A new book has gathered the most recent knowledge on Australia’s stunning and unique assemblage of flora and fauna.

Leading conservation biologists have contributed to Austral Ark – a book that presents the special features and historical context of Austral biota, and explains what is being conserved and why.

Australia and New Zealand are home to some remarkable and rare inhabitants. However, by virtue of their long isolation and vulnerable biota, both countries have suffered substantial losses to biodiversity since European contact.

Austral Ark is published by Cambridge University Press, and seeks to highlight Australia and New Zealand’s many historical and contemporary environmental differences as well as commonalities. It provides an insight into the threatening processes occurring worldwide as well as the unique conservation problems faced in this region.

“It provides a unique big-picture view of the challenges facing Australian biodiversity and conservation,” says one of the book’s editors, Macquarie University’s Adam Stow.

The threatening processes occurring worldwide are discussed, along with the unique conservation problems faced at regional level.

At the same time, the book highlights many examples of conservation success resulting from local solutions to safeguard native species and habitats.

Austral Ark fills an important gap regarding wildlife gains and declines, and how best to take conservation forward to keep this extraordinary area of the world thriving.

Austral Ark is published by Cambridge University Press.