This book provides the first contemporary assessment of area-based conservation and its implications for nature and society. Now covering 15 per cent of the land surface and a growing area of ocean the creation of protected areas is one of the fastest conscious changes in land management in history. But this has come at a cost including a backlash from human rights organisations about the social impacts of protected areas. At the same time a range of new types of area-based conservation has emerged based on indigenous peopleâs territories local community lands and a new designation of âœother effective area-based conservation measuresâ. This book provides a concise overview of the status and possible futures of area-based conservation. With many people calling for half the earthâs land surface to remain in a natural condition this book taps into the urgent debate about the feasibility of such an aim and the ways in which such land might be managed. It provides a timely contribution by people who have been at the centre of the debate for the last twenty years. Building on the authorsâ large personal knowledge the book draws on global case studies where the authors have firsthand experience including Yosemite National Park (USA) Blue Mountains National Park (Australia) Bwindi National Park (Uganda) Chingaza National Park (Colombia) Ustyart Plateau (Kazakhstan) Snowdonia National Park (Wales) and many more. This book is essential reading for students academics and practitioners interested in conservation and its impact on society. . Language: English