1st Edition
Ramsar Wetlands of the North American West Coast and Central Pacific An Atlas
This is the first comprehensive international atlas featuring all ecological services provided by Ramsar wetlands, with complete views of all Ramsar sites, through remote sensing and mapping. Written by an international expert on wetlands and remote sensing, this atlas is for a broad audience and compiles much-needed information on how the Ramsar wetlands are of significant value to the planet and society and can and should be managed in such a way that supports planetary sustainability. Focused on the 72 designated Ramsar sites along the western coasts of Alaska, Canada, California, Mexico, and the Central Pacific islands, each wetland is articulately documented with respect to its specific ecological functions and services.
FEATURES
- Provides a comprehensive assessment of the key biophysical and societal elements of each Ramsar-designated wetland along the North American West Coast and Central Pacific
- Brings all designated Ramsar wetlands to the reader in one visually appealing compendium using geospatial technology
- Aids in highlighting the importance of and options for wetland conservation and restoration worldwide
- Explains the important role that wetlands play in environmental sustainability, directly supporting the global sustainable development goals of the United Nations
- Introduces the contributions of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to global conservation and restoration
This atlas is intended for wetland managers and policymakers involved in the Ramsar Convention activities and for wetland ecologists and other allied environmental scientists and practitioners, such as hydrologists, microbiologists, and botanists. It is also a valuable resource for researchers, faculty, and graduate students affiliated with programs such as wetland ecology, wetland management, environmental studies, environmental management, and survey of wetlands.
1. Introduction to Ramsar
2. The United States and Canada
3. Mexico: States of Baja California and Baja California Sur
4. Mexico: States of Sonora and Sinaloa
5. Mexico: States of Nayarit and Jalisco
6. Mexico: States of Colima, Michoacan, and Guerrero
7. Mexico: States of Oaxaca and Chiapas
Biography
Ricardo D. Lopez, PhD, has provided leadership on diverse environmental science issues over the last four decades. During his tenure in both academia and public service with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ric has inspired scientific research teams and natural resource managers across a variety of geographic areas, from Asia and Indo-Pacific Regions to the Americas, focusing on shared learning and public service among the diverse communities of the world. A natural thread woven throughout his life and career and writings is the importance of sustaining all of the planet’s ecosystems and the people who rely upon them. Among the first areas of research Ric focused on was the wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes, and he is proud to have contributed to that particular "community of science and conservation" during the past several decades, a time when wetlands have been recognized for their critical role in maintaining life on our changing planet. Ric earned a BS in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s and PhD in Environmental Sciences at the Ohio State University, with an emphasis on landscape ecology and wetland ecology. He is currently Administrator of the Pacific Islands Area of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conserving and serving ‘āina (Hawaiian language meaning the land, earth) among the 22 National Wildlife Refuges and 4 Marine National Monuments of the Pacific.
