A selection of recommended titles for this expedition, available from nhbs.com

State of the Planet
David Attenborough

Attenborough brings his matter-of-fact clarity to discuss the latest scientific research on the state of the planet with explanations on rainforest destruction, global warming, extinction of species, rising sea-levels, drought and meteoric collisions.
Over the course of three programmes, he works with experts to ask whether nature really is in a crisis of species extinction, to examine why has this come about and finally to understand what options for the future remain open to us. His quest takes him on a truly global trail, from Kenya to Ecuador, from the Philippines and the Maldives to Easter Island, and from South Africa to California - visiting habitats of threatened species and exploring ways in which life can be sustained for the future.

Running time: 150 minutes.
BBC Video

Diversity of Life
Edward O Wilson

An inspiring work by this eminent scientist and conservationist. Wilson traces the processes that create new species in bursts of adaptive radiation, and identifies the five major extinctions of the last 600 million years. Each cataclysmic event, caused by a meteorite strike or climatic change, required 10-100 million years of evolutionary repair. The lessons are clear - the sixth major extinction, caused this time entirely by man - could ultimately be the greatest of them all. Drawing on evidence and examples from around the world, the author argues forcibly that the conflicting forces of economic development and natural preservation must be reconciled if the world's biological diversity is to be saved. A great book.
From the text: `Consider this: Of the estimated 10 million species of plants and animals alive in the world's rain forests, a minimum of 27,000 go extinct each year; 74 each day; 3 each hour'
`Edward Wilson is today's towering figure in American Biological Literature. Not since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery.' Richard Dawkins. New edition includes an extensive new forward by the author.

406 pages, b/w illus, figs.
Penguin

Last Chance to See . . .
D Adams and M Carwardine

Now available on CD-ROM. A book full of tragi-comic overtones, this is an account of five expeditions to various parts of the world to search for rare and endangered species, such as the aye-aye, the kakapo and the Yangtse River dolphin. Carwardine is an experienced zoologist, but Adams is better known as the bestselling author of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

224 pages, col illus.
Pan

Andes to Amazon
Michael Bright

Ground-breaking wildlife guide to South America, inspired by the first-hand experiences of the film-makers of the six-part TV series, Andes to Amazon, to be broadcast on UK TV in November 2000. A key feature of the book is the gazetteer of prime wildlife sites (compiled by Dan Tapster and Jess Auty) in each of the 13 countries and website addresses for those who are considering visiting South America. It also offers practical advice on travelling throughout the continent. The book is lavishly illustrated, with more than 100 colour photos from the world's best wildlife photographers. Unique aerial stills taken by the series' aviator cameraman, Bob Fulton, are included. Chapter headings are: The Andes - The Amazon: Flooded Forest - The Amazon: Terra Firme - Pantanal to Patagonia - Wild Coasts.

216 pages, 100 colour photos, 11 colour maps.
BBC Books

Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide to Peru
David L Pearson and Les Beletsky

Contains colour illustrations of more than 500 of Peru's most common insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from the Machu Picchu Incan ruins high in the Andes Mountains, to Lake Titicaca in southern Peru, and the Iquitos area of Amazonian northeastern Peru. Also includes information on the identification and location of the most frequently seen animals, the ecology, behaviour, and conservation of the animals, information on Peru's habitats and on the most common plants encountered, and brief descriptions of Peru's most frequently visited parks and reserves.

502 pages, col photos, col illus, maps.
AP Natural World

Neotropical Companion |An Introduction to the Animals, Plants and
John Kricher

Illustrated by Andrea Lefeune
An introduction for armchair travellers, field naturalists and conservationists to the tropics of Central and South America. In it, the author gives a general overview of the ecosystem types, the rain forests, the variety of trees and plants, the still relatively untapped wealth of drugs that can be extracted from them, the great diversity of animal life, and the crucial importance of preserving the ecosystems.

451 pages, 177 col photos, 86 line illus.
Princeton UP

Manu
Edited by Don E Wilson and Abelardo Sandoval

With an exceptional variety of species and high levels of endemism, the Manu Biosphere Reserve in southeastern Peru has been the site of intensive sampling and monitoring programs during the past decade involving top systematic scientists from the United States and Peru. In this volume, twenty-nine chapters (twenty written in English, nine in Spanish) provide an unprecedented summary of the region's biota. Divided into three sections, this study documents Manu's general floristics, flora, and fauna. Comprehensive checklists, standardized sampling schemes, information about species inventory and composition, and taxonomic data are provided for Manu's diverse plant and animal populations, including reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, spiders, and bamboos. A landmark reference to one of the world's most complex and most studied tropical ecosystems.

679 pages, illus, tabs.
Smithsonian IP

Parrots
Tony Juniper and Michael Parr

Illustrations by Kim Franklin, David Johnston, Dan Powell, Carl D'Silva and Robin Restall
This is the first book dedicated primarily to the field identification of parrots. It covers 350 species, including cockatoos, parakeets, lovebirds and budgerigars. As well as detailed identification and distributional data, it provides information on their conservation status (a fifth of the world's parrots are on the threatened list), vocalisations, life cycle characteristics and geographical variation.

