Lindsey Gillson, Associate Professor, Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town

Lindsey Gillson was educated at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. She worked in wildlife conservation for several years before returning to Oxford to research the application of palaeoecology in conservation, specialising in the management of African savannas as the subject of her doctoral thesis. She was appointed Trapnell Fellow in African Terrestrial Ecology at the University of Oxford in 2001, and moved to South Africa in 2006 to take up a post at the University of Cape Town. She is Deputy Director of the Plant Conservation Unit, and continues to work on the application of long-term data in the conservation and management of African biomes, and in developing the interface between palaeoecology and conservation biology.

"I have no hesitation in commending this valuable and scholarly book. It opens up new ground and makes connections that are long overdue and of real practical and theoretical significance." --Frank Oldfield, Anthropocene Review

"The main strength of the book is that its engaging narratives of long-term change clearly and consistently relate palaeoecology to contemporary environmental and conservation management challenges." --Trends in Ecology & Evolution

"[T]his could serve as an excellent text for a graduate or advanced undergraduate seminar in conservation biology, environmental policy, or, ideally, those linking the two... The book could also be useful for conservation professionals and faculty looking for a handy distillation of case studies and relevant literature. ... Gilson does a laudable job explaining how "environmental archives"--the treasure trove of insight provided by paleoecologists--can illuminate current conservation issues, shedding a rare light on the path forward." --Ecology

"[T]his volume represents an important, and largely successful, attempt to highlight connections between paleoecology (and historical ecology) and applied ecology. At a time when scientists are increasingly specialists, Gillson's generalist approach should be commended." --The Quarterly Review of Biology