The aim of this scheme is to provide ecology and conservation books to those from outside Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand who would otherwise be unable to obtain them. The simple purpose of this scheme is to spread ecological knowledge as widely as possible.

This scheme is a collaboration between the British Ecological Society (who pay for the postage), the NHBS Environment Bookstore (who co-ordinate and organise the distribution) and the publishers and authors of the books (who provide the books for free). We plan to provide a number of books per year. They will usually be distributed three months after the book has been published. Individuals may request the book for themselves or suggest the book for others. It is likely that some of these schemes will be oversubscribed: all applications will be considered together and the available copies will then be awarded to those considered most able to benefit from them.

The first title to be distributed under the Gratis Books Scheme was William J Sutherland's Conservation Handbook. Over 3000 copies have been donated. The number of recipients per country can be viewed here.

We are afraid that gratis books are not available to students currently doing degrees in Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. They are also not available to those from Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand but currently working outside those areas.

GRATIS SCHEME TITLES

Techniques in Ecology and Conservation series. Series editor: William J. Sutherland (Oxford University Press) OUP will provide 200 copies (another 100 copies with each reprint) for each new volume in the Techniques in Ecology and Conservation series. The latest volumes in the series are: Conservation and Sustainable Use: A Handbook of Techniques E J Milner-Gulland and J Marcus Rowcliffe Habitat Management for Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques Malcolm Ausden Forest Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques Adrian C Newton (offer now closed) Request a gratis copy of one of these volumes here

Analysis of Variance and Covariance: How to Choose and Construct Models for the Life Sciences C Patrick Doncaster and Andrew JH Davey (CUP 2007) CUP are kindly providing 200 Gratis copies. Request a gratis copy here

Ecological Census Techniques. Second edition. Edited by William J. Sutherland (Cambridge University Press). CUP are kindly providing 200 Gratis copies of this book. This offer is now closed.

The Conservation Handbook William J Sutherland Blackwell have kindly provided a further 200 Gratis copies of this classic text. View recipients per country. This offer is now closed.

Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems Fourth edition of the book previously titled Ecology: Individuals, Populations & Communities. Michael Begon, John L Harper & Colin R Townsend (Blackwell) Blackwell are kindly providing 200 Gratis copies of the new edition. This offer is now closed.

Bird Ecology and Conservation: A handbook of techniques. Edited by William J. Sutherland, Ian Newton and Rhys E. Green (Oxford University Press) View recipients per country. This offer is now closed.

Wildlife Ecology, Conservation and Management Anthony Sinclair, John Fryxell and Graeme Caughley Blackwell are kindly providing 200 copies of the paperback. This offer is now closed.