Priorities for the Conservation of Mammalian Diversity : Has the Panda had its Day?

How can large charismatic mammals - with their inherent public appeal - be conserved within a broader economic and social context, and used effectively to promote the conservation of whole ecosystems? This scientific but accessible account reviews modern conservation approaches and their consequences for all those interested in wildlife and its conservation.

Recent analyses have shown that about a quarter of all mammal species are threatened with extinction. At the same time, the conservation movement is moving rapidly away from a traditional ''protectionist'' approach to nature to a more integrated view of wildlife and landscape conservation. This volume provides the first review of modern conservation approaches as they relate to mammals. Bringing together both researchers and conservationists, it presents perspectives on issues including the role of mammals within the conservation movement, how priorities should be set and funds allocated within mammalian conservation and which techniques and approaches are likely to be most successful in conserving mammals in future. Beyond the focus on mammals, issues of broader conservation relevance are highlighted, including the integration of species- and biodiversity-approaches to conservation, the role of ''flagship species'' and the need to develop holistic conservation models that relate to the broader context of society and government.