A Land Before Humans, a Land After Humans

Mark Fisher author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:5M Books Ltd

Published:28th Feb '25

Should be back in stock very soon

A Land Before Humans, a Land After Humans cover

‘Some species survive reliant on conservation, some may survive eluding our knowing, some may not survive despite our efforts, and some may survive by adapting to and integrating with human worlds’.

New Zealand is a unique and fascinating country as a case study for managing invasive species. Because of its history we know a lot about species introductions, and because of its geographical position, as a relatively small remote island, the potential for dealing with invasive species may be more effective than elsewhere. Moreover, the fragility of its ecosystems makes it relatively easy to see the impact of one species upon another. Nature and people shape the country’s ecology: from its geological and biological beginnings to the relatively recent arrival of people and the changes wrought, to the wide-ranging efforts of individuals and communities to protect and enhance treasured species and environments. Among them, an ambitious Predator Free 2050 initiative to rid the country of some of its unwanted species.

The issue is a complex and interesting one. There are ethical considerations – which species are protected, and which destroyed? How are they destroyed? What are the unforeseen consequences? There are also tensions between preservation and the use of natural resources, and ultimately our relationship to the environment, how we live.

A Land Before Humans, a Land After Humans explores these issues. An invaluable resource for environment, ecology, animal welfare and ethics students, researchers and policy makers, the book takes New Zealand as a case study and looks at the practical and ethical considerations of dealing with invasive species.

A fine, bright and wise book that speaks to the role of people and cultures in the great global challenges of biodiversity and climate recovery. How ecosystems work is always, at least today, about human choices, and then the consequences too. What to protect or enhance, what to harvest or remove. The outcomes can be very human too, the grief we feel with loss, the dilemmas about decisions. Mark Fisher says look back from the future and ask if we’ll look like good ancestors, and quotes Māori researcher Tama Blackburn, who wants future generations to think “we tried and cared.” – Professor Jules Pretty


In A Land Before Humans, A Land after Humans Mark Fisher shows a great understanding, and gathering of knowledge, about the complexities and consequences – both intended and unintended - of the introduction to and removal of species from New Zealand. His consideration of this subject brings together in one 264 page book the reasons for many past actions; the impacts they have had, both good and bad; management considered and taken (whether failed or not); unexpected outcomes; the volunteers wanting more; others wanting less; and the finances and politics of the whole scenario. – Dick Veitch

ISBN: 9781917159050

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 424g

272 pages