Cover -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Notes on Contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Remembering Navjot Sodhi: An Inspiring Mentor, Scholar, and Friend -- CHAPTER 1: Introduction: Giving a Voice to the Tropics -- References -- PART 1: From Within the Region -- Section 1: Africa -- CHAPTER 2: Conservation Paradigms Seen through the Eyes of Bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- Summary -- Conservation paradigms -- Paradigms in wildlife species conservation -- Great apes and conservation paradigms -- Conservation and bonobos in DRC -- Bonobos: part of a failing conservation paradigm? -- Implications for conservation of bonobos -- Bonobos and parks as a conservation paradigm -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 3: Governance for Effective and Efficient Conservation in Ethiopia -- Summary -- Introduction -- Babile Elephant Sanctuary -- Nech Sar National Park -- Kafta Sheraro National Park -- Agricultural investment in southern Ethiopia -- Synthesis -- The way forward -- References -- CHAPTER 4: Wildlife in Jeopardy Inside and Outside Protected Areas in Côte d'Ivoire: The Combined Effects of Disorganization, Lack of Awareness, and Institutional Weakness -- Summary -- Introduction -- Disorganization of the conservation sector in Côte d'Ivoire -- Lack of awareness at multiple levels -- Institutional weakness in the field of conservation -- Conclusion and recommendations -- References -- CHAPTER 5: Conservation Challenges for Madagascar in the Next Decade -- Summary -- The State of Madagascar's Biodiversity -- Conservation Progress -- Threats to Madagascar's Biodiversity -- Challenges -- Stopping the illegal exploitation of animals -- Sustaining the Expanded Protected Area Network -- Reducing the destruction of natural resources -- Strengthening the effectiveness of forest management.

Improving Benefits Sharing and Equitable Use of Natural Resources -- Ensuring that Science Is Better Used to Support Conservation -- Conclusion -- References -- CHAPTER 6: Conservation in Mauritius and Rodrigues: Challenges and Achievements from Two Ecologically Devastated Oceanic Islands -- Summary -- Introduction -- Daunting Conservation Challenges -- Conservtion and Successes -- Remaining Challenges -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 7: Design and Outcomes of Community Forest Conservation Initiatives in Cross River State of Nigeria: A Foundation for REDD+? -- Summary -- Introduction -- Context and drivers for community forestry in CRS, Nigeria -- Donor Interventions and Accomplishments -- The DFID CRS Community Forestry Project (CRSCFP): 1999-2002 -- Analysis and Discussion -- Project capacity -- FMCs' capacity -- System builders: a major prerequisite for effective and impactful community conservation projects -- A Case Study on a Local Systems Builder -- Conclusion and Recommendations -- References -- CHAPTER 8: Shades of Green: Conservation in the Developing Environment of Tanzania -- Summary -- Introduction -- The Lake Natron Soda Ash Project -- The Kitulo National Park -- Arguing for Sustainable Development and Conservation -- References -- CHAPTER 9: Sustainable Conservation: Time for Africa to Rethink the Foundation -- Summary -- Something Is Not Working -- The Usual Suspects: Hedgehogs or Foxes -- Sustainable Development -- The poverty-conservation nexus -- The Environmental Kuznets Curve -- An EKC upshot: The Serengeti highway -- A Case for Sustainable Conservation -- A Leap of faith -- The heart for conservation -- Conclusion: Which Way for Africa? -- References -- Section 2: Americas.

CHAPTER 10: Challenges and Opportunities for Bridging the Research-Implementation Gap in Ecological Science and Management in Brazil -- Summary -- Introduction -- Challenges and Opportunities -- The quality of ecological science: Limits of knowledge and scientific uncertainty -- The effectiveness of ecological science: The need for horizontal interaction with decision makers -- The paralysis in action and decision making -- Recommendations -- The quality of ecological science: Limits of knowledge and scientific uncertainty -- The effectiveness of ecological science: The need for horizontal interaction with decision makers -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 11: Conserving Biodiversity in a Complex Biological and Social Setting: The Case of Colombia -- Summary -- Introduction -- Current Conservation Context -- Conservation and Management Challenges in the Territory -- Territorial Issues and Socioeconomic Models -- Communal lands: Biodiversity implications of the payment of a social debt -- Hydroelectric power - A clean energy alternative? -- Oil and mineral exploration and extraction -- Ecosystem and Ecoregion-Specific Threats -- Ocean and coastal ecosystems -- Caribbean plains: The emergent savanna ecosystem -- Andean ecosystems: Forest fragmentation and the rural landscape -- The eastern plains: Large-scale agro-industries at the frontier -- Wetlands: An often-neglected biodiversity component -- Conservation Strategies -- Protected areas: The challenges in a heterogeneous context -- Ecological restoration: A complement to habitat protection -- A Final Thought -- Conclusions -- References -- CHAPTER 12: Indigenous Rights, Conservation, and Climate Change Strategies in Guyana -- Summary -- Introduction -- Addressing Conservation of Natural Resources and Climate Change in Guyana.

