Originally published in 1987, Conservation of Ecosystems and Species examines conservation as a major world issue for governments, industrialists and the general public. The need for conservation has become more urgent as human activity continues to encroach upon the remaining natural ecosystems of our planet. This book examines a wide range of conservation issues and explains the scientific reasons why conservation of ecosystems and species is important, not merely for its own sake, but for the future of humanity. It charts the development of conservation policy around the concept and understanding of the ecosystem. The roles of the planner, the industrialist and the politician in the development of a conservation policy are described.