"Some of the material in this book appeared previously, in a different form, in the journal Nature"--Title page verso. First U.S. edition published in hardcover by Bloomsbury USA in 2011. Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-199) and index.
Contents:
Weeding the jungle -- The Yellowstone model -- The forest primeval -- Radical rewilding -- Assisted migration -- Learning to love exotic species -- Novel ecosystems -- Designer ecosystems -- Conservation everywhere -- A menu of new goals.
Summary:
"For decades people have unquestioningly accepted the idea that our goal is to preserve nature in its pristine, pre-human state. But many scientists have come to see this as an outdated dream that thwarts bold new plans to save the environment and prevents us from having a fuller relationship with nature. Humans have changed the landscapes they inhabit since prehistory, and climate change means even the remotest places now bear the fingerprints of humanity. Emma Marris argues ... that it is time to look forward and create the "rambunctious garden," a hybrid of wild nature and human management. In this ... book, readers meet leading scientists and environmentalists and visit imaginary Edens, designer ecosystems, and Pleistocene parks. Marris describes innovative conservation approaches, including rewilding, assisted migration, and the embrace of so-called novel ecosystems ..."--Jacket.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.