Using the right word, the right concept, the right concept, with the most commonly accepted definition, or better still with the most accepted and understood definition, is sometimes a feat, as the vocabulary of biological diversity and nature conservation has become complex, even complicated, because of this unfortunate tendency to believe that, in order to be taken seriously, one must use language that is difficult to understand. However, nature does not need to be overused, but to be explained and understood by everyone in order to be better protected.

This book aims to provide definitions, sometimes very short, of essential terms in the related fields of biological diversity and nature conservation, with particular emphasis on the various essential concepts in the management of protected areas.

The first edition was indicated as a dictionary. Many readers have pointed out to me that a dictionary only provides the definition of words and not the concepts they generate. After some thought, and without any pretensions, I decided to transform the title of the work into an encyclopedic dictionary, thus allowing the development and updating, over the years and through bibliographical research, of the various concepts covered.