Arid zones, deserts Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the ASLI Choice Award, Atmospheric Science Librarians International""Winner of the PROSE Award in Earth Science, Association of American Publishers""Winner of the Special Book Award, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards""Winner of the Award of Excellence in Plants and Environmental Change, Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries""A detailed and authoritative account that reveals the rich and fascinating story of this unique landscape and its climate, geology and natural history. . . . Williams’s book offers a wonderful insight into how climate can transform the landscape across long stretches of time, as well as how delicately balanced are the ecosystems on which we depend."---P. D. Smith, The Guardian"This vivid historical survey by Earth scientist Martin Williams is the result of a lifetime’s work."---Andrew Robinson, Nature"Fascinating. . . . Engrossing. . . . When the Sahara Was Green covers the cyclical, gradual desiccation of the Sahara, the changing of its biomes, the nature of its current occupants, and even the question of its future. It’s formidably researched . . . but so warmly, approachably written that learning was never so pleasant."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review"Given Williams’s deep well of knowledge, this book could have been bogged down by technicalities and jargon. Instead, When the Sahara Was Green is admirably accessible to a broad audience with only basic knowledge of geography and earth sciences. Furthermore, the book stands out for the numerous clear and well-designed illustrations that explain complex concepts."---Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist"Highly accessible . . . and filled with interesting facts about geological history."---Nicole Barbaro, Bookmarked"[A] fascinating and informative introduction to the history of the Sahara, the past and present lifeforms it hosts, and its role in the wider planetary environment . . . Read this book and spread interest in Earth’s largest desert."---Jeffery Hirschy, H-Environment

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Book SynopsisThe earth is in great peril, due to the corporatization of agriculture, the rising climate crisis, and the ever-increasing levels of global poverty, starvation, and desertification on a massive scale. This present condition of global trauma is not "natural," but a result of humanity's destructive actions. And, according to Masanobu Fukuoka, it is reversible. We need to change not only our methods of earth stewardship, but also the very way we think about the relationship between human beings and nature. Fukuoka grew up on a farm on the island of Shikoku in Japan. As a young man he worked as a customs inspector for plants going into and out of the country. This was in the 1930s when science seemed poised to create a new world of abundance and leisure, when people fully believed they could improve upon nature by applying scientific methods and thereby reap untold rewards. While working there, Fukuoka had an insight that changed his life forever. He returned to his home village and applied this insight to developing a revolutionary new way of farming that he believed would be of great benefit to society. This method, which he called "natural farming," involved working with, not in opposition to, nature. Fukuoka's inspiring and internationally best-selling book, The One-Straw Revolution was first published in English in 1978. In this book, Fukuoka described his philosophy of natural farming and why he came to farm the way he did. One-Straw was a huge success in the West, and spoke directly to the growing movement of organic farmers and activists seeking a new way of life. For years after its publication, Fukuoka traveled around the world spreading his teachings and developing a devoted following of farmers seeking to get closer to the truth of nature. Sowing Seeds in the Desert, a summation of those years of travel and research, is Fukuoka's last major work-and perhaps his most important. Fukuoka spent years working with people and organizations in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, to prove that you could, indeed, grow food and regenerate forests with very little irrigation in the most desolate of places. Only by greening the desert, he said, would the world ever achieve true food security. This revolutionary book presents Fukuoka's plan to rehabilitate the deserts of the world using natural farming, including practical solutions for feeding a growing human population, rehabilitating damaged landscapes, reversing the spread of desertification, and providing a deep understanding of the relationship between human beings and nature. Fukuoka's message comes right at the time when people around the world seem to have lost their frame of reference, and offers us a way forward. Trade ReviewKirkus Reviews- From the late author of bestseller The One Straw Revolution (1978) comes a similar book about a philosophical approach to natural farming."The fundamental concept of a natural farm," writes Fukuoka (The Natural Way of Farming, 1985, etc.), "begins with intuitively grasping nature's original form, where many varieties of plants and animals live together as a harmonious whole, joyfully and in mutual benefit." In this English translation of the author's last work (first published in Japan in 1996), he decries the "indiscriminate deforestation and large-scale agriculture carried out in order to support the materialistic cultures of the developed countries." This process has created a condition called "desertification," the inability of the soil to grow anything. Because humans have lost their connection with nature, Fukuoka advocates foregoing harmful modern methods of farming in favor of a simpler approach. Based primarily on the success of his farm in Japan, the author believes the solution lies in aerial distribution of a large variety of plants via clay seed pellets, the use of cover crops, and a no-tilling approach to the soil. By seeding a wide variety of species in the desert, nature will select those plants best suited for a particular location. These plants will flourish, drawing water from deep within the earth and thereby allowing other plants and trees to prosper. Taking his philosophy to Africa, India and the United States, among other places, Fukuoka demonstrated that, given sufficient time, seeding fallow earth with vegetables, plants and trees created a lush setting. More a spiritual analysis of farming methods than a hands-on approach, the book still provides viable and simple solutions to the world's increased need for productive land. An enlightened method for reclaiming the barren soils of the world. Booklist- The vision of the late Japanese farmer and philosopher Fukuoka, a pioneer in natural farming techniques and author of the now classic The One-Straw Revolution (1978), extends far beyond agriculture. In his final book, a far-reaching treatise on ‘earth stewardship,’ he considers dragonflies, Darwin, and even a meeting with Einstein’s niece as he reflects on the best possible future for human society. At times Fukuoka’s prose can be striking in its simplicity as when he writes, ‘In nature there are no beneficial or harmful insects,’ and furthermore, ‘this is a human construct akin to saying the right hand is good and the left hand is bad.’ Fukuoka never wastes a word or thought, insisting the reader consider all aspects of how we grow our food everywhere in the world and how the food industry manipulates supply and demand for gross profit in ways both economically and socially damaging. Fukuoka’s techniques have been and still are world-changing; the challenge now is to continue practicing them without the master here to lead the way. ForeWord Reviews- Small-scale and urban farming as well as sustainable living and organic food purchasing are so prevalent right now that these practices are moving from a foodie trend to a fundamental shift in our food system. One of the people to thank for that momentum is Masanobu Fukuoka, whose The One-Straw Revolution became a must-read for organic farmers and their supporters around the world. Before his death in 2008, Fukuoka spent decades working on natural farming techniques that he felt could benefit the world. He didn’t plow his field, use fertilizer, or flood his rice fields, in keeping with the methods traditional to many indigenous cultures. Commonly referred to as ‘Do-Nothing Farming,’ his techniques are part of a wider philosophy about respecting nature’s own principles and rhythms. The success of his work sent Fukuoka from his small village in Japan to speaking engagements across the world, where he spent a great deal of time addressing issues of limited resources in areas like Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. In this, his last major book, Fukuoka draws from those experiences to create, once again, a timeless work that has the ability to create a revolution in agriculture. Beyond Fukuoka’s important philosophy, his book is a lyrical, lovely valentine to nature. He’s passionate about bringing other people to the near-enlightenment state in which he lived, where every single leaf moved him to appreciation. Expertly argued and backed by experience, anecdotes, and simple logic, Fukuoka’s last work shines just as brightly as his first.Publishers Weekly- Renowned Japanese agriculturist and philosopher Fukuoka’s (The One-Straw Revolution) final work calls on modern-day farmers to reconsider their methods and heed the needs of the land. Navigating work with international organizations—particularly in Africa, South Asia, and the United States—he illuminates regional disparities in environmental and agricultural thought and practice. Through trial-and-error and years of acute observation, Fukuoka developed a pioneering vision to ‘avoid unnecessary work, especially work that was created as an adverse side effect of previous actions.’ He describes these misguided experiments and failures, such as leaving an orchard completely on its own, as ‘not natural farming; it was abandonment.’ In clarifying popular misconceptions about organic and natural farming, he advises that we must not focus on cash crops, because ‘there is no good or bad among life-forms on earth.’ Only by the co-existence of myriad micro-organisms and vegetation will we be able to preserve and maintain our land. More important, the best farming was simple, ‘rather than the modern approach of applying increasingly complex techniques to remake nature entirely for the benefit of human beings.’ Though elimination of mechanization might be tough for modern agriculturalists to swallow, Fukuoka’s last message provides a spiritually and environmentally enriching alternative to the farming conditions we know today."Masanobu Fukuoka ran a course on natural farming, and gave our Howard lecture at Navdanya's biodiversity farm in the Doon valley of India, and we even have a cottage named the Fukuoka hut. He was a teacher ahead of his time. 'Sowing seeds in the desert' is what all of humanity has to learn to do, whether it is in economic desert created by Wall Street, or an ecological desert created by globalized corporate agriculture."--Vandana Shiva, founder of Navdanya Research Foundation for Science Technology & Ecology "Distilling what he has gathered from a lifetime of learning from nature, Masanobu Fukuoka offers us his gentle philosophy and a wealth of practical ideas for using natural farming to restore a damaged planet. Sowing Seeds in the Desert will persuade any reader that the imperiled living world is our greatest teacher, and inspire them to care for it as vigorously as Fukuoka has."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden "This book is a bombshell. Forget the gentle and retiring farmer of The One-Straw Revolution fame, replaced now by a flaming, world-travelling revolutionary. To achieve the kind of natural farming that can avoid worldwide collapse, Masanobu Fukuoka bluntly and fearlessly insists that we must first reject traditional ideas about God, the after life, accepted economic systems--especially capitalism--much of current agricultural thinking including organic farming, and even parts of science which he says are based on mistaken notions about the connection between cause and effect. Once we return to a way of life dictated by nature, not institutional religions, he says, we can apply his unorthodox farming methods to make the deserts bloom and the green fields stay lush without much expense or even labor involved.Be prepared to be mystified, irritated, shocked, and maybe even, if you persevere to the end, enlightened and encouraged by this trail-blazing book. Disagree with Fukuoka's provocative pronouncements at your own risk. Some of what he predicted in this book, originally written in Japanese in the 1990s has already happened, especially the collapse of the Japanese economy in recent years and the spread of deserts throughout the world."--Gene Logsdon, author of A Sanctuary of Trees "From our first meeting with Masanobu Fukuoka Sensei in the late 1970's at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, he has served as a primary guide, teacher, and inspiration in the engaged practice of organic farming and Zen meditation. Now with Sowing Seeds in the Desert, Fukuoka Sensei's teaching of Natural Farming continues to grow, sending deep roots down into the terrain of global restoration and food security for a hungry world. This wonderful book is to be celebrated and savored for its grounded, encouraging wisdom."--Wendy Johnson, author of Gardening at the Dragon's Gate "Fans of Fukuoka's The One-Straw Revolution will be delighted by Sowing Seeds in the Desert, his last book. It is a rich treasure trove detailing how his own philosophy of farming evolved and how he decided to apply what he learned on his own farm in Japan to other parts of the world. His insights into the tragedies of taking Western, industrial agriculture to places like Africa to 'enrich the national economy,' and his alternative approach of working with indigenous farmers to enable them to become self-sufficient, is instructive for all of us."--Frederick Kirschenmann, Author of Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays From a Farmer Philosopher "This book is not a breath of fresh air, it's a howling gale from the East. It challenges us to think outside our normal, rational frames and venture into a whole new way of relating to spirituality, the earth, and the growing of food. As I read, I was tempted to pick holes in Fukuoka's prescriptions for greening the world's deserts, but I kept coming back to the inescapable fact that he farmed his own land according to these principles over many years and produced a lot of food."--Patrick Whitefield, author of The Earth Care Manual Table of Contents1. The call to natural farming 2. Reconsidering human knowledge 3. Healing a world in crisis 4. Global desertification 5. Revegetating the earth through natural methods 6. Travels on the west coast of the United States

