Weaving together philosophical, historical, legal, scientific and
personal viewpoints, this book gives a rich sample of the vast web which makes up our cultural, spiritual and social diversity.

The volume highlights the central importance of cultural and spiritual
values in the appreciation and preservation of all life and argues that these values give us a true reflection of worth. It demonstrates how
many cultures see Nature as an extension of society, and how sensitive
stewardship is an integral part of existence.

The book includes chapters on: language and how cognition and speech encode indigenous knowledge systems and are critical for preservation of diversity; the complex issue of indigenous people and the problems of preserving their relationships both with and within their
societies; voices of the world - expressions of concern and disquiet over the declining world diversity; holistic health practices where
environment and diet are integrated into indigenous medical health
systems; the importance of developing effective intellectual property rights and territorial and land rights to enhance and maintain local control.

There are also specific examples of how local people have learned to
conserve biodiversity in an extraordinary range of environments and social conditions, and examines how many world religions are
re-assessing their roles as stewards in the light of environmental
impoverishment.

This book arose out of the Global Biodiversity Assessment (GBA), a
massive review of current knowledge in the broad field of biological diversity, comissioned by United Nations Environmental Program
(UNEP).