Book Review: International Conservation Law: The Protection of Plants in Theory and Practice

The legal protection of plants is a critical topic; at least a fi fth of plant species are threatened with extinction. The latter is worrisome, as plants form the basis of virtually every ecosystem. Rob Amos has written a highly commendable work on this issue, released in a turbulent time at the peak of the COVID pandemic, one could have easily missed the book. However, it is an important read for those interested in international environmental law, as it explains in great detail the perils of present-day conservation regimes. The text is set in a refreshingly broad perspective, recognizing that the law does not operate in a vacuum. In short, the author goes beyond positivist legal analysis, and connects relevant regimes to their impact ‘ on the ground ’ through examples derived from conservation practices. For example, the book contains important segments on the role of NGOs, local communities and individuals within plant conservation. Perhaps controversially, Amos fi nds that the impact of these actors on nature conservation is larger than the impact often attributed to States.