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Book Synopsis“Eye-popping proof that water-wise gardens are bold, beautiful and brilliantly hued.” —San Diego Home and Garden Dry weather defines the Southwest, and it's getting dryer. As water becomes more precious, our gardens suffer. If we want to keep gardening, we must revolutionize our plant choices and garden practices. Hot Color, Dry Garden provides a joyful, color-filled way to exuberantly garden in low-water conditions. Garden expert Nan Sterman highlights inspiring examples of brilliant gardens filled with water-smart plants. You'll find information about designing for color using plants, architecture, and accessories, along with a plant directory that features drought-tolerant plants that dazzle.

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Book SynopsisBorders, Boundaries, Frontiers presents a short and accessible introduction to border studies from an anthropological perspective.Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Anthropology of Borders, Boundaries, and Frontiers 2. Globalization and Borders in a Borderless World 3. Border Walls and the Violence of Security 4. Border Energetics: The Frontiers of Sovereignty and Citizenship 5. Chameleon Borders and Everyday Transnationalism: Border Cultures and Identities 6. Future Borders and New Normals in Border Studies 7. Conclusion: New and Critical Border Thinking

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Book SynopsisIdentify Arizona succulents with this easy-to-use field guide, organized by shape and featuring full-color photographs and helpful information. Learn about a variety of cactus species in Arizona. With this famous field guide by Nora Bowers, Rick Bowers, and Stan Tekiela, cactus identification is simple and informative. The Cacti of Arizona Field Guide features 50 of the most common and widespread species found in the state, organized by shape. Just look at the overall plant or stem shape, then go to the correct section to learn what it is. Fact-filled information contains the particulars that you want to know, while professional photographs provide the visual detail needed for accurate identification. Inside you’ll find: Range maps and shape icons that help narrow your search More photos per cactus than any other field guide, making visual identification quick and easy Compare feature to help you decide between look-alikes Close-up images of spines, flowers, and fruit to aid identification Fascinating natural history about 50 cactus species This second edition includes updated photographs, expanded information, and even more of the authors’ expert insights. So grab the Cacti of Arizona Field Guide for your next outing to help ensure that you positively identify the cacti you see.Table of ContentsIntroduction Sample Pages The Cacti Pincushion Pineapple-Beehive Hedgehog Barrel Prickly Pear Cholla Cereus Organ Pipe Senita Saguaro Cactus-like Species Glossary Checklist/Index Photo Credits About the Authors Rulers

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Book SynopsisDeserts make up a third of the planet''s land surface, but if you picture a desert, what comes to mind? A wasteland? A drought? A place devoid of all life forms?Deserts are remarkable places. Typified by drought and extremes of temperature, they can be harsh and hostile; but many deserts are also spectacularly beautiful, and on occasion teem with life. Nick Middleton explores how each desert is unique: through fantastic life forms, extraordinary scenery, and ingenious human adaptations. He demonstrates a desert''s immense natural beauty, its rich biodiversity, and uncovers a long history of successful human occupation. This Very Short Introduction tells you everything you ever wanted to know about these extraordinary places and captures their importance in the working of our planet.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a newTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION; EPILOGUE

