BOOK REVIEWS 1 School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Wildlife and Society: The Science of Human Dimensions M. J. Manfredo, J. J. Vaske, P. J. Brown, D. J. Decker, and E. A. Duke (eds), 200K Island Press, Washington, D. C. ISBN K7P15K72640P2 RRP US T 4K.50 (paperback JUSTIN LAWSON 1 WILDLI%E and Society2 3he Science of Human Dimensions is a timely and important book focusing on the well-established field of human dimensions and natural resource management. A lucid and pragmatic book, with contributions from the leaders in the field, it makes clear and valid reasons for understanding the importance of people and their relationships to fish and wildlife. In particular, it is asserted that “we need information on the who, what, where, when and why for all those interested in or affected by natural resource decisions anytime we are allocating and managing natural resources” (Brown, p.6). Brown continues with highlighting eight lessons from the history of wildlife conservation that need to be remembered in order to understand the convergence of social sciences, environmental sciences and policy development\ people, timing, patience, commitment and compassion, organi- zational leadership and ability, communication devices, university programmes, and finally, a passion that drove individuals from very different disciplines together (pp. 7^P). By valuing these, we are able to appreciate our current position and be hopeful of a successful future in effective wildlife management. We are, however, also reminded of the challenges, namely\ “urbanization . . . a less distinct science- policy interface, human-wildlife conflicts, ecotourism, illegal harvesting and trade, co-management, wildlife and human health, . . . the effect of wildlife on the development of cultural and human spirit . . . active participation by various interest . . . water and energy development . . . and neighbour participation” (pp. P^11). Thus, the tone of the book is set and in the process of achieving its aim of providing a platform of improving the management activities of fish and wildlife at local, national and international levels, the book is divided into four parts. These are\ (1) Social Factors Creating Change in Fish and Wildlife Conservation, (2) Building the Social Component into the Philosophy of Wildlife Conservation, (3) Dealing with the Legal and Institutional Factors of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and, (4) Social Perspectives on Contemporary Fish and Wildlife Conservation Issues. Fifty-seven contributors from predominantly the United States and Europe, with expertise gained from diverse locations throughout the world (Australia is notably absent), provide a wide range of detailed commentary addressing the challenges as set by Brown in the introductory chapter. Analysis and discussion is made in response to a range of issues, including local democracy, com- munity engagement, legal trends, new markets, hunting, and wildlife privatisation using a variety of pertinent and interesting examples from across the globe. Case studies are used throughout, with some being brief and in one instance, focusing on co- management issues in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in Peru (by Bodmer et al.) occupying an entire chapter. Despite this, the book still comes across as an Americo-centric offering. Inasmuch as the contributors have provided valuable insights in the human dimensions of wildlife management, opportunities to include perspectives from other parts of the world and thus provide some contrast to those insights were missed. Considering co- management is a system still with its problems, examples sourced from, say, Australia and Pakistan would add some further benefits (for example, Uluru-aata Tjuta National Park in Australia is an excellent case study with a 24 year history of joint management and Central aarakoram National Park in Pakistan which borders China and India has had an interesting process of development since the early 1KK0s involving international and local stakeholders as mentioned by Fuller and Hussein (1KK6)). Indeed, the chapter on legal trends by Musgrave could have been followed by another chapter with a similar focus, but set in Australia to demonstrate a country with a comparable volatile history between European settlers and indigenous people, but with unique legal outcomes such as the Mabo decision leading to the Native 3itle Act >993 and the subsequent Wik decision leading to the Native 3itle Amendment Act >998 (although the prime focus of the Amendment was on pastoral issues). This leads to the only slight criticism of the collection of chapters with regard to the lack of indigenous knowledge systems or traditional ecologi- cal knowledge. Indigenous rights are discussed briefly by Fraser et al., Bodmer et al., Musgrave, and Bennett in separate chapters and local community participation is discussed by Hill, but these commentaries skirt around the difficult issue of how to effectively integrate knowledge gained from thousands of years of living on the land with knowledge gained from recent technological advance- ments. Bennet acknowledges that examples of effective management (in the context of hunting in tropical forests) are “lamentably rare” and that “at least ten years are required to gather detailed knowledge” (pp. 2K5^6). There is a vast wealth of information to be gained from indigenous peoples as highlighted by Posey (1KKK) and perhaps it lay beyond the scope of this book, but considering the challenges laid down in the introduction, some discussion is warranted in demonstrating how non- indigenous and indigenous people (as opposed to