Edited by M.G. Bassett, A.H. King, J.G. Larwood, N.A. Parkinson and V.K. Deisler. NMW Geological Series No 19, 156pp., 76 Figs., 2001. ISBN 0 7200 0479 9
(Price: £14.50 plus postage and packaging)

In 1998 English Nature organised a conference (hosted by the National Museum of Wales) to look at advances in the policy and practice of palaeontological site conservation. The conference volume was published earlier this year. It brings together 25 papers mainly from the UK (but also from Swedish, German and Irish contributors) that discuss attitudes and perceptions of fossil collecting and conservation, current policies on fossil collecting and, most importantly, examples of putting policy into practice.
The management of tetrapod trackways, the restoration of in situ cave bone deposits, the coordinated collecting of insects from Carboniferous coal tips and problems of fossil site damage on Carboniferous reefs are just some of the examples covered. Also included is discussion of the innovative collecting code and fossil recording scheme of the West Dorset coast, discussion of the impact of fossil auctions as well as the use of alternatives such as fossil replicas.

A future for fossils represents an up-to-date summary of UK experience relevant to all those involved in fossil site conservation.

Copies are available from: Department of Geology, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP. Tel: +44 29 20573282, Fax: +44 29 20667332

The cover illustrates irridescent ammonites collected by David Sole