This is one the first and most important books about 18th century Malaysia and covers a wide array of topics from Malaysian culture and history to nature and wildlife. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Malaysia. A century and a half after it was first published, this book remains one of the great classics of natural history and travel--perhaps the greatest. Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) deserves equal billing with Charles Darwin for his independently drawn but parallel conclusions on the theory of evolution. Darwin himself called Wallace "generous and noble" and referred favorably to his work in later editions of The Origin of Species. The Malay Archipelago is an extraordinarily accessible book. There is a wealth of detail about pre-modern life in the Indonesian archipelago which Wallace accumulated on over 60 separate journeys spanning 14,000 miles. He was equally fascinated by the exotic peoples, flora and fauna he encountered in his epic travels. A mark of his achievement lies in the size of the collections he bequeathed to British museums--some 125,000 specimens ranging from large mammals to tiny insects, exotic butterflies and splendid birds of paradise. His basic thesis stands to this day: that two separate biological zones border these islands, separated by the deep-water channel now known as the Wallace Line, running between Bali and Lombok, which only a relative handful of species have crossed. The islands east of Bali in effect form a transitional zone where some of the world's strangest creatures are found.

A modern scientific account of vierya rhododenron for rhododenron enthusiasts.

Straddling the equator, Borneo is the third largest island in the world. Largely covered in rainforest, with a magnificent coastline, it is easy to see what attracts visitors. Comprised of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, Borneo's unique biodiversity and cultural kaleidoscope appeals to both adventurers and those looking for a unique cultural experience. Updated throughout, this revised guide caters for all with information on how to trek through one of the region's national parks, catch a glimpse of an orang-utan, spend the night in a longhouse, or shop in the bustling markets. From the highlands and islands of Sabah and Sarawak, to the mosques and mysticism of the Sultanate of Brunei, Borneo is a mesmerizing mix of cultures, endangered animals, tropical rainforest and carnivorous plants. This new edition of Borneo provides the most comprehensive information available on the island, from its ethnographic and natural history, to accommodation and tours.

This volume represents a uniquely comprehensive overview of our current knowledge on tropical montane cloud forests. 72 chapters cover a wide spectrum of topics including cloud forest distribution, climate, soils, biodiversity, hydrological processes, hydrochemistry and water quality, climate change impacts, and cloud forest conservation, management, and restoration. The final chapter presents a major synthesis by some of the world's leading cloud forest researchers, which summarizes our current knowledge and considers the sustainability of these forests in an ever-changing world. This book presents state-of-the-art knowledge concerning cloud forest occurrence and status, as well as the biological and hydrological value of these unique forests. The presentation is academic but with a firm practical emphasis. It will serve as a core reference for academic researchers and students of environmental science and ecology, as well as practitioners (natural resources management, forest conservation) and decision makers at local, national, and international levels.