complete tour of the countryand#8217;s plants and animals along with a full discussion of the factors shaping their evolution and distribution.
Separate chapters focus on northern, central, and southern Vietnam, regions that encompass tropics, subtropics, mountains, lowlands, wetland and river regions, delta and coastal areas, and offshore islands. The authors provide detailed descriptions of key natural areas to visit, where a traveler might explore limestone caves or glimpse some of the countryand#8217;s twenty-seven monkey and ape species and more than 850 bird species. The book also explores the long history of humans in the country, including the impact of the Vietnam-American War on plants and animals, and describes current efforts to conserve Vietnamand#8217;s complex, fragile, and widely threatened biodiversity.
Review
"Long shrouded in mystery and inaccessible for more than half a century, Vietnam's natural history is presented brilliantly in this stunning and exciting new volume. A must for every naturalist, tourist, and conservationist."and#8212;Thomas E. Lovejoy, President, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
Review
"Everyone knows the Amazon and the Serengeti, but who knows the Annamites and the Red River Delta? This book opens the door to a new and#8216;lostand#8217; world."and#8212;Barney Long, Worldandnbsp;Wildlife Fund Greater Mekongand#8212;Vietnam Programmeandnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;
Review
"Elegant, authoritative and full of surprises,
Vietnam: A Natural History does not simplyandnbsp;do justice to a neglected subject. It establishesandnbsp;Vietnam's living environment as one ofandnbsp;quite exceptional interest and,andnbsp;as a survey, it sets a new standard in theandnbsp;interpretation and presentationandnbsp;ofandnbsp;a country's fauna and flora. Quite outstanding."and#8212;John Keay, author of
Mad About the Mekong: Exploration and Empire in South East Asiaandnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;
Review
"Long shrouded by a veil of politics, Vietnam and its magnificent biodiversity are revealed in this exciting new natural history volume. From cycads to pangolins,
Vietnam: Aandnbsp;Natural History is required reading for all tropical biologists as well as for natural history enthusiasts."and#8212;Margaret Lowman, author of
It's a Jungle Up Thereandnbsp;
Review
"A most welcome addition to the natural history reference material for South East Asia."and#8212;Noble Proctor, ornithologist
Review
"A clear, well written survey of the fauna and flora of Southeast Asia as manifested in Vietnam, especially useful for those with scant experience of a region rich in habitats and species."and#8212;Peter Matthiessen, author of
The Snow Leopard Review
"This book does a fine job of describing the biodiversity of Vietnam, and an even better job of documenting the threats to biodiversity and the opportunities for conservation."and#8212;Phan Ke Loc, Hanoi University of andnbsp;Science
Review
"
Vietnam: A Natural History unlocks the door to the fascinating geological, biological, and cultural diversity of a remarkable region of the world. This comprehensive but highly readable volume will be welcomed not only by conservation biologists and ecologists but by the merely curious as well."and#8212;Philip Rundel, University of California, Los Angeles
About the Author
Eleanor Jane Sterling is director, Martha Maud Hurley is biodiversity scientist, and Le Duc Minh is Vietnam biodiversity specialist, all at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History. Joyce Ann Powzyk is visiting assistant professor of biology at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
CITATION: "Long shrouded in mystery and inaccessible for more than half a century, Vietnam's natural history is presented brilliantly in this stunning and exciting new volume. A must for every naturalist, tourist, and conservationist."-Thomas E. Lovejoy, President, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
(Thomas E. Lovejoy)
CITATION: "Everyone knows the Amazon and the Serengeti, but who knows the Annamites and the Red River Delta? This book opens the door to a new `lost' world."-Barney Long, World Wildlife Fund Greater Mekong-Vietnam Programme
(Barney Long)
CITATION: "A most welcome addition to the natural history reference material for South East Asia."-Noble Proctor, ornithologist
(Noble Proctor)
CITATION: "Vietnam: A Natural History unlocks the door to the fascinating geological, biological, and cultural diversity of a remarkable region of the world. This comprehensive but highly readable volume will be welcomed not only by conservation biologists and ecologists but by the merely curious as well."-Philip Rundel, University of California, Los Angeles
(Philip Rundel)
CITATION: "This book does a fine job of describing the biodiversity of Vietnam, and an even better job of documenting the threats to biodiversity and the opportunities for conservation."-Phan Ke Loc, Hanoi University of Science
(Phan Ke Loc)
CITATION: "Elegant, authoritative and full of surprises, Vietnam: A Natural History does not simply do justice to a neglected subject. It establishes Vietnam's living environment as one of quite exceptional interest and, as a survey, it sets a new standard in the interpretation and presentation of a country's fauna and flora. Quite outstanding."-John Keay, author of Mad About the Mekong: Exploration and Empire in South East Asia
(John Keay)
CITATION: "A clear, well written survey of the fauna and flora of Southeast Asia as manifested in Vietnam, especially useful for those with scant experience of a region rich in habitats and species."-Peter Matthiessen, author of The Snow Leopard
(Peter Matthiessen)
CITATION: "Long shrouded by a veil of politics, Vietnam and its magnificent biodiversity are revealed in this exciting new natural history volume. From cycads to pangolins, Vietnam: A Natural History is required reading for all tropical biologists as well as for natural history enthusiasts."-Margaret Lowman, author of It's a Jungle Up There
(Margaret Lowman)