cover image Value of Life, C

Value of Life, C

Stephen R. Kellert. Island Press, $34.95 (282pp) ISBN 978-1-55963-317-8

For 20 years, Kellert (The Diversity of Life, with Edward O. Wilson) has studied how people perceive nature and wildlife. Here, he outlines a framework of basic values, then explores differences among varying demographic and cultural groups. In the final section, he focuses on the links between values of nature and the challenge of managing, conserving and restoring biodiversity. Kellert contrasts Americans' perceptions with those of Germans, Japanese and Botswanans, finding that most Americans have a limited knowledge of nature and biological process. He maintains that the educational impact of zoos is negligible, that of TV nature shows transitory. He discusses the Endangered Species Act, hunting, rural land use and issues of biological conservation in the modern city. Noting that environmental education receives far less support or prestige than natural resource science, he pleads for redressing the balance, showing here how vital living diversity is to humanity. (Dec.)