Conservation of the environment Books

Book SynopsisDiscover the new science and ancient wisdom on why nature makes us healthier and happier in body and soul from the co-author of The Spirit Almanac and mindbodygreen’s Senior Sustainability Editor.For centuries, we have known that getting outside is good for us. Yet we have become increasingly disconnected from the earth that nourishes us, with most of us spending 87% of our days indoors. In response, writer and environmentalist Emma Loewe demonstrates the power of nature’s healing properties in a guidebook organized by eight landscapes. In each chapter, you''ll find research-backed ways to explore that landscape right now and protect it in the future, so that it can be healthy and nurturing for generations to come. Drawing off modern science and innate wisdom, she uncovers:  Why being by the ocean makes you measurably happier How living near greenery helps you lives longer The staggering, illuminating st

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Book SynopsisReframes standard accounts of American history based on the simple but radical premise that historical events are shaped by natural circumstances. From the natural philosophy of the founding fathers to environmental forces behind Brown v Board of Education, this book focuses on nature that reveals a perspective on the familiar icons of US history.Trade Review"Fiege has written a book that will undoubtedly leave an imprint on the field of environmental history and beyond. . . . he has added his book to a short list of must-reads in the field of environmental history." -- David Arnold * Pacific Northwest Quarterly *"Fiege makes a powerful case for always asking the question 'How does nature matter?' when thinking about any present or historical issue or social policy." * Tikkun *"This smart and well-written book, one both synthetic and generative, hopefully will, in fact, prompt students, researchers, and the public to further explore the 'paths that circle through the nature of American history . . .'." -- Brett Mitzelle * Southern California Quarterly *"The Republic of Nature is an incredibly ambitious and completely unprecedented book… Fiege's goal is no less than to demonstrate the centrality of the nonhuman world to any understanding of the American past. The intended audience is wide, and this book invites the broadest consideration and debate." -- Linda Nash * Isis 104 *"Mark Fiege re-frames the canonical account of American history based on the simple but radical premise that nothing in the nation's past can be considered apart from the natural circumstances in which it occurred…and points to a different version of history that prompts us to reconnect with fundamental forces that shaped the American experience." -- Tom Williams * Utah Public Radio *"The Republic of Nature dares us to think differently in the way the best history books do—by thoroughly engaging readers in unexpected ways and in challenging our perceptions of the ways the world works." -- Raechel Lutz * Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography *"Readers will be surprised and delighted by how much Fiege accomplishes in each case study. . . . a fine and affordable supplement to U.S. history surveys . . . [and] American environmental history courses." -- Paul W. Hirt * Oregon Historical Quarterly *"Fiege's book is extraordinary: beautifully written, ambitious in its arguments, and impressive in scope and scholarship. . . a compelling and ambitious study of American history that will enrich the classroom and provoke new scholarship." -- James Morton Turner * Journal of American History *"Fiege is a fine storyteller with a powerful sense of historical context, and popular readers will like that this book is environmental history served up in a rich mixture of information they'll find familiar and grounding." * Montana: The Magazine of Western History *"This imaginative and well-researched . . . approach should prompt scholars to continue to reexamine US history through an environmental prism. Recommended." * Choice *"Fiege is a good storyteller; he is knowledgeable; he writes well; and he keeps it simple." -- Robert Pogue Harrison * New York Review of Books *"The Republic of Nature compellingly demonstrates the value of applying environmental perspective to historical events. From this we can learn the value of applying environmental perspectives to the history we are creating today." -- Robert E. Hoopes * Wildlife Activist *"Fiege’s fresh new spin on important historical events of U.S. history places social and political factors on the background to highlight the environmental context. This thought-provoking book tells a different version of American history than the one we are used to, where nature plays a fundamental role in the events that shaped the nation." * Institute for Global Environmental Strategies *"Mark Fiege's book presents a concept that is as revolutionary as it is obvious, writing history as if the natural world mattered. . . . Fiege takes a look at historical events so well-worn they've become platitudes and makes them fresh again . . . by . . . examining them through an environmental lens . . ." -- Christian Martin * Cascadia Weekly *"For readers swayed by Fiege's persuasive pages, American history will never look quite the same again. . . . This is unconventional environmental history just as it is unorthodox American history. . . . It is not a book to whip through in search of useful data . . . but one to savor on Sunday afternoons." -- J. R. McNeill * Science *". . . eminently readable . . . an original contribution . . ." -- Publishers Weekly * January 2012 *"The writing is compelling and will reward general readers as well as environmental historians with a new way of thinking about history." * Minnesota History *"The Republic of Nature is going to improve the teaching of and the study of American history for years to come. Although he did not attempt to craft a complete synthesis, having mastered the synthetic nature of environmental history, Mark Fiege demonstrates that the workings of the biophysical world were essential to the nation’s development." -- Zachary Falck * Journal of Social History *Table of ContentsForeword Environmental History Comes of Age by William Cronon Land of Lincoln 1. Satan in the Land: Nature, the Supernatural, and Disorder in Colonial New England 2. By the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God: Declaring American Independence 3. King Cotton: The Cotton Plant and Southern Slavery 4. Nature’s Nobleman: Abraham Lincoln and the Improvement of America 5. The Nature of Gettysburg: Environmental History and the Civil War 6. Iron Horses: Nature and the Building of the First U.S. Transcontinental Railroad 7. Atomic Sublime: Toward a Natural History of the Bomb 8. The Road to Brown v. Board: An Environmental History of the Color Line 9. It’s a Gas: The United States and the Oil Shock of 1973–1974 Paths That Beckon Acknowledgments Notes References Illustration Credits Index