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Book SynopsisNorth American desertslands of little waterhave long been home to a surprising diversity of aquatic life, from fish to insects and mollusks. With European settlement, however, water extraction, resource exploitation, and invasive species set many of these native aquatic species on downward spirals. In this book, conservationists dedicated to these creatures document the history of their work, the techniques and philosophies that inform it, and the challenges and opportunities of the future. A precursor to this book, Battle Against Extinction, laid out the scope of the problem and related conservation activities through the late 1980s. Since then, many nascent conservation programs have matured, and researchers have developed new technologies, improved and refined methods, and greatly expanded our knowledge of the myriad influences on the ecology and dynamics of these species. Standing between Life and Extinction brings the story up to date. While the future for some species is more Trade Review"Many see the arid lands of western North America as a stretch of dry, flyover territory, the setting for shoot-'em-up cowboy movies and the venue for arguments over water rights. This volume edited by Propst, Williams, Bestgen, and Hoagstrom will completely shatter those supercilious projections. Conservation of desert fishes was introduced in Battle against Extinction,edited by W. L. Minckley and James Deacon. A group of passionate experts in biodiversity, conservation, history, hydrology, and politics expand the subject in this excellent exploration of the land-water-bioconservation ethic for both sides of the RioGrande. Adding to its attraction as a textbook, a deep dive by researchers will reward with new lines of inquiry. The photographs are striking and instructive, tables are crisp, and the writing style is inviting. In particular, candid photographs of habitats and workers in the field offer readers an authentic view of the people, topics, and challenges the volume addresses. The index is extensive, and each chapter includes its own list of cited literature. This reviewer could not ask for more in a textbook for use in advanced classes, or as a reference work to be added to his personal bookshelf. . . . Highly recommended" * Choice *“This book should appeal to anyone broadly interested in conservation and management of water resources, and specifically to conservation scientists, natural resource managers, and fish biologists. There are strong historical threads woven throughout the chapters, and it serves both as a tribute to pioneering legends of early desert fish conservation and a synthesis of ongoing work that reveals successes, failures, and challenges in the face of human populations expanding into arid regions, the increasing conflicts over exploitation of water and land, and the overriding and worsening impacts of human-mediated climate change. The breadth of topics presented and synthesis of complex research outcomes as applied to conservation challenges are impressive. A valuable addition to the conservation literature that will be read widely and cited extensively.” -- Michael S. Parker, Southern Oregon State UniversityTable of ContentsForeword Senator Tom Udall Preface Edwin P. (Phil) PisterSection 1. Engaging the Battle 1 The Battle to Conserve Aquatic Species in Lands of Water Scarcity Continues Jack E. Williams and David L. Propst 2 The Protagonists 2a Carl Leavitt Hubbs and Robert Rush Miller Robert J. Edwards 2b W. L. Minckley Chuck O. Minckley 2c Salvador Contreras-Balderas María de Lourdes Lozano-Vilano and Armando Jesús Contreras-Balderas 2d James E. Deacon Cindy Deacon Williams 2e Clark Hubbs Gary P. Garrett 2f Robert J. Behnke Kevin R. Bestgen and Kurt D. Fausch 2g Edwin P. (Phil) Pister Kathryn Boyer 3 Biodiversity, Biogeography, and Conservation of North American Desert Fishes Christopher W. Hoagstrom, Derek D. Houston, and Norman Mercado-Silva 4 Living with Aliens: Nonnative Fishes in the American Southwest Peter B. Moyle 5 Current Conservation Status of Some Freshwater Species and Their Habitats in México María de Lourdes Lozano-Vilano, Armando J. Contreras-Balderas, Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, and María Elena García-Ramírez 6 Ghosts of Our Making: Extinct Aquatic Species of the North American Desert Region Jack E. Williams and Donald W. SadaSection 2. Racing to Collapse 7 Running on Empty: Southwestern Water Supplies and Climate Change Brad Udall 8 Mining Hidden Waters: Groundwater Depletion, Aquatic Habitat Degradation, and Loss of Fish Diversity in the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion of Texas Gary P. Garrett, Megan G. Bean, Robert J. Edwards, and Dean A. Hendrickson 9 Southwestern Fish and Aquatic Systems: The Climate Challenge Jonathan T. Overpeck and Scott A. Bonar 10 Novel Drought Regimes Restructure Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Arid-Land Streams Kate S. Boersma and David A. Lytle 11 The Exotic Dilemma: Lessons Learned from Efforts to Recover Native Colorado River Basin Fishes Brandon Albrecht, Ron Kegerries, Ron Rogers, and Paul HoldenSection 3. Improving the Odds 12 Applying Endangered Species Act Protections to Desert Fishes: Assessment and Opportunities Matthew E. Andersen and James E. Brooks 13 The Value of Specimen Collections for Conserving Biodiversity Adam E. Cohen, Dean A. Hendrickson, and Gary P. Garrett 14 Conservation Genetics of Desert Fishes in the Genomics Age Thomas F. Turner, Thomas E. Dowling, Trevor J. Krabbenhoft, Megan J. Osborne, and Tyler J. Pilger 15 Long-Term Monitoring of a Desert Fish Assemblage in Aravaipa Creek, Arizona Peter N. Reinthal, Heidi Blasius, and Mark Haberstich 16 Human Impacts on the Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Restoration Potential of Southwestern Rivers Mark C. Stone and Ryan R. Morrison 17 Conservation and Ecological Rehabilitation of North American Desert Spring Ecosystems Donald W. Sada and Lawrence E. StevensSection 4. Searching for Recovery 18 Oases: Finding Hidden Biodiversity Gems in the Southern Sonoran Desert Michael T. Bogan, Carlos Alonso Ballesteros-Córdova, Scott E. K. Bennett, Michael H. Darin, Lloyd T. Findley, and Alejandro Varela-Romero 19 Recent Discoveries and Conservation of Catfishes, Genus Ictalurus, in México Alejandro Varela-Romero, Carlos Alonso Ballesteros-Córdova, Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, Sergio Sánchez-Gonzalez, and James E. Brooks 20 Ecology, Politics, and Conservation of Gila Trout David L. Propst, Thomas F. Turner, Jerry A. Monzingo, James E. Brooks, and Dustin J. Myers 21 Large-River Fish Conservation in the Colorado River Basin: Progress and Challenges with Razorback Sucker Kevin R. Bestgen, Thomas E. Dowling, Brandon Albrecht, and Koreen A. Zelasko 22 Assisting Recovery: Intensive Interventions to Conserve Native Fishes of Desert Springs and Wetlands Sean C. Lema, Jennifer M. Gumm, Olin G. Feuerbacher, and Michael R. Schwemm 23 Restoration of Aquatic Habitats and Native Fishes in the Desert: Some Successes in Western North America Anthony A. Echelle and Alice F. EchelleSection 5. Exploring Our Future 24 The Devils Hole Pupfish: Science in a Time of Crises Kevin P. Wilson, Mark B. Hausner, and Kevin C. Brown 25 Politics, Imagination, Ideology, and the Realms of Our Possible Futures Christopher Norment 26 Searching for Common Ground between Life and Extinction Christopher W. Hoagstrom, Kevin R. Bestgen, David L. Propst, and Jack E. Williams Acknowledgments List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisLike the highest mountain peaks, deserts are environments that can be inhospitable even to the most seasoned explorers. Craig Childs has spent years in the deserts of the American West, and his treks through arid lands in search of water reveal the natural world at its most extreme.

