Before They Vanish

Saving Nature's Populations — and Ourselves

Paul R. Ehrlich, Gerardo Ceballos, Rodolfo Dirzo

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Year: 2024
• eBook ISBN: 9781421449708
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Legendary conservationists show us that we still have the power to prevent critical consequences of the sixth extinction in this game-changing book.

Can we save threatened animals and ecosystems in the midst of a mass extinction? The answer is a resounding yes! Before They Vanish shows us how. In this wise and impassioned book, renowned conservation scientists Paul R. Ehrlich, Gerardo Ceballos, and Rodolfo Dirzo urge us to shift our thinking rather than succumb to grief over the losses that humanity faces. This comprehensive look at a crucial but often overlooked aspect of conservation—population extinction, or the loss of a species within a specific geographic location—guides us onto a new, hopeful path.

The authors argue that conservationists have placed too much emphasis on the extinction of entire species, which occurs gradually enough that we only detect it in the direst of cases. By that time, meaningful action may be impossible. By shifting our focus to identifying extinction threats at the more localized population level, we can intervene more rapidly and effectively to prevent broader declines before it's too late. This change in perspective represents a critical step in saving these vanishing species; early detection and intervention may be our last, best hope for stemming the tide of this global crisis.

Using examples from the worlds of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, the authors explain the concept of population extinction, its causes and consequences, and how to prevent the mass destruction of the amazing and unique creatures with whom we share our planet. This call to action is a must-read for anyone concerned with saving endangered and threatened species, our natural world—and ourselves.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword, by Jared Diamond
• Preface
• Chapter 1 From Origins to Extinction
• Chapter 2 The Sixth Mass Extinction
• Chapter 3 Lost and Vanishing Mammals
• Chapter 4 Bird Songs Long Gone and Declining
• Chapter 5 The Silent Crisis: Other Vertebrates
• Chapter 6 Ignored Victims: Invertebrates
• Chapter 7 Vanishing Green: Plants—Our Emerald Treasure
• Chapter 8 Microbes: A Hidden World
• Chapter 9 Defaunation
• Chapter 10 Drivers of Extinction
• Chapter 11 Nature’s Decline: The Costs
• Chapter 12 The Cure: A Bittersweet Pill
• Notes
• References
• Standard and Scientific Name Index
• Subject Index