Conserving Earth's Biodiversity CD-ROM
by E.O Wilson and Dan Perlman
Publisher: Island Press; CD-ROM edition (January 2000)
ISBN: 1559637730

Reviewed by Fuad Safwat, Professor Emeritus of Biology,
University of Massachusetts, Boston


Conserving Earth's Biodiversity (an interactive CD- ROM) is an exceptionally effective tool to enhance the study and teaching of conservation biology. The software covers many broad ranging topics including human impact on natural landscape, threats to biodiversity and their economic, social and political consequences. The software is designed to provide a rich learning experience and a range of information that should be valuable to stimulate student learning. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other relevant text material. Use of the CD-ROM in the classroom is an excellent way to cover material in an interactive way, one which allows students to actively participate in their own learning process, absorbing a variety of experiences from around the world.

A few highlights of the program are as follows:

• Interactive exercises to explore topics in conservation biology.
• Detailed world maps that cover topics such as deforestation, hot conservation regions, human population growth etc.
• Thought stimulating questions.
• Conservation case studies.
• Numerous color photographs.
• Video animations. Note: the difficult concept of continental drift is exceptionally well presented here.
• Links to various conservation web sites.
• Exploration questions to stimulate student thinking and research.
  

The structure of Conserving Earth's Biodiversity is derived from teaching and writings of a distinguished biologist, Edward O. Wilson of Harvard University, who introduces the various topics in an interesting and thought-provoking manner.

The program is divided into eight major sections:

• Introduction
• Global biodiversity
• Diversity of life
• Changes over time
• Threats to biodiversity
• Conservation practice
• Social issues
• Learning more

The approach that is taken in the CD-ROM is to use a number of effective strategies:

• Introductory movie clips.
• Broad overview segments
• Interactive models
• Links within the program.
• Links to resources outside the program
• Further thought questions

I have carefully examined a large portion of the material, although I have not yet used it in a classroom setting. I believe that the information contained in the interactive CD-ROM and its presentation constitutes a major contribution to the teaching and learning of biodiversity at different levels. The wealth of information presented as well as the quality of the many thought-provoking questions makes this software an exceptional addition to our understanding of biodiversity.