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I was excited for the opportunity to review the second edition of Applied Wildlife Habitat Management. As an educator of undergraduates, natural resources professionals, and private landowners, I incorporated parts of the first edition into my teaching, extension, and outreach activities. However, I always thought the first edition was lacking something (although I could not put my finger on what) that limited its utility as an applied habitat management text. I am happy to report the authors have created an edition that lives up to the word applied in the title. The authors of Applied Wildlife Habitat Management are well suited to lead such a book. Collectively, they have published countless peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books, taught courses related to wildlife habitat management, and assisted private landowners with their habitat management planning. In the preface, the authors described the purpose of this book was to "provide a practical guide for users of many levels of expertise in wildlife habitat management" (page vii). Upon review, Applied Wildlife Habitat Management is best suited for undergraduate and graduate students studying wildlife management and early career professionals looking to apply what they learn into on-the-ground management actions. However, more seasoned biologists, seeking a refresher on the foundations of habitat management, may find value in this book. Furthermore, with the addition of Chapter 8, Wildlife Management Plan Workbook: A Landowner's Guide, the practicality of this book for private landowners increases. The second edition of Applied Wildlife Habitat Management represents a restructuring of and addition to the first edition rather than a complete overhaul. Much of the information within the book is similar to the first edition (see Tomeček 2018 for a review), but there are key additions and alterations throughout, warranting a fresh look. The first major restructuring of the book includes shifting what was Chapter 5 in the first edition, Wildlife Habitat Planning, to Chapter 1 in the second edition. This modification puts the what and why of habitat management planning before the how. Readers now start with an overview of the planning process from the definition of planning to the general characteristics of planning and to an overview of a management plan. Chapter 1 sets the stage for readers to more thoughtfully engage with the information in subsequent chapters and contextualize it with the planning process. The next major revision included adding Chapter 6, Common Planning Approaches. This chapter combines and reorganizes information from other chapters in the first edition, creating a better flow of information about the types of planning efforts and considerations, engaging the public in planning efforts, legislation and policies directing agencies' wildlife planning, and comparing state and federal habitat planning efforts. Where the rubber meets the road, in terms of making this an applied habitat management book, is in the addition of Chapter 8, Wildlife Management Plan Workbook: A Landowner's Guide. This chapter provides a step-by-step guide for creating and developing a wildlife habitat management plan. The structure of this chapter presents the information in a template-like format with a list of important components and questions to consider for each section of the management plan. Examples and illustrations used to describe the information in the text, such as a detailed overview of vegetation sampling, enhance the utility of this chapter. While the chapter title implies its practicality to landowners, this chapter is an invaluable resource for landowners, students, and biologists alike. I could have benefitted greatly as a student or early career biologist from such a resource because it would have provided a framework for understanding how to approach the wildlife habitat management plans I was tasked with developing as a private lands biologist. The authors also made minor additions or adjustments throughout the book, including adding several illustrations to help support the material in the book. Additionally, each chapter now includes "conservation in action" callout boxes to help "identify conservation leaders and significant conservation milestones to wildlife habitat management" (page vii). When considering if this book is for you, it is helpful to consider this book is about the theory and application of wildlife habitat management planning as opposed to a how-to book on applying various habitat management techniques. The latter would likely require lengthier, more detailed, and ecosystem- or practice-specific texts, which is beyond the scope of this book. Nevertheless, Applied Wildlife Habitat Management has achieved a broad and thorough discussion of important topics related to wildlife habitat management. The additions and revisions in this edition make it an even more valuable text than the first edition. The book delivers on its promise of "providing a practical guide for students, land managers, and landowners in developing and implementing plans for habitat modification and achieving desired outcomes" (page viii). The author declares no conflicts of interest.
Jarred M. Brooke (Tue,) studied this question.