At the time of writing I have just spent the last 24 hours or so celebrating the coming of the year 2001, the real new Millennium. Having to stay at home looking after my young son and therefore being unable to go out to any parties this year, I watched the New Year celebrations take place around the globe beamed by satellite to my TV set. One overpowering message that came to me, and I know to many others, is how closely connected we have now become and how much smaller the Earth feels as a result. Now more than ever before, it should be obvious to all just how limited the earth's resources are and how crowded the planet is becoming. We need to manage these resources very skilfully if we are to prosper as a species.

This book is intended as an introduction to the science of conservation biology: a science that I believe will become one of the most important to us in the twenty-first century. It seeks to provide the information about our natural world that will enable the sustainable management of genes, species and communities and to maintain the biodiversity that characterises the richness of our planet.We have a significant challenge on our hands, but we must face it head-on and develop our knowledge rapidly to give us the tools to do the job.

The text is written primarily as an aid to undergraduate-level teaching, supporting either short courses or modules in conservation biology within broader degree programmes.