Role of Traditional Practices in Climate Change and Conservation in Guyana -- Conclusion -- References -- CHAPTER 13: Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation of Mexican Biodiversity -- Summary -- Biodiversity in Mexico -- Conservation Problems -- Overview of Conservation Lines -- Evaluating the state of biodiversity -- Legislation and conservation policies -- Endangered and priority species for conservation -- Nature protected areas -- Conservation in human dominated landscapes -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 14: Paraguay's Challenge of Conserving Natural Habitats and Biodiversity with Global Markets Demanding for Products -- Summary -- Introduction -- Uniqueness of Paraguay -- Deforestation and Protected Areas in Paraguay -- Encouraging Signs Since 2004 -- The Predicament of the Chaco Region -- Conservation Balances -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Section 3: Asia -- CHAPTER 15: Land-Use Change and Conservation Challenges in the Indian Himalaya -- Past, Present, and Future -- Summary -- The Area -- Formation of the Himalaya and the Build-up of Biodiversity -- The First Axe -- The Existing Scenario -- Census of biodiversity -- Current status of biodiversity -- Drivers of Biodiversity Loss -- Human population growth and urbanization -- Deforestation -- Hydropower development -- Meeting the Challenges Ahead -- Land-use controls -- Investments in conservation, education, and research -- Target species and conservation conflicts -- Biodiversity and livelihoods -- References -- CHAPTER 16: Conservation Challenges in Indonesia -- Summary -- Introduction -- Conservation Practices -- Policy -- Conservation areas -- Species conservation and captive breeding efforts -- Reference for biodiversity richness -- Local wisdom -- Challenges -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 17: Singapore -- Half Full or Half Empty?.

Summary -- Introduction -- Nineteenth Century: Exploitation and Deforestation -- Twentieth Century: Extinctions, Invasions, and Conservation -- Twenty-First Century Singapore: Half Full or Half Empty? -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 18: Want to Avert Extinctions in Sri Lanka? -- Empower the Citizenry! -- Summary -- Introduction -- Extinction and Endangerment -- Plants -- Amphibians -- Freshwater fishes -- Freshwater crabs -- Elephants -- Where Must There be Change? -- Protection versus conservation -- Fragmentation -- Local Endemics -- Aquatic species -- Elephants -- A Pathway to Reform -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 19: Conservation of Hornbills in Thailand -- Introduction -- Conservation Issues in Thailand -- Why Conserve Hornbills? -- Threats to and the Conservation Status of Hornbills -- Deforestation and logging -- Hunting -- Status of Hornbills in Thailand -- Recommendations -- Research-based conservation -- Community-based conservation -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Section 4: Oceania -- CHAPTER 20: Tipping Points and the Vulnerability of Australia's Tropical Ecosystems -- Summary -- Introduction -- Methods -- Results: Vulnerable Ecosystems -- Montane rainforests -- Tropical savannas -- Coastal floodplains and wetlands -- Coral reefs -- Drier rainforests -- Offshore islands -- Estuarine wetlands (salt marshes and mangroves) -- Discussion -- Predisposing factors and key drivers -- Conservation actions to avoid tipping points -- Acknowledgments -- References -- CHAPTER 21: Biodiversity and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: Why Are We Not Succeeding? -- Summary -- Introduction -- Island Ecosystem Fragility -- Loss of Traditional Knowledge and Practices -- Shift in Resource Use Purpose and Land ownership -- Sustainability and Climate Change -- Values, Beliefs, and Religion -- Income Generation.

Leadership, Corruption, and Responsibility.