Foreward
Knowing that the resources of our planet are limited, competing interests make managing and conserving these resources an interesting challenge. This textbook “Conservation Techniques,” by Drs. Marcia Meixler and the late Mark Bain, provides valuable lessons not only in the scientific principles behind conservation and management efforts but also in how that information is applied in several real-world examples.
The seeds for this textbook were planted in 2009 when Mark began teaching a course titled “Earth Care: Applying Knowledge to Conservation,” and after a time decided to use much of the course material to write a textbook. Early in the process, though, he became ill and soon thereafter passed away. I eventually met with Marcia and a number of Mark’s colleagues to decide what should be done with the Earth Care materials, but the timing did not work out for completing the book. Fortunately, Marcia used both the earlier course material and information from the drafts of book chapters to teach a course titled “Conservation Techniques.” Those pieces, along with updated course material, provide some of the core components of this textbook.
I’ve known both Marcia and Mark for most of my adult life: not only do I share a similar interest in ecology but regarding Mark, as the famous line from Jane Eyre goes: “Reader, I married him.” Over several years I witnessed Marcia and Mark working together as a highly productive team on many projects ranging from research on stream biodiversity, to hydroecology and conservation mapping as a tool for community planning, and analysis of impairments in tributary watersheds. Together they published several scientific papers covering topics such as stream habitat restoration needs, river restoration, and predicting barrier passage and habitat suitability for migratory fish species. Mark served as Marcia’s advisor for her Masters and PhD programs, and though both had pursued rigorous academic backgrounds, they also excelled at applying their knowledge to solving pressing environmental problems by working closely with stakeholders from various viewpoints with differing agendas. Both Marcia and Mark demonstrated a keen ability to communicate effectively with groups of people such that conflicting viewpoints would not necessarily hinder what they set out to accomplish. It’s been often remarked that Mark’s warm laughter and sense of rare good humor drew others to him, enhancing his ability to get people to cooperate on challenging projects. Even the director of the Hudson River Foundation would refer to Mark as his “coordinating genius.”
This textbook includes details of several case studies that illuminate the uniqueness of each conservation challenge. One of the most prominent cases is known as the “Peace Treaty on the Hudson River,” for example. Several books have been written on this case that cover the dispute over a proposed pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant at Storm King Mountain; a controversy that lasted well over a decade and resulted in several new laws and the creation of regional and national environmental organizations.
A collective effort is required when handling decisions around the conservation of ecosystems. The authors of this textbook recognized that not only are expertise and enthusiasm required, but skilled leadership, a trust in the value of collaboration, and a practical understanding of the issues, conflicts, interests, values, and personalities to advance those management efforts and decisions.
Mark would have been particularly pleased that this opportunity for providing an open-access textbook was recognized by Marcia as a meaningful way to continue spreading their breadth of knowledge and experience with others interested in mastering the scientific principles, making sound decisions, and taking effective actions regarding environmental management and conservation.
