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Under The Microscope

DOCUMENTING THE ENVIRONMENT, Department of Statistics 1992; 213 pages; $49.95
MEASURING UP, Statistics New Zealand 1993; 166 pages; $39.95

Here are two useful books which should be standard reference texts for any group interested in the environment, whether regional planners, schools or environmental organisations.

Documenting the Environment is an inventory of information sources and databases covering broad areas, such as atmosphere, freshwater, marine and human settlement. Given the publisher, it's not surprising that it's all highly organised. Under Section 3 Fauna, for example, you can find the following listing:

Framework Component: Fauna
Parameter: Fauna
Title: Animal Distribution
Data Content: Faecal pellet frequency data from randomly located plots
Description: Data of animal distribution and density for selected regions.

The entry goes on to tell you which organisation has the data (Landcare Research), who the main users are (DOC and regional authorities), the source of the information (field data) and how long it's been collected (from the early '70s, on an on-going basis). There are no listed restrictions on its release, and charges for accessing it are described as "negotiable".

This is handy information clearly laid out. An index of more precisely defined keywords would be a help in making a selective search, but the sections aren't so large that you can't flick through quickly. There are plans to update this inventory on a regular basis, and that will be vital in maintaining its usefulness.

Measuring Up, subtitled New Zealanders and the Environment, makes a useful companion volume. It's not limited to local statistics, but also provides data on how New Zealand measures up compared to other countries.

The thorough contents listing obviates the need for an index. Individual entries are short, but the references and bibliography give you a chance to track down further data as necessary. The clear layout, informative graphs and straightforward text are let down by the poor quality printing, but this is just a small niggle.

One very important point to anyone considering purchasing these references 153 if you buy them as a package, the total cost is only $49.95.

Vicki Hyde, NZSM

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.