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This textbook and reference book contains detailed case studies of wetland management worldwide. With its global scope and its emphasis on policy and management analysis, the book is a unique and valuable tool both for students and for practitioners.

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Wetlands throughout the world, including those described in this book are among the most sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems. They are critical habitats to the world´s migratory birds and a broad range of endangered mammal, reptile, amphibian, and plant species. They provide a broad range of flood storage, pollution control, water supply, ecotourism functions to indigenous peoples and country populations as a whole. They are also at the center of severe land and water use conflicts. These are conflicts between counties where wetland resources or the water supplies required for such resources involve more than one country. These are conflicts in use such as conflicts between habitat protection and charcoal production in mangroves. These are conflicts between groups of peoples such as indigenous peoples and hydropower advocates. Many wetlands have already been destroyed by water extractions, dams, levees, channelization, and fills. Others have been degraded by water pollution, overfishing and overhunting, timber harvest, and a host of other activities. This book describes these conflicts and international policies and institutions developed to protect and manage wetland resources. Most of the broader literature and other books on wetlands focuses on wildlife. Wildlife is described in the case studies, which follow. But, Richard Smardon provides us with more. He traces the history of conflicts and the development of policies and insti- tions to protect and manage wetland resources.

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Preface

Acknowledgements

International Wetland Policy and Management Issues.- The Wadden Sea Wetlands: A Multi-Jurisdictional Challenge.- The Axios River Delta - Mediterranean Wetland Under Siege.- The Kafue Flats in Zambia Africa: A Lost Floodplain?- Community Based Wetland Management: A Case Study of Brace Bridge Nature Park (BBNP), Calcutta, India.- Restoration of the Tram Chim National Wildlife Preserve, Vietnam.- The Great Lakes Wetlands Policy Consortium - Bilateral NGO Action Aimed at the Great Lakes.- Estuaries on the Edge, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.- The Mankote Mangrove: Microcosm of the Caribbean.- Review of Wetland Management Roles, Functions and Innovations.- Index.

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From the reviews: "This ten-chapter book focuses on establishing policies and resolving issues related to sensitive wetland ecosystems. ... Each chapter contains a comprehensive reference list, an index for all chapters completes the book. This work is suitable for those with a background in ecology, botany, soil ecology, and environmental law, land managers involved with restoration, regulation, and policy, and educators. It will also be useful for students to help them understand the complexities of natural resource policy making. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (S. G. Shetron, Choice, Vol. 47 (5), January, 2010)

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