Book excerpt: This timely new book is a "must-have" for anyone involved with wetland conservation, in particular bottomland hardwood forests, a habitat in which over 50% of our nation's inventory has been destroyed. Authored by recognized experts, the book thoroughly covers the ecological processes in bottomland hardwood forests and relates these processes to human activities. Chapters include original research into ecological processes, discuss impacts of human activities on flood plain ecosystems, and examine human perceptions of bottomland values and management strategies for ecosystem restoration and conservation. The book focuses on impact assessment and management, featuring local sites and ecosystems, as well as the processes in larger areas, such as watersheds and hydrological basins.