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Book SynopsisLearn all you need to know about identifying and attracting finches with this comprehensive, gloriously colorful field guide from America?s foremost authorities on birds and nature. Following the extraordinary finch superflight of 2020-2021, birders across the country became obsessed with finches. With The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, you can gain expert knowledge on these beautiful birds and bring them into your own yard. Thisfully illustrated guide tells you all you need to know about attracting, observing, and protecting finches. The book also includes: A special section on endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper finches, plus other rare and vagrant species Detailed identification information on each finch species? plumages, subspecies, and voice The most complete and up-to-date range maps, including maps of core occurrence and irruption ranges for all red crossbill call types, which have never before been published in a guide Complete life history information Scientific studies on finch migrations and conservation More than 345 stunning full-color photographs and over 50 range maps covering 43 species

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring and approachable tip-filled guide to changing your habits, living more sustainably, and taking action, by Greenpeace ambassador Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter movies)Go Gently is a guide for sustainability at home that offers simple, tangible steps toward reducing our environmental impact by looking at what we consume and the waste we create, as well as how to take action for environmental change. The title reflects Bonnie Wright’s belief that the best way to change our planet and ourselves is through a gentle approach, rather than a judgmental one. This is a book of do’s rather than don’ts. It’s also an invitation to Wright’s followers to join her on this journey to sustainability.Going through every room in her home, Wright helps us assess which products are sustainable, and alternatives for those that are not. She shares recipes to avoid waste, homemade self-care products to avoid packaging, small space-friendly gardening ideas, and a template for creating your own compost system. Finally, to sustain yourself, there are exercises and meditation prompts to keep you energized, plus info on how to get involved in community and organizations.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing a new foreword by Margaret Atwood!In this stunning assemblage of words and images, novelist and avid birdwatcher Graeme Gibson offers an extraordinary tribute to the venerable relationship between humans and birds.   From the Aztec plumed serpent to the Christian dove to Plato''s vision of the human soul growing wings, religion and philosophy use birds to represent our aspirational selves. Winged creatures appear in mythology and folk tales, and in literature by writers as diverse as Ovid, Thoreau, and T. S. Eliot. They''ve been omens, allegories, and guides; they''ve been worshipped, eaten, and feared. Birds figure tellingly in the work of such nature writers as Gilbert White and Peter Matthiessen, and are synonymous with the science of Darwin. Gibson spent years collecting this gorgeously illustrated celebration of centuries of human response to the delights of the feathered tribes. The Bedside Book of Birds is for everyone who

