Forgotten Grasslands of the South

Forgotten Grasslands of the South
Author: Reed F. Noss
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2012-12-03
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 159726489X

Forgotten Grasslands of the South is the study of one of the biologically richest and most endangered ecosystems in North America. In a seamless blend of science and personal observation, renowned ecologist Reed Noss explains the natural history of southern grasslands, their origin and history, and the physical determinants of grassland distribution, including ecology, soils, landform, and hydrology. In addition to offering fascinating new information about these little-studied ecosystems, Noss demonstrates how natural history is central to the practice of conservation. Although theory and experimentation have recently dominated the field of ecology, ecologists are coming to realize how these distinct approaches are not divergent but complementary, and that pursuing them together can bring greater knowledge and understanding of how the natural world works and how we can best conserve it. This long-awaited work sets a new standard for scientific literature and is essential reading for those who study and work to conserve the grasslands of the South as well as for everyone who is fascinated by the natural world.

Forgotten Grasslands of the South

Forgotten Grasslands of the South
Author: Reed F. Noss
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2012-12-03
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 161091225X

Forgotten Grasslands of the South is a literary and scientific case study of some of the biologically richest and most endangered ecosystems in North America. Eminent ecologist Reed Noss tells the story of how southern grasslands arose and persisted over time and addresses questions that are fundamental for conserving these vital yet poorly understood ecosystems. The author examines: the natural history of southern grasslands their origin and history (geologic, vegetation, and human) biological hotspots and endangered ecosystems physical determinants of grassland distribution, including ecology, soils, landform, and hydrology fire, herbivores, and ecological interactions. The final chapter presents a general conservation strategy for southern grasslands, including prioritization, protection, restoration, and management. Also included are examples of ongoing restoration projects, along with a prognosis for the future. In addition to offering fascinating new information about these little-studied ecosystems, Noss demonstrates how natural history is central to the practice of conservation. Natural history has been on a declining trajectory for decades, as theory and experimentation have dominated the field of ecology. Ecologists are coming to realize that these divergent approaches are in fact complementary, and that pursuing them together can bring greater knowledge and understanding of how the natural world works and how we can best conserve it. Forgotten Grasslands of the South explores the overarching importance of ecological processes in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and is the first book of its kind to apply natural history, in a modern, comprehensive sense, to the conservation of biodiversity across a broad region. It sets a new standard for scientific literature and is essential reading not only for those who study and work to conserve the grasslands of the South but also for everyone who is fascinated by the natural world.

The Fight for Conservation

The Fight for Conservation
Author: Gifford Pinchot
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2024-01-03
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9361428969

"The Fight for Conservation" by Gifford Pinchot is a seminal work in environmentalism, embodying Pinchot's lifelong dedication to conservation and stewardship. As a prominent conservationist, Pinchot passionately advocates for sustainable practices in managing natural resources, emphasizing the importance of ecological balance and preservation. Through his expertise in forestry and land management, Pinchot lays out a comprehensive framework for environmental policy, guiding readers towards a future of sustainable development. With a focus on wildlife protection and the establishment of national parks, Pinchot underscores the critical role of conservation in safeguarding our planet's biodiversity for future generations. At its core, "The Fight for Conservation" embodies Pinchot's vision of responsible stewardship, urging individuals and governments alike to prioritize the long-term health of our ecosystems. Through his eloquent prose and unwavering commitment to environmental advocacy, Pinchot inspires readers to join the fight for conservation, recognizing that the preservation of natural resources is essential for the well-being of both humanity and the planet. This book serves as a timeless manifesto for environmentalists and conservationists, offering invaluable insights into the principles of sustainability and the imperative of protecting our natural heritage.

Fire Ecology of Florida and the Southeastern Coastal Plain

Fire Ecology of Florida and the Southeastern Coastal Plain
Author: Reed F. Noss
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780813056715

"This book is the first to apply the new discipline of evolutionary fire ecology to a particular region: Florida and the southeastern coastal plain."--Publisher's description.

Great Plains

Great Plains
Author: Michael Forsberg
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2019-03-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 022668167X