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Book SynopsisThe new edition of Arid Zone Geomorphology aims to encapsulate the advances that have been made in recent years in the investigation and explanation of landforms and geomorphological processes in drylands.Trade Review"I highly recommend the landmark and important book Arid Zone Geomorphology: Process, Form and Change in Drylands by David S. G. Thomas, to any students, specialists in the field, policy makers, business leaders, and anyone interested in this critical and fascinating field. This book will guide both students and professionals in many disciplines and professionals toward a deeper and richer understanding of the importance of arid regions, and the processes at work in these amazing areas of our planet." (Blog Business World, 27 October 2011) Table of ContentsList of contributors. Preface to the first edition. Preface to the second edition. Preface to the third edition. I Large-scale controls and variability in drylands. 1 Arid environments: their nature and extent (David S.G. Thomas). 1.1 Geomorphology in arid environments. 1.2 Arid zone distinctiveness and the quest for explanation. 1.3 Arid zones: terminology and definitions. 1.4 The age of aridity on Earth. 1.5 The distribution of arid zones. 1.6 Causes of aridity. 1.7 Climate variability. 1.8 Dryland ecosystems. 1.9 Arid zone geomorphology and people. 1.10 Organisation of this book. 2 Tectonic frameworks (Helen Rendell). 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Tectonic setting of drylands. 2.3 Uplift and erosion, subsidence and sedimentation. 2.4 Lengths of record. 2.5 Existing erosional and depositional records in arid environments. 2.6 Selected examples of the geomorphological impact of active tectonics in arid environments. 2.7 Conclusions. 3 Climatic frameworks: legacies from the past (David S.G. Thomas and Sallie L. Burrough). 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 The significance of arid zone fluctuations in the past. 3.3 Dating arid zone fluctuations. 3.4 Climatic interpretations and issues. 3.5 Conclusions. 4 Dryland system variability (David S. G. Thomas). 4.1 A framework for dryland diversity. 4.2 Geomonotony: how unvarying are the ‘flat’ drylands of the world? 4.3 Within-dryland diversity. 4.4 Summary issues. 5 Extraterrestrial arid surface processes (Jonathan Clarke). 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 What does ‘aridity’ mean beyond Earth? 5.3 Why should planetary scientists understand terrestrial arid geomorphology? 5.4 What can terrestrial geomorphologists learn from a solar system perspective? 5.5 Mars: water-based aridity. 5.6 Titan: methane-based aridity? 5.7 Venus: extreme aridity. 5.8 Future Directions. II Surface processes and characteristics. 6 Weathering systems (Heather A. Viles). 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 What makes arid environments unusual in terms of weathering systems? 6.3 Theoretical underpinnings of weathering systems research. 6.4 Current weathering study methods. 6.5 Linking processes to form in arid weathering systems. 6.6 Explaining the development of weathering landforms in arid environments. 6.7 Weathering rates in arid environments. 6.8 Arid weathering and landscape evolution. 6.9 Scale and arid weathering systems. 7 Desert soils (David L. Dunkerley). 7.1 Introduction: the nature and significance of desert soils. 7.2 Taxonomy of desert soils. 7.3 Some distinctive aspects of desert soil development. 7.4 Stone-mantled surfaces and desert pavements. 7.5 Inorganic seals at the soil surface. 7.6 Vesicular soil structures. 7.7 Conclusions. 8 Desert crusts and rock coatings (David J. Nash). 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Sodium nitrate deposits. 8.3 Halite crusts. 8.4 Gypsum crusts. 8.5 Calcrete. 8.6 Silcrete. 8.7 Desert rock coatings. 8.8 Palaeoenvironmental significance of crusts. 9 Pavements and stone mantles (Julie E. Laity). 9.1 Introduction. 9.2 Surface types: hamadas and stony surfaces. 9.3 General theories concerning stony surface formation. 9.4 Stone pavement characteristics. 9.5 Processes of pavement formation. 9.6 Processes of clast size reduction in pavements. 9.7 Secondary characteristics of pavement surfaces and regional differences in pavement formation. 9.8 Secondary modifications to pavement surfaces. 9.9 Ecohydrology of pavement surfaces. 9.10 Relative and absolute dating of geomorphic surfaces based on pavement development. 9.11 Conclusions. 10 Slope systems (John Wainwright and Richard E. Brazier). 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 Badlands. 10.3 Rock slopes. 10.4 Conclusion. III The work of water. 11 Runoff generation, overland flow and erosion on hillslopes (John Wainwright and Louise J. Bracken). 11.1 Introduction. 11.2 Infiltration processes. 11.3 Factors affecting infiltration. 11.4 Runoff generation. 11.5 Erosion processes on hillslopes. 11.6 Conclusions. 12 Distinctiveness and diversity of arid zone river systems (Stephen Tooth and Gerald C. Nanson). 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 Distinctiveness of dryland rivers. 12.3 Diversity of dryland rivers. 12.4 Reassessing distinctiveness and diversity. 12.5 Conclusions. 13 Channel form, flows and sediments of endogenous ephemeral rivers in deserts (Ian Reid and Lynne E. Frostick). 13.1 Introduction. 13.2 Rainfall and river discharge. 13.3 Ephemeral river channel geometry. 13.4 Fluvial sediment transport. 13.5 Desert river deposits. 13.6 Conclusions. 14 Dryland alluvial fans (Adrian Harvey). 14.1 Introduction: dryland alluvial fans – an overview. 14.2 Process and form on dryland alluvial fans. 14.3 Factors controlling alluvial fan dynamics. 14.4 Alluvial fan dynamics. 14.5 Discussion: significance of dry-region alluvial fans. 15 Pans, playas and salt lakes (Paul A. Shaw and Rob G. Bryant). 15.1 The nature and occurrence of pans, playas and salt lakes. 15.2 Pan hydrology and hydrochemistry. 15.3 Influences of pan hydrology and hydrochemistry on surface morphology. 15.4 Aeolian processes in pan environments. 15.5 Pans and playas as palaeoenvironmental indicators. 16 Groundwater controls and processes (David J. Nash). 16.1 Introduction. 16.2 Groundwater processes in valley and scarp development. 16.3 Groundwater and pan/playa development. 16.4 Groundwater and aeolian processes. IV The work of the wind. 17 Aeolian landscapes and bedforms (David S.G. Thomas). 17.1 Introduction. 17.2 Aeolian bedforms: scales and relationships. 17.3 The global distribution of sand seas. 17.4 The global distribution of loess. 17.5 Dynamic aeolian landscapes in the Quaternary period. 17.6 Conclusions. 18 Sediment mobilisation by the wind (Giles F. S. Wiggs). 18.1 Introduction. 18.2 The nature of windflow in deserts. 18.3 Sediment in air. 18.4 Determining the threshold of grain entrainment. 18.5 Surface modifications to entrainment thresholds and transport flux. 18.6 Modes of sediment transport. 18.7 Ripples. 18.8 Prediction and measurement of sediment flux. 18.9 The role of turbulence in aeolian sediment transport. 18.10 Conclusions. 19 Desert dune processes and dynamics (Nick Lancaster). 19.1 Introduction. 19.2 Desert dune morphology. 19.3 Dune types and environments. 19.4 Airflow over dunes. 19.5 Dune dynamics. 19.6 Dune development. 19.7 Controls of dune morphology. 19.8 Dune patterns. 19.9 Conclusions. 20 Desert dust (Richard Washington and Giles S. F. Wiggs). 20.1 Introduction. 20.2 Key source areas. 20.3 Temporal changes in dust. 20.4 Future climate change. 20.5 Conclusions. 21 Wind erosion in drylands (Julie E. Laity). 21.1 Introduction. 21.2 The physical setting: conditions for wind erosion. 21.3 Conclusions. V Living with dryland geomorphology. 22 The human impact (Nick Middleton). 22.1 Introduction. 22.2 Human impacts on soils. 22.3 Human impacts on sand dunes. 22.4 Human impacts on rivers. 22.5 Cause and effect: the arroyo debate continues. 22.6 Conclusions. 23 Geomorphological hazards in drylands (Giles F. S. Wiggs). 23.1 Introduction. 23.2 Aeolian hazards. 23.3 The aeolian dust hazard. 23.4 Agricultural wind erosion. 23.5 Drainage of inland water bodies. 23.6 Fluvial hazards. 23.7 Conclusions. 24 Future climate change and arid zone geomorphology (Richard Washington and David S. G. Thomas). 24.1 Introduction. 24.2 Climate change projections: basis and uncertainties. 24.3 Overview of global climate change projections in the context of arid zones. 24.3.1 Methods of establishing climate change impacts in arid zones. 24.4 Climate change and dunes. 24.5 Climate change and dust. 24.6 Climate change and fluvial systems. 24.7 Conclusions. Index.

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Book SynopsisFocused exclusively on native and naturalized vascular plants of California's southeastern deserts, the Desert Manual provides illustrations for more than 200 desert taxa, keys to identification, distributional information and 128 colour photographs.Trade Review"This impressive, streamlined new field guide to plants of California deserts is based on The Jepson Manual but is truly a handbook to be carried in the field. It offers new introductory discussions, many new illustrations, revised user-friendly keys, updated distribution information, flowering times... and handsome color photos of many species. This marvelous book demonstrates that our deserts are not barren wastes but treasure houses filled with an abundance of floristic riches."-Robert Ornduff, author of Introduction to California Plant Life; "An invaluable companion to those who delight in the unusual and beautiful plants of these scenic areas."-Peter H. Raven, Director, Missouri Botanical Garden; "This much-needed volume incorporates new information about the status and range of many California desert plants. This book will facilitate access to information about our deserts, and will lead to increased respect and attention to them. We warmly welcome it."-Jake Sigg, President, California Native Plant SocietyTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Authors Contributing to The Jepson Desert Manual Introduction Philosophy of The Jepson Desert Manual Conventions Used in The Jepson Desert Manual Glossary Abbreviations and Symbols Commonness and Rarity Horticultural Information Geographic Subdivisions of the California Deserts The California Deserts: Setting, Climate, Vegetation, and History Floristic Diversity in the California Deserts Key to the California Desert Plant Families Taxonomic Treatments Pteridophytes (F) Gymnosperms (G) Dicots (D) Monocots (M) Index Photo Credits

