Honduras RPCV Mark Bonta's book wonderfully captures the "ornithophilia" of Olanchanos, and puts together a stong case for conservation at local scales that build upon existing needs and environmental concerns



Honduras RPCV Mark Bonta's book wonderfully captures the "ornithophilia" of Olanchanos, and puts together a stong case for conservation at local scales that build upon existing needs and environmental concerns

I too was a Peace Corps volunteer (99-01) working in Sierra de Agalta National Park and its surrounding communities. Mark's book wonderfully captures the "ornithophilia" of Olanchanos, and puts together a stong case for conservation at local scales that build upon existing needs and environmental concerns. A must have for all conservationists working in Honduras or anywhere else for that matter.

Seven Names for the Bellbird goes beyond typical discussions of environmental problems in Latin America to show how real people and real birds interact in their shared landscapes. The wealth of details in Bonta's discussion makes a significant contribution to the study of human-animal interactions. Easily accessible and yet provocative, Bonta shows how conservation activities need to be based on local practices and control of resources--a lesson not just for environmentalists working in developing countries, but good advice for people working to protect their own neighborhoods.