The Great Plains were once among the greatest grasslands on the planet. But as the United States and Canada grew westward, the Plains were plowed up, fenced in, overgrazed, and otherwise degraded. Today, this fragmented landscape is the most endangered and least protected ecosystem in North America. But all is not lost on the prairie. Through lyrical photographs, essays, historical images, and maps, this beautifully illustrated book gets beneath the surface of the Plains, revealing the lingering wild that still survives and whose diverse natural communities, native creatures, migratory traditions, and natural systems together create one vast and extraordinary whole. Three broad geographic regions in Great Plains are covered in detail, evoked in the unforgettable and often haunting images taken by Michael Forsberg. Between the fall of 2005 and the winter of 2008, Forsberg traveled roughly 100,000 miles across 12 states and three provinces, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, to complete the photographic fieldwork for this project, underwritten by The Nature Conservancy. Complementing Forsberg’s images and firsthand accounts are essays by Great Plains scholar David Wishart and acclaimed writer Dan O’Brien. Each section of the book begins with a thorough overview by Wishart, while O’Brien—a wildlife biologist and rancher as well as a writer—uses his powerful literary voice to put the Great Plains into a human context, connecting their natural history with man’s uses and abuses. The Great Plains are a dynamic but often forgotten landscape—overlooked, undervalued, misunderstood, and in desperate need of conservation. This book helps lead the way forward, informing and inspiring readers to recognize the wild spirit and splendor of this irreplaceable part of the planet.

New Jersey, the Natural State

New Jersey, the Natural State
Author: Dwight Hiscano
Publisher:
Total Pages: 113
Release: 2000
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780813527727

Were you surprised to find you were reading a description of New Jersey? If so, you aren't alone. Even many New Jerseyans don't realize their small state is home to some of the nation's most diverse and beautiful landscapes. From the Kittatinny Mountains in the north to the beaches of Cape May in the south, New Jersey overflows with natural beauty, and Hiscano captures it all with unparalleled artistry in this magnificent collection of more than 100 photos taken over the past decade. Brief section openers describe each region's history, physical features, and ecological importance. In the spirit of Ansel Adams, who showed the world the previously overlooked magnificence of the Southwest, Hiscano allows us to view the state as never before, showing us its many splendors and varied seasons. His incomparable photographs are organized geographically-The Kittatinny Ridge and Valley, Highlands, Piedmont, Pine Barrens, and the shore. We view the state from its mountain tops and sand dunes. We see mighty oak trees and fragile wild roses. Waterfalls and beaver ponds. Snow-covered cedars and sun-drenched black-eyed susans. Sunrise and moonrise. Beauty in the most obvious and unexpected places. Hiscano's extraordinary portrayal of New Jersey in its most natural state also focuses our attention to the state's rapidly diminishing wildlands, and points out the urgent need to continue to preserve the landscape for future generations.

Fire, Native Peoples, and the Natural Landscape

Fire, Native Peoples, and the Natural Landscape
Author: Thomas Vale
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 335
Release: 2013-04-16
Genre: History
ISBN: 1597266027

For nearly two centuries, the creation myth for the United States imagined European settlers arriving on the shores of a vast, uncharted wilderness. Over the last two decades, however, a contrary vision has emerged, one which sees the country's roots not in a state of "pristine" nature but rather in a "human-modified landscape" over which native peoples exerted vast control. Fire, Native Peoples, and the Natural Landscape seeks a middle ground between those conflicting paradigms, offering a critical, research-based assessment of the role of Native Americans in modifying the landscapes of pre-European America. Contributors focus on the western United States and look at the question of fire regimes, the single human impact which could have altered the environment at a broad, landscape scale, and which could have been important in almost any part of the West. Each of the seven chapters is written by a different author about a different subregion of the West, evaluating the question of whether the fire regimes extant at the time of European contact were the product of natural factors or whether ignitions by Native Americans fundamentally changed those regimes. An introductory essay offers context for the regional chapters, and a concluding section compares results from the various regions and highlights patterns both common to the West as a whole and distinctive for various parts of the western states. The final section also relates the findings to policy questions concerning the management of natural areas, particularly on federal lands, and of the "naturalness" of the pre-European western landscape.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Author: Subhankar Banerjee
Publisher: Braided River
Total Pages: 186
Release: 2003
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0898864380

Photographic documentation of the necessity to preserve this precious area.

Saving the Wild South

Saving the Wild South
Author: Georgann Eubanks
Publisher: UNC Press Books
Total Pages: 371
Release: 2021-10-19
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1469664917

The American South is famous for its astonishingly rich biodiversity. In this book, Georgann Eubanks takes a wondrous trek from Alabama to North Carolina to search out native plants that are endangered and wavering on the edge of erasure. Even as she reveals the intricate beauty and biology of the South's plant life, she also shows how local development and global climate change are threatening many species, some of which have been graduated to the federal list of endangered species. Why should we care, Eubanks asks, about North Carolina's Yadkin River goldenrod, found only in one place on earth? Or the Alabama canebrake pitcher plant, a carnivorous marvel being decimated by criminal poaching and a booming black market? These plants, she argues, are important not only to the natural environment but also to southern identity, and she finds her inspiration in talking with the heroes the botanists, advocates, and conservationists young and old on a quest to save these green gifts of the South for future generations. These passionate plant lovers caution all of us not to take for granted the sensitive ecosystems that contribute to the region's long-standing appeal, beauty, and character.