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Book SynopsisThe landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region varies dramatically from parched desert lowlands to semiarid tropical forests and frigid subalpine meadows. This book looks at the relationships of plants and animals with the land and people, through time and across landscapes.Trade Review"If I were forced to limit my southwestern library to one book, this would be it. In just under 600 pages, handsomely illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, and prcise pen-and-ink drawings, 35 experts share their considerable knowledge of man and nature in the Sonoran Desert." Southwest Books of the Year "An indispensable guide for any desert visitor... It offers a complete look at Sonoran Desert ecology, with details on individual species and essays that bring the desert alive." Sunset Magazine "The award-winning text includes a calendar of natural events highlighting animal migrations, full moons, and the Sonoran Desert's awesome spring flower show." Outside Magazine "A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert is a monumental work, accessible to amateurs and professionals alike; it is a must for anyone planning to visit the deserts of southwestern United States." Environmental Practice "... immaculately produced... Put together by the museum's exceptional academic and curatorial staff, Natural History is a storybook, a field guide, a lay geology, paleontology, and human ecology textbook, and a handy encyclopedia - and it reads as enjoyable as fiction." The Americus Journal "If I am exiled to a desert isle, I now have that proverbial one book to take along: A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert... It's all here. It's like sitting on the patio with the best experts and having a private tutorial." The Journal of Arizona History "Never before has a book appeared that so deserved a place on the bookshelf of every desert aficionado... This book is destined to become the bible of Sonoran Desert nature literature." -- Jim Cornett, Plam Springs Desert Museum The Desert Sun "This compendium [is] destined to become the mandatory reference for the Sonoran Desert for years to come." New Mexico Magazine "... an authoritative introduction to the Sonoran Desert... remarkably thorough ... the one book on the Sonoran Desert I'd recommend to both novice and experienced naturalists." -- George Middendorf, Howard University Audubon Naturalist News "This book is the next best thing to going there... Thought the emphasis is on the well-known and often-seen organisms of the region, the depth of coverage of those organisms is remarkable for its completeness." -- G. Stevens, University of New Mexico CHOICE "Everything the traveler, birdwatcher, hiker, student, desert-dweller and desert-lover will ever need to know about this region ... is painstakingly presented in clear prose, maps and pictures." Rocky Mountain News "This book is a long, long, love letter... [It] tells you just about all you can think to ask about this lush and most beautiful of America's four deserts." The Sonoran Quarterly "A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert provides a collection of Sonoran Desert natural history information and is a pefect introduction to the most biologically rich desert in North America." AZA Communique "It is heartening to read a no-nonsense and comprehensive description of the natural history of the Sonoran Desert... There is little missing in this book and much to recommend it." -- Julio Betancourt, Desert Laboratory Geotimes "Exquisitly produced, richly illustrated ... definitive account of this hot desert." Taxon 49 "Thirty experts contributed to this 628-page volume - the most complete collection of natural history available on this region." Wildlife Conservation "A Natural History will go with me on my next road trip west." New Mexican "This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the natural history of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts ... It would be an ideal text for a community college or undergraduate course on desert ecology." -- Matthew L. Brooks, USGS Western Ecological Research Center MadronoTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1 * Welcome to the Sonoran Desert Part One * The Big Picture 2 * Biomes and Communities of the Sonoran Desert Region 3 * Sky Islands 4 * Sea of Cortez 5 * Sonoran Desert Natural Events Calendar 6 * Nature Watching in the Sonoran Desert Region 7 * Desert Storms 8 * Desert Air and Light 9 * Deep History of the Sonoran Desert 10 * Geologic Origin of the Sonoran Desert 11 * Desert Soils 12 * Human Ecology of the Sonoran Desert 13 * Conservation Iss ues in the Sonoran Desert Region: Protecting Our Future 14 * Pollination in the Sonoran Desert Region 15 * Biodiversity: The Variety of Life that Sustains Our Own Part Two * Plants 16 * Plant Ecology of the Sonoran Desert Region 17 * Flowering Plants of the Sonoran Desert 18 * Desert Grasses Part Three * Animals 19 * A Vertebrate Looks at Arthropods 20 * Desert Ad aptations of Birds and Mammals 21 * Desert Ad aptations of Amphibians and Reptiles 22 * Sonoran Desert Arthropods 23 * Sonoran Desert Birds 24 * Sonoran Desert Mammals 25 * Sonoran Desert Fishes 26 * Sonoran Desert Reptiles and Amphibians Afterword List of Species Glossary Editors Contributors Credits Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the ASLI Choice Award, Atmospheric Science Librarians International""Winner of the PROSE Award in Earth Science, Association of American Publishers""Winner of the Special Book Award, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards""Winner of the Award of Excellence in Plants and Environmental Change, Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries""A detailed and authoritative account that reveals the rich and fascinating story of this unique landscape and its climate, geology and natural history. . . . Williams’s book offers a wonderful insight into how climate can transform the landscape across long stretches of time, as well as how delicately balanced are the ecosystems on which we depend."---P. D. Smith, The Guardian"This vivid historical survey by Earth scientist Martin Williams is the result of a lifetime’s work."---Andrew Robinson, Nature"Fascinating. . . . Engrossing. . . . When the Sahara Was Green covers the cyclical, gradual desiccation of the Sahara, the changing of its biomes, the nature of its current occupants, and even the question of its future. It’s formidably researched . . . but so warmly, approachably written that learning was never so pleasant."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review"Given Williams’s deep well of knowledge, this book could have been bogged down by technicalities and jargon. Instead, When the Sahara Was Green is admirably accessible to a broad audience with only basic knowledge of geography and earth sciences. Furthermore, the book stands out for the numerous clear and well-designed illustrations that explain complex concepts."---Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist"Highly accessible . . . and filled with interesting facts about geological history."---Nicole Barbaro, Bookmarked"[A] fascinating and informative introduction to the history of the Sahara, the past and present lifeforms it hosts, and its role in the wider planetary environment . . . Read this book and spread interest in Earth’s largest desert."---Jeffery Hirschy, H-Environment

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Book SynopsisReset, reflect, create. That''s the motto at the Joshua Tree House -- an irresistibly bohemian bed-and-breakfast in the storied hi-desert of southern California. Guided by nature and the cycles of the sun, the Joshua Tree House offers an intentional, mindful way of living that combines the very best of the wellness movement and modern design to celebrate the singular beauty of the desert. At Home in Joshua Tree offers a peak inside this world, with Joshua Tree House founders Sara and Rich Combs bringing readers into their warm, inviting world through mindful practices that enhance the everyday. They begin by introducing life in the hi-desert, as well as their design principles, before moving through a day in the desert (sunrise, morning, mid-day, dusk, nightfall, etc.), with each chapter highlighting designs, recipes, wellness practices, and entertaining rituals that elevate and honor the ordinary moments associated with that time. Interviews with other designers, artists, and makers who are inspired by the desert, including those whose designs are featured throughout the Joshua Tree House, are featured throughout, alongside gorgeous full-bleed photographs and a complete sourcing guide.

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Book SynopsisOffers information on some of the world's deserts: the lowest point in North America, to the Libyan desert, to Antarctica's vast polar deserts, which have not had ice cover for thousands of years. This book reveals why these landforms are never static, but always changing.

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Book SynopsisFor 100,000 years, inhabitants of the Tsodilo Hills region of the Kalahari left behind a record of their gathering wild foods, hunting, fishing, mining, rock painting, cattle herding, and metalworking, as well as of their participation in a coast-to-coast trade network. This is the story of the Hills, beautifully illuminated by more than 150 colour plates and maps. For scientists, this work brings together decades of research at a site in the Kalahari that was virtually unknown until the late 1970s.

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Book SynopsisExplore Western Death Valley National Park with the first comprehensive guidebook to this amazing California region. Lost between the rugged High Sierras and the glamor of Las Vegas, bypassed by most visitors on their way somewhere else, Death Valley is a sumptuous alignment of low desert valleys trapped between mountains that reach over 11,000 feet. This little-known and largely unexplored paradise is waiting to be discovered. Western Death Valley is a hiker’s mecca filled with salt flats and sand dunes, old mines and ghost towns, awesome canyons, breathtaking summits, delightful springs, unexpected streams, and more miles of unspoiled desert than one can explore in a lifetime. Hiking Western Death Valley National Park by Michel Digonnet is the first comprehensive guidebook that’s completely dedicated to this fascinating region. Illustrated with hand-drawn topographic maps, ripe with information about the area’s rich human and m

