Handbook of Sustainable Management of Biodiversity: Strategies for a Thriving Planet

Mounting perils posed by climate change, habitat degradation, pollution, and overexploitation jeopardize numerous species, including microbes.This book strives to shed light on the pressing necessity for sustainable biodiversity practices that safeguard our planet's natural legacy. By delving into diverse strategies, scientific paradigms, and case studies, the authors reveal how holistic approaches to biodiversity can cultivate flourishing ecosystems wherein wildlife and human societies coexist harmoniously. This approach sets the book apart from others and presents the tools and knowledge needed to ensure the resilience and thriving of ecosystems for future generations.

Key Features

• Provides a holistic view of how biodiversity impacts ecosystem functions and human well-being.
• "Diverse expertise of editors ensures a well-rounded perspective on sustainable biodiversity management. They present a variety of sustainable management principles, conservation strategies, and policy frameworks."
• Emphasizes the often-overlooked microbial communities, known as microbial dark matter, and their linkage to larger organisms.
• It delves into the ecological significance of microbes, their interactions, and their crucial roles in nutrient cycling and soil vitality, highlighting their importance for ecosystem sustainability.
• Includes real-world case studies and examples of successful biodiversity practices, providing readers with practical tools and actionable insights for effective biodiversity management.
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding basic principles, fostering global collaboration, embracing technological innovations, and encouraging community involvement to ensure the resilience and sustainability of ecosystems for future generations.

Professor Ming Hung Wong is a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and Changjiang Chair Professor of the Ministry of Education, China. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of ‘Environmental Geochemistry and Health’ (Springer Nature) for 20 years (2002-2023). Professor Wong was the Coordinator of Central and North-East Asia of ‘Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances’ and a Panel Member (of 3 experts) of ‘Chemicals Management Issues of Developing Countries and Countries with Economies in Transition’, sponsored by UNEP/GEF, during 2001-2003 and 2010-2012, respectively. His research areas included ‘Environmental toxicology’; ‘Ecological restoration’; and ‘Resource reuse’. In addition to his PhD (Durham), he was awarded two higher Doctoral Degrees based on published papers in 1992 and 2004: DSc (Durham) and DSc (Strathclyde). Recently, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from the Southern Federal University, Russia (2024), in recognition of his involvement as the Lead Scientist in the Mega Project on Bioremediation of Polluted Ecosystems, sponsored by the Russian Government. Professor Wong is ranked 6th for 3 years, 7th for 1 year, and 8th for 2 years (career-long ranking) under Environmental Science, according to the World’s Top 2% Scientists (Stanford University, 2020-2025).

Dr. Xun Wen Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology at Jinan University, China. He obtained his PhD at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). His interdisciplinary research focuses on the complex interactions between plants and microbes under stress, including exposure to chemical and physical stressors. The goal of his research is to gain a deeper understanding of the complex plant-microbe interactions and to extract general principles that can be applied to advance ecological restoration and sustainable development.

Dr. Masayuki Ushio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ocean Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He began his academic career as a forest ecologist in 2005, earned PhD in 2010 from Kyoto University, and has been actively involved in research in ecology, covering a wide range of topics, including tropical forest ecology, nutrient cycling, community assembly, environmental DNA analysis, and statistical ecology. He moved from Kyoto University to Hong Kong in 2022 and began ecological research in local coastal regions. In Hong Kong, his research team is currently developing environmental DNA-based methods to monitor cetacean and fish communities in coastal ecosystems.