Nature's Conscience: The Life and Legacy of Derek Ratcliffe (Wildlife and People) - Softcover

Des Thompson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904078591 ISBN 13: 9781904078593

Publisher: Langford Press, 2015

Synopsis

Derek Ratcliffe was arguably the most outstanding field biologist and conservationist of the 20th century. This book explores the breadth, quality and legacy of Derek s work and has many personal reminiscences. The 30 contributors provide fascinating insights to a remarkable person, and events and issues which have shaped wild nature as we see it today. Each part ends with an article written by Derek.

Derek was passionate about nature and used his huge knowledge of nature to good effect. He possessed an intense curiosity which drove him to understand and protect nature. His interests ranged from birds, butterflies and dragonflies, and mountain flora and vegetation to the ecology and biogeography of peatlands and of mosses, liverworts, and ferns. He documented birds, plants, and insects in their habitats and maintained long-term population studies on several birds of prey as well as Raven, Golden Plover, Greenshank, and Dotterel. He documented the decline of the Peregrine Falcon and famously established the role of pesticides as its cause. He led the fight that saved the wild and remote Flow Country of northern Scotland from extensive afforestation. As the Nature Conservancy's Chief Scientist, he masterminded A Nature Conservation Review, which still underpins so much conservation policy and practice in Britain. His books have become classics of natural history writing. Through his employment as a conservationist and his books and articles, he massively influenced our awareness of nature and its vulnerability.

Beautifully illustrated, this is a deeply inspiring book. It will appeal to a wide readership, curious about what makes such a towering figure so special, and united by an eagerness to see wildlife flourish.

With a foreword by Professor Sir John Lawton.

"This book is his epitaph and paints a picture of a kindly, dedicated and quite awe inspiring character to whom we owe much without realising it." --Pat Morris, Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society

"The true measure of Ratcliffe's abilities is that he knew the secret languages of moss taxonomists and plant biologists but could also write and speak in the lingua franca of us all. This book is a glorious, multi-authored exploration of the many parts of this great naturalist: writer, scientist, mountaineer, explorer, photographer and unremitting champion of the wild. It is also a summing up of his place in British natural history, which amounts now almost to a cult..." --Mark Cocker, New Statesman

"...an indispensable source of information for anyone interested in nature conservation in Britain, and it cements into place the position of Derek Ratcliffe as one of the key figures in that movement." --Nick Hodgetts, Journal of Bryology

"He shared his encyclopaedic knowledge with so many people, some of whom, thankfully, have written this excellent book to enthuse about the man and his passions." --Rob Hume, Birdwatch

"In the 20th century, probably no-one contributed more to the conservation of Britain's uplands and to knowledge of their ecology than Derek Ratcliffe (1929 2005)... We owe him a lot and this book tells it all." --John Savory, Scottish Birds

About this title

Review:

This book is well organised and richly illustrated throughout. The editors have done a fine job in drawing together the varied contributions from many different authors into a coherent whole. It will have wide appeal to anyone interested in nature conservation in Britain and is a fitting tribute to one of the most outstanding field biologists, conservationists and natural history writers of recent times. --Ian Carter, British Birds

I like books like this: reminiscences about the way that conservation science developed historically, how battles were won and lost, and most importantly the role that individuals played in the development of the science and practice of conservation. This book was written to celebrate the life and works of one of the great British conservationists, Dr Derek Ratcliffe, a man who probably did more to set the British conservation scene than any other person. Derek was a polymath, mild eccentric, an expert naturalist, superb scientist and pioneer in the development of conservation strategy. More than this, he inspired a generation of younger scientists and practitioners, many of whom have penned a chapter in this volume..... Go on and read this book for yourself, and see. It is truly inspirational and should be compulsory reading for first year ecology and conservation courses. --Robert Marrs, Biological Conservation

...produced a book which will be of interest to those concerned with the natural history of the British Isles, but which also has relevance to a wider international audience. The book is a substantial volume, and copiously illustrated; not only are there numerous photographs of high quality, but there are also paintings by two landscape artists, Will Williams, and David Bellamy, which capture the environments which for so many years inspired Derek s life and work. The publishers are to be congratulated on producing a work of such high quality at such a relatively low price. It is a book to be dipped into and savoured. --Paul Adam, BES Bulletin

About this edition

• Publisher: Langford Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1904078591
• ISBN 13: 9781904078593
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 598
• Editor: Des Thompson, John Birks, Hillary Birks