Nature in northern Europe - Biodiversity in a changing environment

This 350-page book about biodiversity, "Nature in Northern Europe – Biodiversity in a changing environment", is the end-product of a major Northern European co-operation project. It complies the latest essential information about plant and animal species and their habitats, while assessing the need for nature conservation.

The book covers the Nordic Countries, Scotland, the Baltic Countries and northwestern Russia including Murmansk, Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod, Kaliningrad regions and the Republic of Karelia.

A fascinating insight into nature in northern Europe

This book starts by examining the significance of biological diversity; then continues with a review of the natural history of Northern Europe, describing the spread of species into Northern Europe after the ice receded, before assessing in detail how people have shaped plant and animal communities and their habitats – and how nature is faring today under various pressures. Finally, the book sets out the crucial arguments as to how the diversity of our natural surroundings could and should be protected. The book will appeal to anyone interested in nature, as well as teachers, students, researchers and decision makers.

Clear maps and diagrams together with excellent photographs ensure that the book's detailed scientific content is presented in an attractive and accessible way. The book includes also nearly 200 drawings of plants, animals and fungi drawn by four artists. Among them is Evgeny A. Koblik from Russia, Senior Scientist of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, M. Sc. in Biology.

"Nature in Northern Europe – Biodiversity in a changing environment" was published in 2002 in English, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian and Russian. Many authors and specialists from each country were involved in the different phases of the five years' comprehensive work. The Secretariat of the Editorial Group was located in the Nature Division of the Finnish Environment Institute.

The book has been financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers and printed by Edita Plc. in Helsinki.


www.norden.org