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewShattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming convincingly demonstrates the remarkable differences between what we commonly read about global warming and what is really happening. ... Anyone who reads this book will come away with a new appreciation of the complexity of the climate issue and will question the need for expensive policies that are likely to have little or no detectable effect on the planet's temperature. * Science Daily *Eleven essayists skillfully contradict and disassemble many false assumptions within the science of global warming as well as methodology used to warn world governments of catastrophic futures. Recommended. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction: False Impressions: Misleading Statements, Glaring Omissions, and Erroneous Conclusions in the IPCC's Summary for Policymakers, 2001 Chapter 2 The Mann et al. Northern Hemisphere "Hockey Stick" Climate Index: A Tale of Due Diligence Chapter 3 Observational Surface Temperature Records versus Model Predictions Chapter 4 Temperature Changes In the Bulk Atmosphere: Beyond the IPCC Chapter 5 Severe Weather, Natural Disasters and Global Change Chapter 6 Precipitation and the "Enhanced" Hydrologic Cycle Chapter 7 Predictive Skill of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation and Related Atmospheric Teleconnections Chapter 8 Climate Change and Human Health Chapter 9 The Impact of Solar Variability on the Earth's Climate Chapter 10 Limitations of Computer Predictions of the Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Global Climate

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Book SynopsisBritain's great cloak of natural forest disappeared mostly in prehistoric times. Over the passage of time and by the industrial revolution, Britain's economy had become almost entirely dependent on timber imports from abroad. Shipping blockades in the First World War meant a frantic search for woodlands that could be cut down to make vital pit props and sawn wood for wartime construction. After the war, Britain's tree cover was near to an all-time low. Only since 1919 have practical measures been taken to reverse the long history of forest decline, and a hundred years of tree planting has seen the forest cover of Britain more than double. Today, tree planting in Britain is motivated more by environmental and social concerns than purely timber production.In Woods and People, David Foot reveals the story of twentieth-century forest creation, and the eureka moment in the 1980s that challenged foresters and conservationists to work together on new ideas.Trade Reviewan enjoyable, well-researched, well-written and thought-provoking bookvery interesting, informative and a pleasure to read . . . hard to put down -- George Holmes

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Book Synopsis'For green grandparents everywhere and the young lives they touch.' —RICHARD LOUV, AUTHOR OF LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS Make leaf rubbings, blow jumbo bubbles, bake Moon Pizzas, create a firefly lantern. More than an activity book, CAMP GRANNY is an interactivity book, filled with 130 projects that connect grandparents and grandchildren through nature—in the kitchen, the garden, and the art room. Illustrated with evocative photographs and the author’s watercolors, CAMP GRANNY is a book about being adventurous, about being curious, about noticing and really seeing things—about instilling a lifelong sense of wonder. Please note: CAMP GRANNY was previously sold under the title Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars.

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Book SynopsisSince time immemorial, the Porcupine caribou herd has ranged the Arctic in a 2,800-mile annual trek between its winter feeding grounds inland and its summer calving grounds on the coastal plain of the Beaufort Sea. In 2003, the caribou were joined on their spring journey, possibly for the first time ever, by two humans: wildlife biologist and writer Karsten Heuer and his wife, filmmaker Leanne Allison.Where the herd once roamed through unpopulated wilderness, it now treks from one country to another. This may well be its downfall, for under its calving grounds lies enough oil to keep the United States going for six months. Nowadays in Washington, that’s considered a lot of oil, enough to justify imperilling this venerable herd. Determined to let the world know what will be lost if drilling takes place, Heuer and Allison accompanied the 123,000-strong Porcupine caribou for five months in an uncharted course over mountain ranges, through deep snow, and across semi-frozen ri

