The Complete Fauna of Iran: Norway and the Struggle for Power in the New North

"Iran is host to some of Asia's most diverse animal wildlife. Its lush Caspian coastline, arid central deserts and fertile plains are the habitat for a vast range of creatures. Eskander Firouz's prize-winning book is the most comprehensive work to date on the fauna of Iran. Indeed it is the only book to cover all of Iran's vertebrate fauna, comprising mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Despite the emergence of a conservation movement in the 1960s and '70s, the last quarter century has witnessed continuing environmental degradation and the destruction of natural habitats in Iran. The position of a number of species unique to Iran, such as the Asiatic cheetah, is critical. More than an invaluable source of scientific knowledge, Eskander Firouz's book also alerts the public to an environmental situation in Iran which is becoming increasingly imperilled."--Bloomsbury Publishing. "Iran is host to some of Asia's most diverse animal wildlife. Its lush Caspian coastline, arid central deserts, majestic mountains and fertile plains are the habitat for a vast range of creatures. Eskander Firouz's book is the most comprehensive work to date on the fauna of Iran. Indeed it is the only book to cover all of Iran's vertebrate fauna, comprising mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. With details of a total of more than 1,000 species, it also summaries the history of zoological work previously undertaken in Iran - from Hamdollah Mostofi 660 years ago to investigations of the twentieth century." "The author also examines the rise of the conservation movement in Iran in the 1960s and 70s. These decades witnessed an increasing awareness of conservation issues and saw the establishment of national parks. Firouz looks at how far the Iranian government's stated policy objective of preserving biodiversity and arresting environmental degradation has been successful, since, in spite of these avowed goals, the last quarter century has seen further habitat destruction. The position of a number of species unique to Iran, such as the Asiatic cheetah, is critical. More than an invaluable source of scientific knowledge and a brief history of Iranian zoological study, Eskandar Firouz's new book warns of an environmental situation which is becoming increasingly imperilled." "This will be an essential reference work for all concerned with the vertebrate fauna of Asia and the Middle East."--Jacket

This prize-winning book is the most comprehensive work to date on the fauna of Iran, now available for the first time to an English-speaking readership. Despite the emergence of a conservation movement in the 1960s and 70s, the last quarter century has witnessed continuing environmental degradation and the destruction of natural habitats in Iran. The position of a number of species unique to Iran, such as the Asiatic cheetah, is critical. More than a source of scientific knowledge, this book also alerts the public to an environmental situation which is becoming increasingly imperilled.