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Book SynopsisSand dunes are a globally important depositional landform and sedimentary system. Their origins and dynamics are important in understanding how deserts have evolved in response to climate change and changes in sand supply and mobility, and how they will continue to evolve in the future. This book provides a state-of-the-art review of the characteristics of desert dunes and their sediments, and explores their dynamics on timescales from days to millennia as they respond to changes in wind speed and direction, precipitation and sand supply. This extensively revised edition reflects the advances in our understanding of desert dunes, their dynamics and history; and covers recent developments including the luminescence dating revolution, ground penetrating radar and advances in numerical modeling. Also covering dunes on Mars and Titan, this authoritative reference is a must-have for researchers and graduate students working on desert dunes and aeolian geomorphology.Trade Review'Studying desert dunes continues to be essential to our understanding of the geomorphology and climate of Earth and other worlds in the solar system. The update to this anchoring text seamlessly merges the significant advancements in aeolian science over the past few decades with core concepts from decades prior. This book will serve as the go-to source for any scientist needing a reference for wind-blown sand dunes and as the textbook for training the next generation of aeolian scientists.' Ryan Ewing, Texas A&M University'Nick Lancaster's fifty-plus years of field research on desert dunes and his keen insights on the 'big-picture' of dune formation and change make him the best qualified person to write the definitive book on the subject. This thoroughly revised and updated second edition is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand desert sand dunes.' Jeff Lee, Department of Economics and Geography, Texas Tech University'This fully updated new edition provides a masterly synthesis of the burgeoning research into desert dunes worldwide. Whether it is current dune processes, the evolution of dune systems in the past or extra-terrestrial aeolian features, this book has it all. It is an excellent testimony to Nick Lancaster's five decades of desert dune analysis, and will be the definitive 'go-to' text for a long time.' David Thomas, University of OxfordTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction and Fundamental Concepts: 1. Desert Dune Systems; Part II. Dune Morphology and Sediments; 2. Dune Morphology; 3. Dune Sediments; Part III. Dune Processes and Dynamics; 4: Sand Transport By Wind; 5. Airflow and Sand Transport on Dunes; 6. Dune Dynamics; Part IV. Boundary Conditions for Dune Formation and Development: 7. Controls of Dune Morphology; 8. Controls on Dune Orientation; 9. Controls of Dune Size and Spacing; 10. Response of Dune Systems to Changing Boundary Conditions; Part V. Sand Seas and Dunefields; 11. Characteristics and Distribution of Sand Seas and Dunefields; 12. Dune Patterns in Sand Seas; 13. Formation of Sand Seas and Dune Fields; Part VI. Dune Systems in Time and Space; 14. Ancient Dune Systems – The Rock Record; 15. Quaternary Paleo Dune Systems; 16. Planetary Dune Systems; Part VI. Conclusions; 17. Review and Prospects; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe cult-y pocket-size field guide to the strange and intriguing secrets of the Mojaveits myths and legends, outcasts and oddballs, flora, fauna, and UFOsbecomes the definitive, oracular book of the desertFor the past five years, Desert Oracle has existed as a quasi-mythical, quarterly periodical available to the very determined only by subscription or at the odd desert-town gas station or the occasional hipster boutique, its canary-yellow-covered, forty-four-page issues handed from one curious desert zealot to the next, word spreading faster than the printers could keep up with. It became a radio show, a podcast, a live performance. Now, for the first timeand including both classic and new, never-before-seen revelationsDesert Oracle has been bound between two hard covers and is available to you.Straight out of Joshua Tree, California, Desert Oracle is The Voice of the Desert: a field guide to the strange tales, singing sand dunes, sagebru

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Book SynopsisStreetcars and the Shifting Geographies of Toronto visually compares historic and contemporary images of different parts of Toronto to better understand how and why the city has changed.Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables Introduction: Streetcar Photography and the Changing City 1. The Changing Geography of Toronto 2. Toronto in a Global Context 3. Neighbourhood Change 4. Visual Methodologies and Repeat Photography 5. Photographing Streetcars; Picturing Toronto 6. A short History of Toronto’s Streetcars Portfolio 1: Downtown Portfolio 2: (De)industrialisation Portfolio 3: Neighbourhoods 7. Interpreting Visual Change in a Divided City 8. Neighbourhood Change, Mobility and Socially-Just Solutions References

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Book SynopsisValentina Capurri addresses a topic that has been largely ignored, posing new questions on how immigration and disability in Canada have been constructed.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Personal and the Political 1. The Right Citizen 2. Parliament and Medically Inadmissible Immigrants 3. Medical Admissibility: Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, 1902-1985 4. Medical Admissibility: Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, 1985-2002 5. Medical Admissibility in the Federal and Supreme Courts of Canada Conclusion Appendix: Changes to the Medical Admissibility Provision in Canadian Immigration Policy, 1869-2001 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisInternational borders are among the most significant political inventions of modern times. The borders between national states are not just important to the peoples and governments who face each other across the borderline any international border can become a regional hotspot of global concern. But aside from the significant role borders play in national and international affairs, borders are also places and spaces where people live, work, raise families, and build businesses. Written for students across disciplines, Borders, Boundaries, Frontiers introduces readers to the study of borders and border cultures. Thomas M. Wilson examines both historical foundations and current developments in the field, with an emphasis on anthropological contributions. Ultimately, Borders, Boundaries, Frontiers encourages students to explore the role anthropology plays in the understanding of contemporary borders.Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Anthropology of Borders, Boundaries, and Frontiers 2. Globalization and Borders in a Borderless World 3. Border Walls and the Violence of Security 4. Border Energetics: The Frontiers of Sovereignty and Citizenship 5. Chameleon Borders and Everyday Transnationalism: Border Cultures and Identities 6. Future Borders and New Normals in Border Studies 7. Conclusion: New and Critical Border Thinking

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Book SynopsisNot Good Enough for Canada investigates the development of Canadian immigration policy with respect to persons with a disease or disability throughout the twentieth century. With an emphasis on social history, this book examines the way the state operates through legislation to achieve its goals of self-preservation even when such legislation contradicts state commitments to equality rights. Looking at the ways federal politicians, mainstream media, and the judicial system have perceived persons with disabilities, specifically immigrant applicants with disabilities, this book reveals how Canadian immigration policy has systematically omitted any reference to this group, rendering them socially invisible. Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Personal and the Political 1. The Right Citizen 2. Parliament and Medically Inadmissible Immigrants 3. Medical Admissibility: Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, 1902-1985 4. Medical Admissibility: Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, 1985-2002 5. Medical Admissibility in the Federal and Supreme Courts of Canada Conclusion Appendix: Changes to the Medical Admissibility Provision in Canadian Immigration Policy, 1869-2001 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Sensory Studies Manifesto explores the origin and development of the revolutionary new field of sensory studies.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Prologue: Coming to Our Senses Part I: The Sensorial Revolution in the Human Sciences 1. On the Geography and Anthropology the Senses 2. On the History and Sociology of the Senses 3. On the Psychology and Neurobiology of the Senses in Historical and Cross-Cultural Perspective Part II: Case Studies 4. The Modern Sensorium: A Case Study in Sensory History, 1920-2001 5. Melanesian Sensory Formations: A Comparative Case Study in Sensory Ethnography Part III: Multisensory Aesthetics 6. “A New Age of Aesthetics”: Sensory Art and Design 7. Sensory Museology: Bringing the Senses to Museum Visitors 8. Performative Sensory Environments: Alternative Orchestrations of the Senses in Contemporary Intermedia Art References List of Figures

