Books available for PCA members (only) to borrow
(Requests for temporary loan can be made at the Seychelles National Herbarium)

An Orchard Invisible – a natural history of seeds (J Silvertown) 2009 University of Chicago Press

(Easy and fascinating to read, with delightful stories and interesting information about seeds – including Coco de Mer. Highly recommended)



A Passion for Plants – contemporary botanical masterpieces (S Sherwood 2001 Cassell and Co

(Beautiful paintings of a wide variety of plants by artists from around the world, with descriptions of the artists and the plants they painted)


Brilliant Green - the surprising history and science of plant intelligence (S Mancuso & A Viola) 2015 Island Press

(Enlightening summary of how superb plants are at solving problems and adapting to their environment, including communicating with insects and other animals. They have far more senses than we do and respond intelligently. If you don’t believe this, read the book!)


Conservation and Sustainable Use - a handbook of techniques (EJ Milner-Gulland & JM Rowcliffe) 2007 Oxford University Press

(Methods that can be used for conservation of exploited species: to understand their biology, habitat requirements, causes of decline, exploitation issues, plus how to intervene, monitor the results, etc)



Conservation Education and Outreach Techniques (SK Jacobson, MD McDuff & MC Monroe) 2006 & also 2nd Edition 2015 Oxford University Press

(Presents many different techniques and approaches for different audiences, including design, planning and execution of programmes)



Developments in Soil Classification, Land Use Planning and Policy Implications (Eds: SA Shahid, FK Taha & MA Abdelfattah) 2013 Springer

(Subtitled ‘Innovative thinking of soil inventory for land use planning and management of land resources’ – basically a collection of academic articles from around the world)



Developments in Soil Salinity Assessment and Reclamation (Eds: SA Shahid, MA Abdelfattah & FK Taha) 2013 Springer

(The subtitle is ‘Innovative thinking and use of marginal soil and water resources in irrigated agriculture’- basically a series of academic papers from around the world dealing with different types of soil salinity, its effects on crop production, salt tolerance in plants, how to deal with salinity and saline water, so relevant to low lying land cultivation [even mangroves] in all Seychelles islands)



Flowering Plant Families of the World (VH Heywood, RK Brummitt, A Culham & O Seberg) 2007 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

(‘Coffee table’ sized book including all the main plant families, with lots of colour illustrations and info on distribution, characteristics, classification, economic uses + illustrated glossary)



Green Marketing - opportunity for innovation (JA Ottman) 1998 (2nd edition) J Ottman Consulting Inc. New York

(Mainly aimed at manufacturers, marketers and entrepreneurs involved in trying to promote ‘green’ products to ever more conscious ‘green’ consumers - provides useful creative ideas that could be used even in Seychelles)



Handbook of Ecological Restoration –Vol.2: restoration in practice (Eds: MR Perrow& AJ Davy) 2002 (reissued 2008) Cambridge University Press

(Compilation of papers about habitat restoration, in its broadest sense, throughout the world and in many different habitats, including coastal and aquatic systems)



Interpreting our Heritage (Freeman Tilden) 2008 (4th edition) University of North Carolina Press

(Although US-based, this book gives useful ideas about the rationale and processes of education and interpretation in for example National Parks, museums)



Island Biogeography - ecology, evolution and conservation (RJ Whittaker & JM Fernández-Palacios) 2007 (2nd edition) Oxford University Press

(Rather academic treatment of what the title says! But definitely useful for understanding islands, including those of the Seychelles)



Kingdom of Plants - A journey though their evolution - (Will Benson) 2012 Collins

(A popular and fascinating book about plant diversity, evolution and adaptations to diverse habitats, which celebrates plants and their uses, and describes their vital role on Earth)




Plant (J Marinelli, Ed in chief) 2004 Dorling Kindersley Ltd.

(Coffee-table sized book. Comprehensive introduction to the world of plants, botanic gardens and the role of gardening; plants are divided into major groups, e.g. trees, climbers, ferns, bulb, palms, invasive species…)



Plant Behaviour and Intelligence (A Trewavas 2015 Oxford University Press

(Somewhat complex and detailed discussion about whether plants can be called intelligent – with some good illustrative examples; But well worth dipping into as the author has interesting ideas)




Plant Conservation – a natural history approach (Eds: GA Krupnick & WJ Kress) 2005 University of Chicago Press

(Papers about the evolution of plant diversity and habitats, the reasons for habitat change, loss of species and its consequences + importance of museums/herbaria and documentation)



Plant Conservation – an ecosystem approach (A & P Hamilton) 2006 Earthscan

(One of the People and Plants series so it takes a people-centred approach to the management of plant conservation, discussing the roles of botanists, community etc, but also brings out the reasons for the need for conservation)



Plant Identification creating user-friendly field guides for biodiversity management (A Lawrence & W Hawthorne) 2006 Earthscan

(One of the People and Plants series. A practical guide for planning useful user-friendly field guides, plus the options and techniques involved)




Plant Reintroduction in a Changing Climate - promises and perils (Joyce Maschinski & Kristin E Haskins) 2012 (Center for Plant Conservation) Island Press

(Series of technical papers, each with a useful summary at the end, about reintroduction science and practice, managed relocation of rare plants and a useful chapter on best reintroduction practice guidelines)



Repairing Damaged Wildlands (SG Whisenant) 1999 Cambridge University Press.

(Integrated approaches to improving damaged ecosystems that can then be used for various sustainable purposes, including planning and subsequent management; a bit USA oriented)



Taxonomy and Plant Conservation (Etelka Leadlay) 2005 Cambridge University Press

(An interesting book about what taxonomy is and its importance in measuring diversity, establishing priorities and identifying effective plant conservation action)



The Biology of Island Floras (Eds: David Bramwell & Juli Caujapé-Castells) 2011 Cambridge University Press

(A collection of research work focussed on the biology, origin, evolution and biogeography of island flora, using examples from islands around the world; also brings in threats such as alien species and climate change, and aspects of conservation, including using Red List criteria on small islands; Seychelles gets a few minor references [and there is some dubious data!] but PCA even gets a mention on page 484!)



The Cabaret of Plants – botany and the imagination (R Mabey) 2016 Profile Books

(Interesting and reflective stories about our relationships with plants, intended for the general reader. Somewhat lyrical descriptions and some fun facts along with them)
 


The Emerald Planet – how plants changed Earth’s history (David Beerling) 2007  Oxford University Press

(Fascinating fossil history which indicates some of the atmospheric changes in our planet’s atmosphere influenced by and influencing plant development)



The Plant Messiah – adventures in search of the world’s rarest species (Carlos Magdalena) 2018 Penguin Books

(An enthusiastic 'messiah' for plants who works at Kew Gardens shares his travels and experiences in the conservation of rare plants – including those of Mauritius and Rodrigues – very enjoyable and easy to read)
 


Tropical Rainforest Ecology, Diversity and Conservation (Jaboury Ghazoul & Douglas Sheil) 2010 Oxford University Press

(Incredibly comprehensive summary of everything to do with tropical forests, including origins, types, plants, animals, relationships, adaptations, cycles, human impacts, conservation, etc)

THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS AND PAPERS AVAILABLE - MOST ARE STUDIES CARRIED OUT IN SEYCHELLES - contact us for more details.