CBC Publications

AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS

Click on any link or image below to download the PDF version of a CBC publication or to access our form for ordering printed versions.

Interpreting Biodiversity: A Manual for Environmental Educators in the Tropics. 1999
Available in English, French, and Spanish 1999 / 186 pages; 81/2 x 11 spiral-bound paperback.
Outlines the basic building blocks for an interpretive program on biodiversity, including principles of exhibit design, interpretive presentations, community outreach programs, and evaluation. Designed especially for educators and resource managers in tropical countries where the world's biodiversity is richest and most threatened, the illustrated manual offers a variety of ideas for getting started, describes successful interpretive activities, and lists resources for further information.

The manual is also available as a free PDF downloadable file.

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Life in the Leaf Litter. 2002
When you think of urban animals, rats, roaches, pigeons, or squirrels might come to mind. But an astonishing variety of animal species live in cities, some native, others introduced from other regions of the world. Many of them live right under our feet. This booklet will introduce you to some of the tiny animals (all of them invertebrates or animals with no backbones) with which we share our city. It focuses on the ones that live in the woods, on the forest floor; the invisible creatures you walk past unknowingly every time you visit one of our city parks. This publication is also available in Spanish.

Fully-Protected Marine Reserves for the Future of Our Oceans
A companion guide 2004
This companion guide to an exhibition by the same name in The Bahamas describes marine reserves, illustrates some of their benefits, features work of key players involved in the effort to create a marine reserve network in The Bahamas, and offers suggestions for supporting marine conservation. A useful guide for visitors to the exhibition, it is also a good source of information for anyone interested in information about creating marine reserve networks. The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation collaborated with exhibition sponsors to produce the guide -- The Bahamas Department of Fisheries, Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy.

Kids' Guide to the Birds of Central Park
An illustrated guide to birds commonly found in Central Park, and an introduction to birding for young naturalists. The guide also includes information on where to go in Central Park to see birds in various habitats: freshwater, woodlands, and open areas.

Scientists on Biodiversity. 1998

A collection of essays by leading scientists and researchers in the field of biodiversity, including E.O. Wilson, Paul Ehrlich, Thomas Eisner, and Niles Eldridge, speaking directly in their own voices and with their own diverse perspectives. Topics include the importance of biodiversity, extinctions, threats to biodiversity, and strategies and solutions. Introduction by Michael J. Novacek. (Note: multiple FREE printed copies are available).

An Identification Guide to the Rodents of Vietnam. 2001
Rodents are important agricultural pests, seed dispersers, disease vectors and sources of food for wildlife and humans. At least 60 species of rodent occur in Vietnam; however the differences between species are often subtle, and many species are difficult to identify without the benefit of comparative specimens. This guide is based on the study of hundreds of specimens available in the collections of the Institute for Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR, Ha Noi) and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH, New York) and is intended to aid the preliminary identification of species when comparative collections are not available.

Biodiversity, Science, and the Human Prospect. 1997
This report summarizes the ideas presented at the 1995 symposium, "The Living Planet in Crisis: Biodiversity, Science, and Policy." The earth’s biodiversity is more extensive than scientists had calculated in the past. It sustains the ecological processes upon which human life depends, and is eroding at a rate and scale unprecedented in human history. Despite gaps in our scientific understanding, we must move forward with conservation measures or place at risk the very foundation of human health, agricultural productivity, economic prosperity, and political and social stability. The conference was the first to be sponsored by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation.

The Global Taxonomy Initiative: Using Systematic Inventories to Meet Country and Regional Needs. 1999
This booklet records the findings of the DIVERSITAS/Systematics Agenda 2000 International Workshop that took place at the Museum on September 17-18, 1998. The GTI, endorsed by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, is aimed at improving taxonomic knowledge and capacity internationally to further the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The workshop developed recommendations for country assessments and national reports of taxonomic knowledge and capacity for preparing and designing national strategies and action plans for meeting the goals of the GTI, and for building regional networks in support of country -driven activities that advance the GTI.

Humans and Other Catastrophes: Perspectives on Extinction. 1999
A report from the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation’s 1997 symposium. Written by conservationist and author Curt Meine, the report gives an overview of extinction episodes, including the current "Sixth Extinction," the almost certain human causation of recent extinctions, and some possible conservation strategies for the future.

Biodiversity and Human Health: A Guide for Policymakers. 1997
This brief guide summarizes for policymakers the consequences of biodiversity loss for human health, including threats to global supplies of food and fresh water, exposure to formerly rare diseases and opportunistic infections, and loss of important sources of medicines. The guide was developed from materials presented in Biodiversity and Human Health, edited by Francesca Grifo and Joshua Rosenthal (see "Books from Other Publishers," below).

Living with Biodiversity: Guides for Green Consumers. 1998

A series of pamphlets published in conjunction with the CBC’s Fall 1998 public presentations focusing on the effect of individuals’ daily decisions and lifestyle choices on biodiversity conservation. Titles include: Biodiversity and What You Buy, Biodiversity and Your Energy Use, Biodiversity and Your Food, and Biodiversity and Your Water Supply.

Guidelines for the Ecotraveler. 1998

Crucial information on biodiversity and conservation for anyone concerned with the impacts of tourism on fragile environments. Suggestions on environmentally sensitive behavior, conservation, trip preparation, and learning opportunities for the traveler. Produced in partnership with Discovery Tours.

A Biological and Conservation Assessment of Huong Son Forest, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. 2001.

This report is based on a large mammal and bird survey of the Huong Son Forest in Ha Tinh Province as part of a joint three-year program (1998-2000) between the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History (CBC-AMNH), and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR).The Huong Son Forest lies in Ha Tinh Province in the Annamite Mountains along the international border with Laos.

Assembling The Tree of Life I, II, III

Research Needs in Phylogenetics and Phyloinformatics
Systematic biologists propose a research agenda to understand the Tree of Life within the next 10-15 years and to provide that information to science and society. A report from a NSF-sponsored Workshop on Phylogenetics and Phyloinformatics. Science and society would benefit enormously from detailed and well-supported knowledge of the Tree of Life (TOL). At present, however, we know relatively little about the phylogenetic relationships of most of the species on Earth, or even among many of the major branches of the Tree. Fortunately, we have reached a turning point. Owing to fundamental theoretical advances, to the development of powerful analytical tools, and to the availability of major new sources of data, we now have the power to assemble the entire TOL. Much of this task can be accomplished within the next two decades, given sufficient vision, resources, and coordination.

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