Plant Conservation: The Role of Habitat Restoration

'Sergei Volis' new book is a valuable contribution, especially in light of the extensive and growing threats to plant diversity worldwide. Building on the work of plant conservationists and restorationists over the past three decades, Volis highlights the role of conservation-oriented habitat restoration for the recovery of imperilled plants, including its important links to ex situ, quasi in situ, and in situ approaches to plant population management.' Robert H. Robichaux, University of Arizona 'Sergei Volis brings together in one big important book the entire global knowledge base for plant conservation through ecological restoration. Progress begins here with the frank admission that traditional plant conservation strategies have not always worked well. He shows how modern ecological restoration concepts, including assisted colonization, large-scale experimentation, and utilization of threatened species, are being used around the world with promising success. This book is both a practical how-to manual and a comprehensive technical review of the best information on the many ways that ecological restoration is providing real breakthroughs in plant conservation. I was especially pleased to see that the author did not shy away from one of plant conservation's toughest challenges - ecological restoration on remote oceanic islands plagued by a host of invasive species. This book is a must for anyone with an interest in plant conservation in any part of the world.' David A. Burney, Makauwahi Cave Reserve, Hawaii 'Plants are the foundation of life on Earth, but sometimes unaccountably neglected in global conservation strategies. Sergei Volis recognizes that a completely new approach is needed for plant conservation, and this important new publication provides an enormous service to the field of biodiversity conservation. By developing the theory of integrated conservation strategies into a single unified approach, Volis demonstrates a pathway by which the irreplaceable values of plant diversity can be protected from the stressors of a changing world. In particular, Volis demonstrates persuasively that habitat restoration will play a vital role in reversing ecosystem degradation, and in helping species and communities adapt to a rapidly changing world. This book places Sergei Volis among the world leaders in contemporary plant conservation.' Donald Falk, University of Arizona 'This volume will be welcomed by all serious conservationists whose dedication and hard work can be disheartening when the impact seems like a drop in the ocean.' Alexander Waller, The Biologist 'This is an important reference for anyone seriously interested in plant restoration ecology, recognizing the growing threats to plant communities and the ineffectiveness of attempting to preserve such communities and species as they were historically known. Though the target audience is professionals and graduate researchers, all readers with an interest in restoration ecology will find this book useful.' C. L. Johnson, Choice '… the broad conceptual and technical foundation upon which the recommendations are presented, as well as the detailed treatment of existing methodologies and strategies that can be combined to address the needs of various contexts, will make this a useful reference and planning aid for both researchers and managers.' Clare Aslan, The Quarterly Review of Biology