New book highlights world's borderless conservation areas

Publication emphasizes global focus on protecting Earth's ecosystems across national boundariesNature knows no borders, according to a new book released today by CEMEX, Conservation International, and Agrupacion Sierra Madre.

"Transboundary Conservation: A New Vision for Protected Areas," describes in detail new strategies of shared environmental responsibility for keeping important wilderness areas intact, even across national borders.

Stunningly illustrated, the book represents the work of 50 conservationists, scientists, and professional photographers. It focuses on 29 transboundary parks around the world, from the El Carmen--Big Bend in North America (located between Texas and Coahuila and Chihuahua, Mexico) to Southern Africa's Kavango-Zambezi "Four Corners" Transboundary Conservation Area--exploring the history and increasing popularity of protecting some of the most biologically rich territory on Earth.

"This new book shows how transboundary conservation areas have a very special role in international conservation," said Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D., president of Conservation International and one of the book's authors. "It examines the importance of protecting land across borders as well as the impact on human populations if these areas of rich biodiversity are degraded or lost."

The title, "Transboundary Conservation," defines the new terminology for international efforts to protect ecosystems in their entirety. From the first transboundary protected area established in 1932, when Montana's Glacier National Park was joined with Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the concept has expanded to more than 100 parks and protected areas throughout the world.

Transboundary conservation areas, or TBCAs, offer multiple benefits, both internationally and at regional and local levels. They can reduce tensions between countries and help rebuild peaceful cooperation. Peace parks celebrate historically good relations along with a shared commitment to managing precious natural resources.

"Transboundary Conservation: A New Vision for Protected Areas" was produced in partnership with CEMEX, one of the world's largest cement producers, Conservation International and Agrupaci�n Sierra Madre, with the collaboration of IUCN�The World Conservation Union and the International League of Conservation Photographers.

"Transboundary Conservation is the 13th in our series of conservation books," said Armando J. Garcia, executive vice president of development, CEMEX. "Similar to its predecessors, this book illustrates methods on how to protect the world's biodiversity and works to promote a culture of environmental awareness within our communities and our society at large."

CI President Russell A. Mittermeier, Agrupacion Sierra Madre President Patricio Robles Gil and CI staff and volunteers including Christina G. Mittermeier, Cyril Kormos, Trevor Sandwith, and Charles Besan�on edited the book. CI Chairman and CEO Peter A. Seligmann wrote the foreword, and the preface is by Valli Moosa, president of IUCN�The World Conservation Union.

Source : Conservation International