It is in the best interest of all concerned that tourism become sustainable and environmentally compatible. This need for "sustainable development" is and more by the responsible parties. Moreover, in the being recognised more search for solution strategies the realisation is gaining ground that tourism must be viewed as a worldwide phenomenon whose development must be co-ordinated in a co-operative effort spanning regions and continents. That the preservation of biological diversity also requires global co operation has been confirmed by over 170 countries which have already acceded to the "Convention on Biological Diversity". It is thus an important task to provide the foundations for joint action. Germany, one of the largest source countries of international tourism, must feel particularly obligated in this regard. The report published here is the result of a research project com missioned by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. The study pursued and examined the thesis that the Convention on Biological Diversity be used as a central instrument for arriving at international principles and regulations for combining nature conservation and tourism which could lead to a sustainable development of tourism. To further the discussion, the authors brought the study to a logical conclusion by working out a proposal for a "tourism protocol" additional to the existing Convention on Biodiversity. Such a protocol additional to the Convention would entail the stipulation of internationally binding implementation and regulations for achieving sustainable tourism.

It's hard to imagine how Michigan was once covered with vast, unbroken forests of pine and hemlock mixed with birch and poplar and oak savannahs as far as the eye could see. Yet in the process of settling in the state and exploiting its natural resources we have drained wetlands, dammed rivers, and cut all but a few remnants of the virgin forests.The fact that we are able to enjoy our state today depends on the work of The Nature Conservancy and the various land conservancies and agencies with which it collaborates. The essays in this book illustrate the range of ecosystems that The Nature Conservancy has protected and offer compelling stories. Included are essays by nine acclaimed local authors, numerous quotes from leading figures in Michigan, and hundreds of full-color photos by well-known Michigan photographers of the land, water, and shorelines of the Great Lakes state.It features contributions from: Stephanie Mills, on the story of a Great Lakes coastal marsh on the Keweenaw Peninsula; Howard Myerson, on the Coolbough Natural Are in Newaygo County and the use of fire to restore prairie and savannah habitat; Anne-Marie Domen, who discusses efforts to preserve the quality of the Shiawassee River; Janet Kaufman, focusing on the Erie Marsh Preserve, place that serves as critical flyway for migratory birds; Jerry Dennis, talking about the dunes at Point Betsie and how they are under siege from invasive plant species; Jack Driscoll, who writes about fly fishing along the Two Hearted RiverElizabeth Kostova, on the pleasures of discovering Les Cheneaux and the northern Lake Huron shoreline; Alison Swan, who introduces the mysteries of a prairie and prairie fen in the watershed of the Paw Paw River to her daughter; and, Keith Taylor, visiting the woods in Sharon Hollow for its good birding and its sense of solitude and refuge.

..."a clarion call to society for the need to balance human demands with the needs of our world's rivers, the arterial system of life on this planet. The authors describe the vanguard movement to restore rivers and to reconnect rivers with their flood plains, portraying the under-appreciated life support services our rivers perform, their ecological function, and the threats to riverine ecosystems." -MIKE DOMBECK, CHIEF EMERITUS OF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND PIONEER PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT
"Finally! A book that pays attention to flow, not just pollutants, as central to river restoration. Blending science and readability, Rivers for Life offers refreshing insights into allocating limited water to meet the needs of humans and rivers." -JAMES R. KARR, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE
The conventional approach to river protection has focused on water quality and maintaining some ""minimum"" flow that was thought necessary to ensure the viability of a river. In recent years, however, scientific research has underscored the idea that the ecological health of a river system depends not on a minimum amount of water at any one time but on the naturally variable quantity and timing of flows throughout the year.
In Rivers for Life, leading water experts Sandra Postel and Brian Richter explain why restoring and preserving more natural river flows are key to sustaining freshwater biodiversity and healthy river systems, and describe innovative policies, scientific approaches, and management reforms for achieving those goals. Sandra Postel and Brian Richter: explain the value of healthy rivers to human andecosystem health; describe the ecological processes that support river ecosystems and how they have been disrupted by dams, diversions, and other alterations; consider the scientific basis for determining how much water a river needs; examine new management paradigms focused on restoring flow patterns and sustaining ecological health; assess the policy options available for managing rivers and other freshwater systems; explore building blocks for better river governance
Sandra Postel and Brian Richter offer case studies of river management from the United States (the San Pedro, Green, and Missouri), Australia (the Brisbane), and South Africa (the Sabie), along with numerous examples of new and innovative policy approaches that are being implemented in those and other countries.
Rivers for Life presents a global perspective on the challenges of managing water for people and nature, with a concise yet comprehensive overview of the relevant science, policy, and management issues. It presents exciting and inspirational information for anyone concerned with water policy, planning and management, river conservation, freshwater biodiversity, or related topics.

From the rugged Appalachians to the Atlantic shore, from the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia boasts diverse natural wonders amidst its settled landscapes. In this first-of-its-kind collection of original essays, 20 of Virginia's finest authors--nature writers, essayists, and journalists--immerse themselves in 20 different wild places. In essays that range from natural history to social commentary to childhood memories, their tone varies from reflective to outraged to humorous--each one uniquely personal.