Intended for all those with an interest in achieving greater integration of conservation in the management of river systems, this book is organized in four sections. The first sets out the case for conservation, using examples from specific river systems around the world. The second discusses ways of classifying rivers and assessing their potential for conservation. Detailed examples of recovery and rehabilitation are described in the third section and the final part outlines various means of river protection within a legal framework, based on experiences in the UK and North America. Throughout the book, a number of broad themes are reiterated, including the need for a holistic, whole-catchment approach; improved techniques of observation and data collection; a greater appreciation of the naturally dynamic character of river ecosystems and a more thorough understanding of river systems in general. The future prospects of river conservation are also covered.
Overall, this book has successfully tackled this challenge head on and highlighted some key concepts. It will be interesting to see what the next 20 years will herald and whether or not rivers will be given a higher conservation value in terms of the part they play in providing overall ecosystem value. (Progress in Physical Geography, 4 April 2013)
