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American Perceptions of Immigrant and Invasive Species: Strangers on the Land
Peter Coates Manufacturer: University of California Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0520249305 |
Book Description
Sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose, humans have transported plants and animals to new habitats around the world. Arriving in ever-increasing numbers to American soil, recent invaders have competed with, preyed on, hybridized with, and carried diseases to native species, transforming our ecosystems and creating anxiety among environmentalists and the general public. But is American anxiety over this crisis of ecological identity a recent phenomenon? Charting shifting attitudes to alien species since the 1850s, Peter Coates brings to light the rich cultural and historical aspects of this story by situating the history of immigrant flora and fauna within the wider context of human immigration. Through an illuminating series of particular invasions, including the English sparrow and the eucalyptus tree, what he finds is that we have always perceived plants and animals in relation to ourselves and the polities to which we belong. Setting the saga of human relations with the environment in the broad context of scientific, social, and cultural history, this thought-provoking book demonstrates how profoundly notions of nationality and debates over race and immigration have shaped American understandings of the natural world.
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National Park Ranger: An American Icon
Charles R. Butch Farabee Manufacturer: Roberts Rinehart Publishers ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1570983925 |
Book Description
In this celebration of one of America's most enduring symbols, fromer ranger Butch Farabee brielfy revies the evolution of this national symbol.Customer Reviews:
Great look at the history of park rangers.......2005-08-16
National Park Ranger.......2004-06-23
Rangers must have and constantly upgrade diverse knowledge, skills and abilities, and be able to diplomatically use those skills alone in the wild or in crowded urban settings. Rangers carry out technical search and rescue in every ecosystem - from 594 meters below the surface of Crater Lake to the top of Denali in Alaska at 6,194 meters, and under water in the Florida Everglades and Hawaii - while working efficiently using appropriate skills and equipment in team efforts. Commissioned rangers are federal law enforcement officers who effectively work with felons, traffic infractions and other local, state and federal agencies. Other ranges are interpreters who share the human and natural history of an area with visitors. Resource management, for the parks and people, permeates everything and every day. A ranger may repair a plumbing problem in the morning, help a visitor identify a plant, animal or rock before noon, carry out a custodial arrest or technical search and rescue in early afternoon, while working creatively within budget and administrative limitations.
The "way of life" of being a ranger is hard on rangers, spouses and children. Living conditions are often sparse and distant and people must be very tolerant, proactive for food, education and routine maintenance and be able to think and act long-term. Advancement comes competitively, often requiring major long-distance moves and extreme changes in climate - from cold interior Alaska, to warm Death Valley, to warm and humid Guam or Florida, to the snowy Great Lakes.
Rangers are female and male, come in every type of skin pigmentation, are physically abled and disabled, speak a wide variety of languages and come from many cultures. National Park Service rangers are consistently the most admired people and the most admired agency. Too many legislators use the NPS for political expediency and short-term gain. This is a good read and underscores the strong need for much better funding and support of rangers and the National Park Service.
An Absolute Must for Fans of Our National Parks.......2003-06-23
The only "slight" disappoint was the forward by the current NPS Director, Fran Mainella. While I understand that having the current Director involved with this passage is the proper thing to do, I can only take her comments with a grain of salt as the current leadership of the NPS and Department of the Interior (Secretary Gale Norton) do not appear to fight for the best interest of the service nor the environment. By no means should you let this deter you from purchasing this book.
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Living with Wildlife: How to Enjoy, Cope with, and Protect North America's Wild Creatures Around Your Home and Theirs
The California Center for Wildlife Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0871565471 |
Book Description
Based on years of practical experience and research, and informed by the California Center for Wildlife's commitment to humane treatment of animals, Living with Wildlife traces the evolution of attitudes toward wildlife and provides sensible guidelines for co-existing with animals encountered around the home and in wild areas. It is both a comprehensive reference to common North American wildlife and a guide to resolving - in the most humane ways possible - common conflicts that arise from human-wildlife contact. Included are invaluable tips on what to do when:Customer Reviews:
excellent reference for wildlife care.......1998-07-26
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Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest
Committee on Protection and Management of Pacific Northwest Anadromous Salmonids , and National Research Council Manufacturer: National Academies Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0309053250 |
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Foxes: Living on the Edge (Wildlife Series (Minocqua, Wisc))
J. David Henry Manufacturer: Northword Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 1559715685 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book on a relatively misunderstood animal!.......2001-05-30
Excellent book.......2000-10-22
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Greenways for America (Creating the North American Landscape)
Charles E. Little Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0801851408 |
Book Description
From Brooklyn's parks and parkways, across the Iowa prairie, to Big Sur's coastal highway, people are drawing green lines on local maps and building "greenways" -linear open spaces that preserve and restore the skein of nature in cities, suburbs and rural areas. Charles Little's "Greenways for America" describes this remarkable citizen-led effort to get Americans out of their cars and into the landscape of nature via greenways. Such greenways provide paths or trails for recreation and "link" a region's traditional parks and open spaces. They preserve natural corridors for wildlife migration and protect scenic and historic routes from commercial development. In this first comprehensive account of the movement that is now gathering power in every region of the country, Little describes dozens of greenway projects that have improved environmental quality, invigorated local economies, and preserved outdoor space for millions of citizens.Customer Reviews:
Greenways for America Goes Places!.......2001-01-03
His way of telling the story of the history of modern trails and greenways is inspirational in that it makes you want to go out and really do something in your community. He chronicles several projects with very different origins that all have been successful.
