Book dossier

Why preserve natural variety?

by Bryan G. Norton, NORTON

Norton provides a critical overview of the range of thought on the preservation of species issue. He presents a new and comprehensive rationale for preservation of both species and ecosystems, and addresses policy issues. Part A of the book discusses views according to which natural species and ecosystems are valued primarily for human use or enjoyment. Norton shows the many difficulties of quantifying species in terms of "human demand values." Part B examines views which give intrinsic value to species. Norton's own comprehensive rationale, presented in Part C, argues for preserving biological diversity. He appeals to the power of human contacts with wild species to transform and uplift the human species. ISBN 0-691-07762-2: $30.00.