IUCN

Burkina Faso boasts both varied natural and artificially created wetlands, the latter resulting from some 1100 dams or embankments. These wetlands, however, have not been seen as distinct ecosystem units and responsibility for wetland issues has been fragmented. At the initiative of IUCN in Ouagadougou, an informal network of experts was set up during 1992 to provide a forum for debate on wetland issues in Burkina Faso.

This well-illustrated traininig manual for wetland managers summarises the ecology of freshwater and coastal wetlands in West Africa. It provides an overview of the main tools for ensuring that their values and functions are adequately maintained for the benefit of local communities and wildlife. The technical appendices offer detailed guidance on designing and implementing management plans and monitoring programmes for protected wetlands.

Both Agenda 21 and "Caring for the earth : a strategy for sustainable living" recommend that every country should undertake a National Sustainable Development Strategy in order to mobilize and focus society's efforts to achieve sustainability. This book shows how the task can be approached, drawing on a wide range of national Conservation Strategies, Green Plans, Environmental Action Plans, sectoral plans such as Forestry Action Plans and comparable exercises throughout the world.

This volume describes the major issues facing protected areas, both terrestrial and marine, and discusses the approaches needed to address these issues. An additional section, drawing upon the expertise of CNPPA's vice-chair, marine, and members of 14 task forces, specifically addresses protected area issues in the coastal marine environment.

The rationale for this three-volume work covering nearly 250 major sites for conservation of plant diversity worldwide is concern about rapid global loss and degradation of natural ecosystems. By highlighting areas of prime botanical importance, it is hoped that their conservation will be ensured by an adequate commitment of resources. Selection of the sites is based both on floristic statistics and on detailed first-hand knowledge of numerous botanists.

This work draws attention to the conservation problems confronting these species. The general lack of knowledge about this group has meant that they are afforded little protection.