Crossbill Guides is a series of attractively produced nature travel guides on major European natural areas. Madeira is Portugal's emerald island - wild, rough and verdant green, situated roughly 850km southwest of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Together with the much smaller and drier island of Porto Santo and the saw-toothed crescent of the Desertas islands, it forms a small archipelago that is a splendid destination for nature lovers and hikers. The misty laurel forests and sunny peaks are packed with a rare, unique flora and fauna, while whales, dolphins, sea turtles and large numbers of seabirds patrol the surrounding ocean. Hikers, birdwatchers, botanists, whalewatchers and other nature lovers¿¿¿. this is your naturalist guide to Madeira. The Crossbill Guide to Madeira describes 15 routes and numerous other sites to discover Madeira and Porto Santo. In addition, it describes excursions on the ocean, the Desertas islands and the remote Selvagens archipelago to explore Madeira's sea life. The book is complemented with extensive chapters on landscape, geology, history, descriptions of the flora and fauna and tips to observe wildlife. Includes the islands of Porto Santo, Desertas and Salvagens.

Crossbill Guides is a series of attractively produced nature travel guides on major European natural areas. This new title in the Crossbill Guides series covers Southern Portugal from Lisbon to the Algarve. Like all other Crossbill Guides, this title poses and answers two key questions: what makes this area so special and how you can experience this uniqueness for yourself. This book describes the flora and fauna, landscape and traditional land use of this region plus 21 detailed routes and around 50 sites with specific suggestions on where and how to find the birds, wildlife and flora. Southern Portugal is a superb and rich wildlife destination. The Algarve province and its northern neighbour the Alentejo has a highly diverse landscape from the cliffs, dunes and tidal marshes on the coast to the extensive oak pastures, steppes and rocky hills in the interior. Whether you enjoy birdwatching, searching for orchids or simply a pleasant ramble through a flower-dotted landscape, southern Portugal is a great destination at any season.

A remarkable variety of animals and plants can be found in the wilderness region surrounding the Okavango Delta. This photographic guide covers more than 470 of the area’s most conspicuous and interesting mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, fi shes, invertebrates, trees and aquatic plants. An informative introduction describes the area’s geology, climate, habitats and the key roles played by some animals, such as termites and elephants. The species accounts feature concise text describing the species’ appearance, size, habits, habitat and status, with full-colour photographs to facilitate identification.

.".. book which explores the journey of celebrating the link between people and nature, the book reveals how plants, animals and landscapes are profoundly reflected in Xhosa language, stories, poetry, religious rituals, healing practices and everyday customs that define Xhosa culture. Over the years cultural and spiritual meaning of nature in South Africa has been poorly recorded and often misunderstood. The current trade of medicinal plants is often destructive and unsustainable with an estimated 27 million South Africans making use of indigenous medicines. This is a serious detriment as natural resources have been a reliant for underprivileged people who gain food, fuel, medicines, and building materials from wild plants. Therefore the addition of information on edible and medicinal plants is of extreme importance ... Voices from the Forest gives a fresh positive approach to biodiversity conservation in SA by showing that people\2019s values for natural resources can be considered positively as a way forward to continued sustainable use. The book explores the role that nature plays in the cultural and spiritual landscapes of the Xhosa people in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and serves as a pointer to sustainable practices in the future. The underlying aim is ultimately sustaining cultural heritage and conserving biodiversity because in our modernising world cultural diversity is threatened by the loss of natural diversity and finding ways of protecting the region's biodiversity and cultural diversity is of vital importance"--Publisher's website.

This book provides a compact identification guide to the animals and plants of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago and Gough Island, with more than 400 colour photographs.

This new Crossbill Guide to Finnish Lapland is fully revised and updated. It describes the nature and wildlife of Finnish Lapland, one of the last great wildernesses of Europe. Lapland is Finland's northernmost province and lies almost entirely above the Arctic Circle. A visit to Finnish Lapland is an experience that is hard to capture in words. The land is vast and roads are few. Deep in this wilderness, animals, such as Brown Bear, Wolverine, Wolf, Lynx and Elk, roam. Huge expanses of coniferous forests, impenetrable bogs and vast open fells make up this awe-inspiring landscape. As any Crossbill Guide, this title gives 22 detailed route descriptions and 23 site descriptions. Topics include: Landscape history " Ecosystems " Geology " Flora and Fauna " Where to watch birds " Finding orchids and other wildflowers. The Crossbill Guide to Finnish Lapland and the Kuusamo region introduces you to a fascinating northern wilderness and provides you with itineraries so you can discover the area at your own pace.