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisNature conservation planning tends to be driven by models based on Western norms and science, but these may not represent the cultural, philosophical and religious contexts of much of Asia. This book provides a new perspective on the topic of sacred natural sites and cultural heritage by linking Asian cultures, religions and worldviews with contemporary conservation practices and approaches.The chapters focus on the modern significance of sacred natural sites in Asian protected areas with reference, where appropriate, to an Asian philosophy of protected areas. Drawn from over 20 different countries, the book covers examples of sacred natural sites from all of IUCNâs protected area categories and governance types. The authors demonstrate the challenges faced to maintain culture and support spiritual and religious governance and management structures in the face of strong modernisation across Asia.The book shows how sacred natural sites contribute to defining new, more sTrade Review"During the past three decades I have photographed and studied 800 places of pilgrimage in more than 150 countries. This gives me a rare vantage point from which to comment on the research and publishing work of Bas Verschuuren. In his newest book, Asian Sacred Natural Sites, he has with consistently high quality given us a comprehensive coverage of the fascinating subject." – Martin Gray, National Geographic photographer and author of Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power (2007)"An exciting set of essays contributing to one of humanity's most pressing challenges: how to re-establish our place within nature, respecting it as the source of all life, in ways that go beyond the physical and material into the spiritual and ethical, and learning from peoples who have done it for millennia." – Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh, India and co-editor of Protected Areas, Governance and Management (2015) "Asian Sacred Natural Sites shows that today’s protected areas draw from ancient ideas of the sacred values of nature. Our ancestors gave special status to certain ecologically productive places, and the authors convince us that treating protected areas with a sense of sacredness will help ensure a productive future for all." – Jeffrey A. McNeely, former IUCN Chief Scientist and Asian protected area systems design expert for the Asian Development Bank "At last! This fascinating and in-depth book tells of the inherent links between sacred places and environment and therefore between faith and conservation. Most of our national parks only exist because they have been sacred for centuries and therefore could become parks. This book provides the vital stepping stone for secular conservation to finally work as partner with the worlds of faith and together to create a more sacred future." – Martin Palmer, Alliance of Religion and Conservation "This is a very skillfully edited, most substantial, and high-quality survey in depth of sacred natural sites in Asia, covering theory as well as practice. This fascinating benchmark contribution deserves careful consideration by a wide and diverse audience including scientists and academics interested in the interrelationships of culture, religion, and ecology as well as conservationists and environmentalists in general." – Leslie E. Sponsel, University of Hawai`i, USA and author of Spiritual Ecology (2012) "This book’s exceptionally rich set of case studies from across Asia powerfully attests to the important role of sacred natural sites in biocultural diversity. To this the volume adds a strong critique of mainstream conservation and a cogent call for reforming the conceptualization, governance, and management of protected areas to respect sacred natural sites' conservation significance, numinous character, and the worldviews, rights, responsibilities, and concerns of their indigenous, community, and faith group custodians. Highly recommended." – Stan Stevens, University of Massachusetts, USA and author of Indigenous Peoples, National Parks, and Protected Areas (2014) "The value of sacred sites for the conservation of ecosystems and organisms is increasingly being recognised... This is both a wide-reaching and specialist text which brings together a broad range of authors, disciplines and examples". - A.M. Mannion, Bulletin of the British Ecological SocietyTable of Contents1. Introduction: Re-awakening the Power of Place: Ancient Philosophy and Practice with Current Relevance for Protected Areas and Conservation in Asia Bas Verschuuren Section 1: Themes and Perspectives on the Conservation of Asian Sacred Natural Sites 2. The Asian Philosophy of Protected Areas