BEFORE THEY VANISH

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 ho