Conserving Carolinian Canada: Conservation Biology in the Deciduous Forest Region

Ken A. Armson, a former executive co-ordinator of the Ontario Ministry
of Natural Resources’ Forest Resources Group, is currently a forestry
consultant.

This book is one of the outcomes of a World Wildlife Fund (Canada)
program, launched in 1984, to address the conservation of the Carolinian
life zone. In Canada this zone, also known as the Deciduous Forest
Region, is unique to Ontario; it is also the most urbanized and the most
intensively agricultural area in the country.

The book is divided into six sections that comprise 28 separately
authored papers. The sections are “Natural Areas Inventory and
Stewardship,” “Plants, Birds and Mammals,” “Reptiles, Amphibians
and Invertebrates,” and “Reintroductions.” There is also a
summary. Because of the diversity of authorship and subject matter, no
coherent theme unites even individual sections. The majority of the
papers deal with studies of rare species, their habitats, or both. A
number of the papers point out the need for habitat manipulation (i.e.,
management) if many of the species are to survive. Habitat manipulation,
a central conservation data source, increased levels of environmental
education, greater detailed knowledge, and certain reintroductions are
concluded to be primary needs.

For those interested in Carolinian species and the Deciduous Forest
Region, this book is a valuable source of information.