With 188 nations participating in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), agreement is nearly universal that protected areas are critical for life on Earth. Following an overview of this growing trend and government- and community-managed protected areas, Lockwood (protected area management, U. of Tasmania, Australia) and fellow ecologists with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) introduce 26 contributed chapters reviewing our natural heritage, threats to it, the concept of Gross National Happiness, and solution strategies. The volume features case studies, b&w photos, and appendices including a chronology of key protected area events, provisions of the CBD, and data on national protected areas by World Commission on Protected Areas region. Distributed by Stylus. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)