If you are remotely interested in greenways and trails and how projects come together I highly recommend this book.
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Rewilding North America: A Vision For Conservation In The 21St Century
Dave Foreman Manufacturer: Island Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1559630612 |
Book Description
Dave Foreman is one of North America's most creative and effective conservation leaders, an outspoken proponent of protecting and restoring the earth's wildness, and a visionary thinker. Over the past 30 years, he has helped set direction for some of our most influential conservation organizations, served as editor and publisher of key conservation journals, and shared with readers his unique style and outlook in widely acclaimed books including The Big Outside and Confessions of an Eco-Warrior.
In Rewilding North America, Dave Foreman takes on arguably the biggest ecological threat of our time: the global extinction crisis. He not only explains the problem in clear and powerful terms, but also offers a bold, hopeful, scientifically credible, and practically achievable solution.
Foreman begins by setting out the specific evidence that a mass extinction is happening and analyzes how humans are causing it. Adapting Aldo Leopold's idea of ecological wounds, he details human impacts on species survival in seven categories, including direct killing, habitat loss and fragmentation, exotic species, and climate change. Foreman describes recent discoveries in conservation biology that call for wildlands networks instead of isolated protected areas, and, reviewing the history of protected areas, shows how wildlands networks are a logical next step for the conservation movement. The final section describes specific approaches for designing such networks (based on the work of the Wildlands Project, an organization Foreman helped to found) and offers concrete and workable reforms for establishing them. The author closes with an inspiring and empowering call to action for scientists and activists alike.
Rewilding North America offers both a vision and a strategy for reconnecting, restoring, and rewilding the North American continent, and is an essential guidebook for anyone concerned with the future of life on earth.
Customer Reviews:
Finally.......2006-03-13
The "Sand County Almanac" of our time!.......2005-03-08
A level-headed, serious call to action!.......2004-08-12
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Land and Wildlife of North America
Peter Farb Manufacturer: Time Life ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 080940608X |
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More Wildlife On Your Land: a Guide For Private Landowners
Neil F. Payne Manufacturer: Barberie Productions ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 0971163405 |
Book Description
More Wildlife on Your Land is a how-to book written in everyday language for the laypersonmainly the landowner who owns a few or many acres in the United States and Canada. This book describes how you can change your habitat to attract more wildlife, from songbirds to deer, to your property. Information includes 1) how to landscape and restore your woodlots, pastures, prairies, riparian areas, wetlands, and ponds; 2) how to raise crops and wildlife; 3) how to control grazing; 4) how to build and locate birdhouses, bat houses and other structures for backyard wildlife; 5) how to build watering devices and fences; 6) how to control nuisance wildlife; 7) how to get income from your wildlife; and 8) how to apply for financial assistance and other help.Customer Reviews:
For property owners and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts.......2003-11-13
Great resource for improving your lands wildlife.......2002-05-11
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Wild Alaska: The Complete Guide to Parks, Preserves, Wildlife Refuges, & Other Public Lands, Second Edition
Nancy Simmerman , Tricia Brown , and Nancy Lange Simmerman Manufacturer: Mountaineers Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 0898865832 |
Book Description
The essential guide for exploring outdoor Alaska, fully updated and detailing state parks, preserves, forests, rivers and national parks.Wild Alaska offers both the first-time visitor and the experienced Alaskan trailblazer countless opportunities to explore the beautiful glaciers, rivers, and shorelines of "The Great Land." It escorts travlers through these unique areas with detailed descriptions of their exact locations, acreage, access, wildlife, terrain, and the best season in which to visit. From boating and hiking to backpacking and camping, this is the most comprehensive encyclopedia for outdoor adventure in Alaska.
Readers will also find an appendix of useful information including the locations of campgrounds; addresses and phone numbers of land managers; access and services available at each village; and recommendations for further reading sources. With this guidebook in hand, Alaska's doors are open to anyone who aspires to enter.
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