Vietnam: A Natural History
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- 27,99 €
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- 27,99 €
Publisher Description
A country uncommonly rich in plants, animals, and natural habitats, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shelters a significant portion of the world’s biological diversity, including rare and unique organisms and an unusual mixture of tropical and temperate species. This book is the first comprehensive account of Vietnam’s natural history in English. Illustrated with maps, photographs, and thirty-five original watercolor illustrations, the book offers a complete tour of the country’s plants and animals along with a full discussion of the factors shaping their evolution and distribution.
Separate chapters focus on northern, central, and southern Vietnam, regions that encompass tropics, subtropics, mountains, lowlands, wetland and river regions, delta and coastal areas, and offshore islands. The authors provide detailed descriptions of key natural areas to visit, where a traveler might explore limestone caves or glimpse some of the country’s twenty-seven monkey and ape species and more than 850 bird species. The book also explores the long history of humans in the country, including the impact of the Vietnam-American War on plants and animals, and describes current efforts to conserve Vietnam’s complex, fragile, and widely threatened biodiversity.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This single volume presents the entire geograpy, geology, and natural history of Vietnam in lively, accessible language, making it the perfect companion for any visitor to Vietnam, with excellent and thorough information on the incredibly rich natural resources of the country, covering everything from orchids to monkeys. Species descriptions, of both flora and fauna, are well-written and engaging, and followed by short sections indicating where to find them. The accompanying illustrations are good, but too few; often many words are used to describe an animal, where a good picture would do a better and more useful job. The authors give an overview of conservation and environmental history that brings to bear the political legacy of the country. . The diversity and fragility of Vietnam's natural history is stunning, and this book does an admirable job of celebrating that wealth, while clearly delineating what threatens it, including unexploded mines and poachers. For nature lovers travelling to Vietnam, this guide is a must-have.