Unbreaking Land Before Humans Press Release

Cambridge, UK – 3rd February 2025 – Unbreaking, a 5m Books imprint, is announcing the publication of Dr Mark Fisher’s book, A Land Before Humans, a Land After Humans, on 28th February 2025. A retired scientist, Dr Mark Fisher has a background in farming, farmed red deer research, and a narrative insight into animal ethics and philosophy.

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Mark Fisher is a recently retired scientist with a more than 40 years’ experience in farming, research and philosophy. He draws on history, literature, common understandings and personal experiences to create a distinctive narrative. Mark was until 2021 a Principal Adviser to the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (formerly Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) and Director of Kotare Bioethics. He has been a board member of the Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), and was the New Zealand chair of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART).

EDITORIAL NOTES 
A Land Before Humans, a Land After Humans will be released on the 28th of February 2025 and is available for pre-order on Amazon and on 5mbooks.com at the links below. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Before-Humans-After/dp/1917159056 

5mbooks.com: https://5mbooks.com/product/a-land-before-humans-a-land-after-humans 

Bibliographic details: Paperback | 9781917159050 | 234 x 156 mm | £14.95 | $24.95 | NZ$35.00 | 280 pp | Restoration ecology / rewilding