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Book SynopsisMany historians and political scientists argue that ties between Canada and Latin America have been weak and intermittent because of lack of mutual interest and common objectives. Has this record of diverging paths changed as Canada has attempted to expand its economic and diplomatic ties with the region? Has Canada become an imperialist power? Canada’s Past and Future in Latin America investigates the historical origins of and more recent developments in Canadian foreign policy in the region. It offers a detailed evaluation of the Harper and Trudeau governments’ approaches to Latin America, touching on political diplomacy, bilateral development cooperation, and civil society initiatives. Leading scholars of CanadaLatin America relations offer insights from unique perspectives on a range of issues, such as the impact of Canadian mining investment, security relations, democracy promotion, and the changing nature of Latin American migration to CanadaTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface 1. Introduction: Canada’s Past and Future in the Americas: Beyond the “Americas Strategy” Pablo Heidrich and Laura Macdonald 2. Locating Latin America: Geography, Identity, and the Americas in Canadian Foreign Policy Asa Mckercher 3. Life-death-rebirth: The Latin American Working Group and Civil Society Relations with Latin America John W. Foster 4. Canadian Security and Defence Policies Towards Latin America: Liberal Engagement or Harsh Realism? Federmán Rodríguez 5. Canada And Democracy Promotion: The 2015 Electoral Crisis in Haiti Yasmine Shamsie 6. Latin American Migration to Canada: New and Complex Patterns of Mobility Laura Macdonald and Christina Gabriel 7. Trudeau, Harper and Civil Society: Advocacy Chill or Sunny Ways? Kalowatie Deonandan and Toveli Schmuland 8. Mexico-Canada Relations and the Impact of the NAFTA Renegotiations María Teresa Gutiérrez Haces 9. ‘Wrapped in the Canadian Flag’: Precious Metals Mining and Canadian Deadly Diplomacy In Latin America Jen Moore 10. Voluntary or Legislated? The Home-Country Regulation of Canadian Mining Companies in Latin America Paul Haslam 11. Conclusions Pablo Heidrich and Laura Macdonald Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisOrganizing Nature explores how the environment is organized in Canada’s resource-dependent economy. The book examines how particular ecosystem components come to be understood as natural resources and how these resources in turn are used to organize life in Canada. In tracing transitions from ecosystem component to resource, this book weaves together the roles that commodification, Indigenous dispossession, and especially a false nature-society binary play in facilitating the conceptual and material construction of resources. Alice Cohen and Andrew Biro present an alternative to this false nature-society binary: one that sees Canadians and their environments in a constant process of making and remaking each other. Through a series of case studies focused on specific resources fish, forests, carbon, water, land, and life the book explores six channels through which this remaking occurs: governments, communities, built environments, culture and ideas, economieTable of ContentsList of Illustrations and Tables List of Maps List of Boxes Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction 1.1 From How to Why 1.2 From Ecosystem Components to Resources 1.3 Politics beyond Policy 1.4 Resourcification through Six Channels 1.5 Book Outline and Common Themes Discussion Questions 2. Channels: From Ecosystem Components to Resources 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Governments 2.3 Communities 2.4 Built Environments 2.5 Culture and Ideas 2.6 Economies 2.7 Bodies and Identities 2.8 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions 3. From Fish to Fisheries 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Salmon in British Columbia 3.3 Cod in Newfoundland and Labrador 3.4 Channels in Action: Organizing Fisheries 3.5 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions Pedagogical Resources 4. From Forests to Timber 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Growth of Timber: Saint John, New Brunswick 4.3 Trees, Not Timber: Port Renfrew, British Columbia, and Darkwoods 4.4 Channels in Action: Organizing Forests 4.5 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions Pedagogical Resources 5. From Carbon to Energy 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Coal in Nova Scotia 5.3 Oil and Bitumen in Alberta 5.4 Natural Gas and Fracking 5.5 Channels in Action: Organizing Carbon 5.6 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions Pedagogical Resources 6. From H2O to Water 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Diversions and Damming 6.2.1 Diversion 6.2.2 Damming 6.3 Drinking Water 6.3.1 Vancouver, 2006 6.3.2 Walkerton, Ontario, 2000 6.3.3 Asubpeechoseewagong Netum Anishinabek–Grassy Narrows, Ontario, 1962–? 6.3.4 Drinking Water: Summary 6.4 Channels in Action: Organizing Water 6.5 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions Pedagogical Resources 7. From Land to Property 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Soil 7.3 Symbol 7.4 Space 7.5 Channels in Action: Organizing Land 7.6 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions Pedagogical Resources 8. From Bodies to Life 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Wild(?)life: Non-Human Animals 8.2.1 Pets and Other Companion Species 8.2.2 Fish and Game: Wildness as Economic Resource 8.2.3 Parks as Spaces for Wildlife 8.3 Human Resources 8.3.1 Blood and Plasma 8.3.2 Surrogacy 8.4 The Channels in Action: Organizing Life 8.5 Summary and Conclusions Discussion Questions Pedagogical Resources 9. Resources: Organized and Organizers 9.1 Channels in Action 9.2 Common Themes 9.2.1 Commodification 9.2.2 Indigenous Dispossession 9.2.3 Artificial Nature–Society Binary 9.3 Why Does ‘Resource Thinking’ Matter? 9.3.1 Winning and Losing 9.3.2 Why Is It Important to Think beyond Policy? Glossary References Index

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Book SynopsisHotter and dryer than most parts of the world, the Middle East could soon see climate change exacerbate food and water shortages, aggravate social inequalities, and drive displacement and political destabilization. And as renewable energy eclipses fossil fuels, oil rich countries in the Middle East will see their wealth diminish. Amidst these imminent risks is a call to action for regional leaders. Could countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates harness the region's immense potential for solar energy and emerge as vanguards of global climate action? The Power of Deserts surveys regional climate models and identifies the potential impact on socioeconomic disparities, population movement, and political instability. Offering more than warning and fear, however, the book highlights a potentially brighter future—a recent shift across the Middle East toward renewable energy. With his deep knowledge of the region and knack for presenting scientific data with clarity, Dan Rabinowitz makes a sober yet surprisingly optimistic investigation of opportunity arising from a looming crisis.Trade Review"The Power of Deserts offers an important argument detailing how the Middle East could be devastated by the impact of climate change—or could generate huge amounts of renewable energy. Dan Rabinowitz skillfully communicates the difficulty these nations will face in adapting to climate change. A provocative work." -- Steven Cohen * the Earth Institute, Columbia University, and author of The Sustainable City *"Only Dan Rabinowitz, who wrote Israel's first book about climate change, has the knowledge, imagination, and optimistic spirit to look at the Middle East and offer this compelling, hopeful vision for the future." -- Alon Tal * Tel Aviv University *"In this timely, compelling book, Dan Rabinowitz deftly explores how climate change amplifies problems of inequality, injustice, and displacement in the Middle East. Rabinowitz's deep knowledge of the region, ability to clearly present complex material, and novel contention that the oil-rich Gulf states may lead the global transition to renewable energy make The Power of Deserts a must-read for anyone interested in these issues." -- Jeannie Sowers * University of New Hampshire, author of Environmental Politics in Egypt: Experts, Activists, and the State *"With his deep knowledge of the region, Dan Rabinowitz makes a sober yet surprisingly optimistic investigation of opportunity arising from a looming crisis." -- Michael Svoboda * Yale Climate Connections *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: The Heat Is On chapter abstractFolk tales, myths, and physical remains in various Middle Eastern cultures indicate the region saw dramatic climate fluctuations in the past. Climate models suggest that current global warming could have far-reaching consequences for the region. Multiplying socioeconomic inequalities, demographic instability, ethnic tensions, and insecurity, climate change is impacting scientific fields, from the Earth sciences and the natural sciences, to history, sociology, and political science. New vocabularies and methodologies are being developed to help theorize and analyze the profound changes that will characterize the imminent post-normal climate era. A determined, sophisticated global environmental movement has long been trying to convince world leaders to save the planet by instigating major cuts in CO2 emissions for decades, to no avail. Could salvation come from oil-rich countries in the Middle East? 1Parched Future chapter abstractAdvances in climate modeling since 2010 enable scaling down global predictions to region- and country-specific forecasts. Using these new methods, researchers predict that temperature hikes in the Middle East will be sharper than projections for other regions and the world at large. Rainfall quantities in key areas in the northern and western section of the region will go down below 200 millimeters per annum, the level necessary for rain-fed agriculture. This will have serious consequences for agriculture in Turkey, Syria, northern Iraq, and the Maghreb, and dire implications for water cycles and animal husbandry across the region. Dwindling water volumes in the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates will seriously endanger regional food production. Egypt and the Gulf countries are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. 2Burning Inequality chapter abstractClimate change involves three types of inequality. First, wealthier communities consume more, are responsible for higher greenhouse gas emissions, and thus carry a heavier responsibility for the advent of climate change. Second, affluent communities are more resilient to climate perils than poor ones. Third, those unwilling to join the struggle against climate change put others in harm's way. These inequalities, while omnipresent, are particularly prevalent in the Middle East, where socioeconomic gaps between and within countries are the widest in the world. The chapter illustrates that oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are among the highest per capita CO2 emitters in the world, while poorer countries hardly contribute to climate change. The chapter reviews regional gaps in resilience and exposure and demonstrates how oil-exporting countries in the region have played an active role in efforts since the 1990s to subvert global climate agreements. 3Climate of Insecurity chapter abstractExerting pressure on water, agriculture, and food supply, climate change is having devastating consequences for arid regions. The chapter distinguishes between security (small s), a condition with concrete personal and familial resonance, and Security (capita S), a more nebulous, less rational term focused on more abstract collectives such as the state or "the realm." The recent climate-related crises in Syria and South Sudan are reviewed. Given that similar drought spells could become the Middle East's new normal, the chapter seeks to isolate the role of climate in such calamities. Analyzing climate-related migration already underway in the region, it traces the emergence of "climate refugees" as a discursive term and critically examines the perils of climate change becoming securitized. Finally, it highlights the need for proactive, forward-looking planning on behalf of vulnerable rural communities that might be forced to relocate as a result of climate change. 4Solar Prospects chapter abstractIdeas for renewable energy hubs in the Middle East have been floated since the 1920s. With costs of solar energy slashed by 90 percent in a single decade, global investment in renewables is rising quickly. Solar plants are now being constructed across the Middle East, even in oil-exporting countries. With abundant solar irradiation, huge tracts of unproductive land, high liquidity, and a good track record of incorporating new technologies into civil infrastructure, the six oil-rich kingdoms by the Arabian Gulf have an immense potential for solar energy. Consistently pledging to transition their own domestic energy sectors to renewables, they are now beginning to actually do so. Should they indeed follow through with this, could they decide to extract less oil and natural gas? More importantly, are they likely to decide that leading a global energy transition to renewables is in their own best interest? 5Will 200 Men Save the Planet? chapter abstractDisconcerting climate predictions, the imminent demise of oil, and their huge potential for solar energy could convince the oil-rich countries of the Gulf to accelerate the global transition to renewables. To avoid economic ruin they could (a) immediately convert their own energy sectors to renewables; (b) invest heavily in renewable technologies and capacity worldwide; then (c) drastically reduce oil and natural gas production. An already struggling oil industry will be forced to surrender, crowning renewables the primary source of global energy. Like carriage makers who became automobile tycoons, the GCC six will have converted their position in the oil market ante to control of the energy universe of tomorrow. The economic lockdown triggered by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, which brought the oil industry to its knees, may leave the GCC with no other option if they wish to withstand the passage to a post-oil era.

