From the reviews of the fourth edition: "S.-W. Breckle has well succeeded in completing the former English edition (1985) by a high increase of knowledge. A number of figures are taken from more recent publications, however, without disturbing the character of this standard-work. ... Even though the revision of the classical textbook was difficult it can be considered to be successful. ... Altogether, this book should be part of the library of any vegetation ecologist." (Angelika Schwabe, Phytocoenologia, Vol. 34 (3), 2004) "This remarkable book is a compendium of the different vegetation types of the earth. ... The layout of the book is excellent. ... There are numerous informative photographs. ... An innovation that particularly appealed to me is the explanation of the meanings of the Greek and Latin words used in biology, in an index at the back of the book. ... I would recommend this book as essential reading to all students of botany, and an essential bit of background reading before travelling abroad." (Peter Lindner, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol. 241 (1-2), 2003) "This is the 4th revised and enlarged English edition of the 7th edition of Heinrich Walter's classic Vegetation und Klimazonen (1999) prepared by Siegmar-Walter Breckle ... . It is, in many ways, a remarkable book because of its great breadth and the vast amount of information it presents. It is of great value to all interested in global vegetation and the ecophysiological explanation for the distribution of major vegetation types." (H. J. B. Birks, Plant Talk, Issue 33, 2003)

• and Remarks.- 1 Aims of Ecological Science.- 2 Significance of Present-Day Ecology as a Philosophy.- 3 Human Impact on Ecosystems.- 4 Significance of Systematics and Taxonomy for Biology.- 5 Importance of Scientific Documentation.- 6 Importance of Excursions for Young Scientists.- General Section.- Ecological Fundamentals.- Ecological Systems and Biology of Ecosystems.- Special Section.- I Zonobiome of the Evergreen Tropical Rain Forest (Zonobiome of the Equatorial Humid Diurnal Climate).- II Zonobiome of Savannas and Deciduous Forests and Grasslands (Zonobiome of the Humido-arid Tropical Summer Rain Region).- III Zonobiome of Hot Deserts (Zonobiome of Subtropical Arid Climates).- IV Zonobiome of Sclerophyllic Woodlands (Zonobiome of the Arido-Humid Winter Rain Region).- V Zonobiome of Laurel Forests (Zonobiome of the Warm-Temperate Humid Climate).- VI Zonobiome of Deciduous Forests (Zonobiome of the Temperate Nemoral Climate).- VII Zonobiome of Steppes and Cold Deserts (Zonobiome of the Arid-Temperature Climate).- VIII Zonobiome of the Taiga (Zonobiome of the Cold-Temperature Boreal Climate).- IX Zonobiome of the Tundra (Zonobiome of the Arctic Climate).- Summary and Conclusions.- References.- Explanations of Foreign Technical Words Used.