Review by Kenneth L. Carriveau, Jr. Government Documents/Agriculture Librarian, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Library, University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU 96923, USA. TEL: 671-734-9144/9403. Norse, Elliott A., ed. GLOBAL MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY : A STRATEGY FOR BUILDING CONSERVATION INTO DECISION MAKING. Covelo, CA : Island Press, 1993. xxxii, 383 pp. US$27.50 paperback, ISBN: 1-55963-256-9. Recycled, acid-free paper. Politicians, policy-makers, and community leaders of the world, your attention, please! By assuming leadership in your part of the world, you have been tasked with the responsibility of guiding your country's economic and political growth to the highest possible level of success. If you wish to make a true impact on your nation's economic growth and development, this book will prove invaluable to your strategic planning. GLOBAL MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY is the result of the collaborative efforts of hundreds of marine scientists from around the world, all under the editorial leadership of Dr. Elliott Norse, Chief Scientist of the Center for Marine Conservation (Washington, DC). In this modest volume, the experts argue quite convincingly that economic, political and social success, or survival, is intimately linked to the successful protection and preservation of the world's environment, while placing special emphasis on maintaining the integrity of the Earth's oceans. The arrangement of information throughout the book is excellent. It is presented seamlessly, logically, and without emotional overtones. The observations and conclusions are based upon objective scientific studies. The first three chapters provide basic background information all policy-makers should have when attempting to balance environmental needs with economic needs. It is here the experts define such environmental terms as biological diversity, marine conservation, and ecological risk. They then highlight the important roles each plays in civilization's progress. People with training in biology or ecology may wish to skim these sections or simply use the section headings and subheadings as a checklist for review. Reading the numerous examples provided to illustrate each point can be tedious. Chapters four and five deal with threats to marine biological diversity and impediments to marine conservation, respectively. I highly recommend that all readers, even those who consider themselves familiar with marine environmental issues, give more than a passing glance to the contents of these sections. Readers may find themselves surprised, not only by the types of issues labeled as threats or impediments to progress, but also to the extent these labels smack of common sense. Chapters six through nine comprise the heart of this work and are essential reading for all political leaders around the globe. Here, Dr. Norse and his colleagues present the goals to be reached, the strategies to be used, the tools available to implement the strategies, and the existing institutions policy makers may turn to for assistance, guidance, and advice. The goals and strategies are plainly defined and clearly outlined. However, it is obvious that effective implementation of these strategies will require significant changes in society's environmental attitudes. These sections will give the policy maker a solid foundation upon which to start bringing about such changes.