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Book SynopsisA magnificent illustrated journey into California’s famed deserts and the astonishingly abundant life they contain.A San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller!From Obi Kaufmann, author-illustrator of the best-selling California Field Atlas, comes a grand adventure through time, geography, and ecology in California’s deserts. Of a piece with his richly illustrated books The Forests of California and The Coasts of California, this volume features hundreds of vivid watercolor maps and illustrations, blending art and science to breathtaking effect. Journeying through the Great Basin, Mojave, Colorado, and Sonoran Deserts, Kaufmann pays special attention to national and state parks and monuments, and to the dozens of wilderness areas that reveal the underappreciated natural abundance of California’s arid lands. From Joshua Tree to Death Valley, these deserts full of life, as Kaufmann evokes them, are perfect places for meditating on our future, and for imagining a California that might thrive beyond the age of climate breakdown. The Deserts of California is a canonical entry into the literature of the American deserts, uniquely colorful and celebratory, and abounding in hope and wonder.Trade ReviewA San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller!Praise for The Deserts of California:"Obi Kaufmann writes movingly about how knowing the desert might inform our futures and, as in his previous works, depicts nature with hundreds of gorgeous watercolors." —Hannah Bae, San Francisco Chronicle"Filled with enchanting watercolors and detailed descriptions, Kaufmann’s field atlases can stoke an urge to explore California's landscapes up close. That’s particularly apparent in The Deserts of California, where so many of the details are hiding in plain sight." —The Orange County Register"Kaufmann the artist captures the deserts in hundreds of on-the-scene watercolor paintings. His deft hand and knowing eye convey not only wild beauty but some of the essence of his subjects. [...] His books don't need to be consumed cover to cover. They're designed to be dipped into and explored. They offer rich amounts of information, with varied but encompassing glimpses of the features he observes from place to place and how all the parts work together." —The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA)"This is not your typical field guide. [...] It's chock-full of information about botany, wildlife, and other ecological aspects of California's deserts, put together in an accessible, visual way. This approach helps to encourage a love of place, which is often the first step toward wanting to protect and preserve it." —American Scientist"Obi Kaufmann is back again with another marvelously researched and illustrated field guide to a California biome. Deserts of California is a must-have for any naturalist's library." —The Booksmith, San Francisco, CAPraise for The Coasts of California (2022) and The Forests of California (2020) by Obi Kaufmann:"A call to action—full of beautiful watercolor renderings of both landscape and data." —Los Angeles Times"Obi Kaufmann’s books are like bibles to me. They are, honestly, the outdoor guides I’ve looked for for decades. They're beautifully drawn, written, printed and bound, and they explain California’s natural beauty better than anything I’ve read before." —Dave Eggers“Swirls research with poetry, the personal and human with the collective and ecological …" —Mother Jones"As a reader you are invited to join him on a journey of discovery—not as a passenger but as an active partner." —San Francisco Chronicle"Everyone in the state should have this gorgeous book on their bookshelf." —CBS San FranciscoTable of ContentsABRIDGED TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: A Promise of Life and Death: Journey into the Desert Heart Keys and measures 1. The Dire and the Sublime: Exploring California desert physiography 2. Every Sacred Drop: California desert water 3. The Living Network: Desert plant habitats 4. Big Desert Parcels of Federal and State Land: Parks, monuments, and military inholdings 5. Of Sagebrush and Solitude: The Great Basin Desert in California 6. Of Resilience and Fragility: The Mojave Desert in California 7. Of the Remote and the Rugged: The Colorado-Sonoran Desert in California 8. Philosophies of What Comes Next: California’s Tomorrow Desert Acknowledgments Glossary Notes Selected Bibliography About the Author

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Book SynopsisA must-have for every gardener in California looking for a new way to garden in a changing climate In recent years California has been facing extreme drought, and in 2015 they passed state-wide water restrictions that affect home owners. Unfortunately the drought is only going to get worse, and gardeners who aren’t willing to abandon their beloved pastime entirely are going to have to learn how to garden with the absolute minimum of water. The Drought-Defying California Garden highlights the best 230 plants to grow, shares advice on how to get them established, and offers tips on how to maintain them with the minimum amount of water. All of the plants are native to California—making them uniquely adept at managing the harsh climate—and include perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, and succulents.

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Book SynopsisArid environments are landscapes that receive very little precipitation. Deserts can be described as an arid environment where more water is lost that gained as precipitation. Arid environments have been classified as mega thermal climates; areas of having great heat. This book focuses on regions classified as arid environments and how systematic, evidence-based synthesis may be useful for assessing ecological and cost-effective strategies for assessing revegetation in arid lands. It discusses foundations and main driving forces of socio-economic developments of arid zone and important mechanisms affecting the success of certain species over others. This book brings new research advances from around the world.

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Book SynopsisAre you facing drought or water shortages? Gardening with Less Water offers simple, inexpensive, low-tech techniques for watering your garden much more efficiently — using up to 90 percent less water for the same results. With illustrated step-by-step instructions, David Bainbridge shows you how to install buried clay pots and pipes, wicking systems, and other porous containers that deliver water directly to a plant’s roots with little to no evaporation. These systems are available at hardware stores and garden centers; are easy to set up and use; and work for garden beds, container gardens, and trees.

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Book SynopsisA design-focused, easy-to-use guide to colorful, eye-catching foliage and flowers for your whole yard, from the ground plane to the canopy, for homeowners and landscapers faced with replacing thirsty gardens in California and other dry regions in the Western US. If readers must reluctantly remove water-guzzling favorites from the garden, they need equally beautiful substitutes! This book is a visual treat that supports the transition to dry gardening by proving that gardeners can have all the gorgeous color and flowers they had in the past using just a fraction of the water. Maureen Gilmer provides chapters on design categories of plants—flowering shrubs, the ground plain, eye-catching accents, ephemeral flowers, perennials for color, animated plants and fine textures, canopy, and edibles—with profiles for each plant plus background info and top picks lists. The Colorful Dry Garden is unique because it features only bold plants that are also heavy bloomers despite heat and limited water. It also features more than just Western native plants by including varieties from the world's driest climates.Trade Review"Compact and easy-to-read, with practical tips for "going dry," a.k.a. transitioning to a drought-resistant yard, along with loads of color photos of flowering shrubs, perennials, ground covers, succulents and grasses."—The Los Angeles Times"[This book] couldn't come at a better time. As we adjust to using less water in every part of our lives, Gilmer's book provides practical guidance to gardeners who want vibrant landscapes in the future while using less of our precious resource, water."—The Oregonian"This book features beautifully illustrated profiles of drought-tolerant plants"—Texas Gardener"Includes guidelines for transitioning yards to an “arid palette,” as well as hundreds of photos and detailed descriptions of flowering plants and trees that provide the punches of color she and other floral fans crave."—Las Vegas Review-Journal "Maureen Gilmer consolidates everything you need to know to get started [in water-wise gardening] based on her 30 years of experience in the field.... The perfect resource for folks who may not be hard-core gardeners but want a beautiful yet unthirsty garden all the same." —Succulents and More

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Book SynopsisLayering climate science, mythologies, nature writing, and personal experiences, this New York Times Notable Book presents a stunning reckoning with our current moment and with the literal and figurative end of time.Desert Notebooks examines how the unprecedented pace of destruction to our environment and an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape have led us to the brink of a calamity greater than any humankind has confronted before. As inhabitants of the Anthropocene, what might some of our own histories tell us about how to confront apocalypse? And how might the geologies and ecologies of desert spaces inform how we see and act toward time—the pasts we have erased and paved over, this anxious present, the future we have no choice but to build? Ehrenreich draws on the stark grandeur of the desert to ask how we might reckon with the uncertainty that surrounds us and fight off the crises that have already begun.In the canyons and oases of the Mojave and in Las Vegas’s neon apocalypse, Ehrenreich finds beauty, and even hope, surging up in the most unlikely places, from the most barren rocks, and the apparent emptiness of the sky. Desert Notebooks is a vital and necessary chronicle of our past and our present—unflinching, urgent—yet timeless and profound.

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