Amran Hamzah 3. Sacred Mountains in Asia: Themes and Implications for Protected Areas Edwin Bernbaum 4. Can World Heritage Status Help Protect Sacred Sites in Asia? Alison Ormsby, Wendy Jackson and Shonil Bhagwat Section 2: National Perspectives and Strategies for the Conservation of Sacred Natural Sites 5. Sacred Mandala: Protecting Bhutan’s Sacred Natural Sites Liza Zogib, Khenpo Phuntshok Tashi, Tshewang Gyalpo, Sangay Dendhup, Riamsara Kuyakanon, Kelzang Wangchuk, Lopen Namgay Tenzin and Ngawang Gyeltshen 6. Indian Sacred Natural Sites: Ancient Traditions of Reverence and Conservation Explained from a Hindu Perspective Rana P.B. Singh and Pravin S. Rana 7. Interface between Sacred Natural Sites and Formal Protected Areas for Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal Jailab Kumar Rai and Sudeep Jana Section 3: Legal Approaches and Governance of Sacred Natural Sites 8. Customary Laws Governing the Sacred Natural Sites of the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site in Lao PDR: Implications for Site Management Raphaël Glémet, Patricia Moore, Ketsana Phommachanh and Minavanh Pholsena 9. Legal Interpretation of the Sacred Natural Sites and Cultural Heritage of the Dongaria Kondhs in India Radhika Borde 10. Forum Pekaseh in the Management of Subak Landscape of Catur Angga Batukaru, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bali Antoinette Royo, Wiwik Dharmiasih and Yunus Arbi 11. The Pa’oh’s Governance System and Kakku: Implications for Heritage Conservation from Burma/Myanmar Jonathan Liljeblad Section 4: The Conservation of Sacred Lands Meets the Challenges of Development 12. Kailash Sacred Landscape: Bridging Cultural heritage, Conservation and Development through a Transboundary Landscape Approach Abhimanyu Pandey, Rajan Kotru and Nawraj Pradhan 13. Mount Fuji’s History as a Spiritual Realm and Means for its Preservation Toshihiko Ono, Tetsuro Hongo and Kiyotatsu Yamamoto 14. Animism and Traditional Knowledge Disappear in Virachey National Park, Cambodia Gregory McCann and Yi-Chung Hsu 15. Holy Hills: Sanctuaries of Biodiversity in Xishuangbanna, South West China Lily Zeng and Gaëtan Reuse Section 5: A Role for Custodians and Religious Leaders in the Conservation of Sacred Natural Sites 16. Lakes of the Gods: Sacred High Altitude Lakes of Uttarakhand, India Jatinder Kaur and Khima Nand Balodi 17. Ysyk-Köl Lake, the Planet’s Third Eye: Sacred Sites in Ysyk-Köl Biosphere Reserve, Kyrgyzstan Aibek Samakov and Fikret Berkes 18. Sacred Tsum Valley: Improving Biodiversity Conservation with Lessons for Effective Management of Protected Areas in Nepal Jailab Rai, Nima Lama and Bas Verschuuren 19. Past and Present Biocultural Significance of Sea Turtles for Local Communities on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia Vanda Mendonca, Boutros Abi-Aoun and Mohamed El Baradey Section 6: Dualing Spirits and Sciences: Revisiting the Foundations of Conservation 20. Lua people: Traditions, Beliefs and Sacred Natural Sites in Northern Thailand Narong Pongpandecha and Ken Taylor 21. Creating New Discursive Terrain for the Custodians of the Tibetan Spiritscape in North West Yunnan John Studley and Awang Jikmed 22. Where Culture and Nature Meet: Recreating Spiritual and Religious Practices for Site Management and Governance in Takht-e Soleyman Lake, Iran Minoo Hassani Esfehani 23. Ritual and Cultural Revival at Tuvan Sacred Natural Sites Supports Indigenous Governance and Conservation of Nature in China Yuxin Hou 24. Conclusions: How the Cultural, Spiritual and Philosophical Underpinnings of Sacred Natural Sites can make Conservation in Asia more Effective and Sustainable Bas Verschuuren

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Book SynopsisThis book will show you all the ways YOU can change how you travel to help save the planet.As we come out of lockdown, many of us are thinking about getting out of the house and going on holiday but it''s never been more important to think about how we get from A to B. Packed with 101 tips and tricks to reducing your carbon footprint when you''re on the go, this practical little book shows that everybody can do something to protect our environment. From how you travel to work, head to the shops, go on holiday and more, this book is a must-read for everyone.Why do we need to act now? Aviation alone accounts for at least 2% of global carbon emissions and an economy-class return flight from London to NYC emits the equivalent CO2 of 11% of the average annual emissions of someone in the UK. We can all make a change and contents includes:- EVERYDAY TRAVEL (including commuting, shopping and getting around)- PLANNING (how to pla

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