584 pages, 88 col plates, maps.
Pica Press

Life of Birds
David Attenborough

Now available on DVD, this is vintage Attenborough (originally broadcast as a BBC TV series in 1998, and also available as a video, an audio CD and a hardback).
Attenborough uncovers new research into the behaviour of the most popular and perhaps the best adapted life forms on Earth, investigating the secrets of birds' great success - their remarkable strategies for finding food, their complex social systems, and their ingenious and often bizarre ways of mating and breeding. In the CD, Attenborough and the Life of Birds team choose their all-time favourite songs and calls from the series and tell the stories of their encounters with the stars of the show.
The new DVD contains additional footage and scene selection.

320 pages, col photos throughout, CD playing time: 72 mins.
BBC Books

Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians of the Tambopata Reserved Zone, Madre
David Hickleton, Keith Hambler and Kevin Morgan

In terms of biological diversity the forests of Madre de Dios are the richest in the world. This extensive listing reveals the research within the TRZ in the last 16 years.

38 pages, b/w illus, tabs, map.
Tambopata RS

Neotropical Rainforest Mammals
Louise H Emmons

Illustrations by Louise Emmons
Outstanding full-colour guide to the rainforest mammal fauna of Central and South America, much praised for its compact size, light weight, and durability, as well as the wealth and accuracy of the data. Fully revised, the guide now covers a total of 315 species and genera. Each account gives English, Latin and local names, detailed description, calls, natural history, behaviour, ecology, habitat, range, status and bibliography. 220 species are illustrated on 29 colour plates (including significant colour variants between males and females, and adults and young) and 7 b/w plates contain more than 60 images of individual species, mainly bats. There is a full glossary, key to families and genera, examples of commonly found animal tracks, a bibliography, and a checklist of scientific names. The text also discusses classification, speciation and evolution, and the biogeography and conservation of Neotropical mammals.
A CD with the calls of some 109 species, Sounds of Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, is also now available.

307 pages, 29 colour, 7 b/w illus, 11 figures, 184 maps.
Chicago UP

Sounds of Neotropical Rainforest Mammals
Louise H Emmons, Bret M Whitney and David L Ross

This first audio guide to these mammal sounds is a companion to Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide. It features the calls of 109 species or subspecies, including almost all species of primates and commonly encountered larger mammals. Information on the behavioural context for each call and where it was recorded is included in the accompanying booklet, which also cites the relevant pages in the field guide.

2 CDs, running time: 105 mins.
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory

Frogs of Tambopata
Rex Cocroft, Victor R Morales and Roy W McDiarmid

Includes mesmerizing voices of 70 species found in the Tambopata-Candamo National Park, from the vicinity of the famous Explorer's Inn, along the Rio Tambopata. The accompanying booklet includes an introduction to each family as well as brief breeding and habitat descriptions and full colour thumbnail images for each species.

Cornell LO

Guide to the Frogs of the Iquitos Region, Amazonian Peru
LO Rodriguez and WE Duellman

An identification guide to the highly diverse frog fauna of the region. Accounts of 112 species provide information on the characteristics and natural history of these amphibians; 111 species are illustrated in colour.

80 pages, 121 col photos.
Kansas MNH

Tarantulas and Marmosets
Nick Gordon

The Amazon diary of the wildlife explorer and photographer. Having spent almost a decade in the Amazon basin, Gordon has encountered an array of rare species, filmed giant tarantulas in the wild for the first time and discovered a new breed of marmoset. `Whether you are a naturalist, photographer, anthropologist, or adventurer, this is a book for you', Simon King, New Scientist.

238 pages, 24 col photos, maps.
Metro Books

Insight Guide: Amazon Wildlife
Hoefer

Useful travel guide, written by an international team of naturalists, detailing the tourist facilities, national parks and reserves, and wildlife of this region.

403 pages, col photos, maps.
Insight Guides

Lonely Planet Travel Guides: Peru, A Travel Survival Kit
Rob Rachowiecki

496 pages, 16pp colour photos, 65 maps.
Lonely Planet

Footprint's Peru Handbook
Alan Murphy

If you want to get the most out of Peru, here is a comprehensive guide with the most up-to-date information. The Peru Handbook is packed with maps and facts and vibrant detail. It is written by people who know the country inside out and who will inspire you to enjoy it as much as they do. `By far the best. The Handbooks stand in a class of their own. Unreservedly recommended.' Journey Latin America

560 pages, b/w photos, illus, 80 maps.
Footprint

Insight Guide: Peru
Edited by Pam Barrett

Marrying informative text with stunning photo-journalism, it provides not only a full survey of the country's attractions but also gives real insight into the people and culture of a land that has long been a legend among the adventurous.

358 pages, col photos, tabs, maps.
Insight Guides

Rough Guide: Peru
Dilwyn Jenkins

436 pages, illus, 55 maps.
Rough Guides

Lonely Planet Phrasebooks: Latin America (Spanish)
Anna Cody

304 pages,
Lonely Planet

Rough Guides Phrasebooks: Spanish

240 pages,
Rough Guides