Nearly all living things depend on Earth’s land and its resources to survive. But did you know that people do many things that hurt the land? The damage sometimes destroys forests, which are home to diverse ecosystems and are important in producing oxygen and water. And in many parts of the world, damaged land produces less food, less wood, and less of many things that people need. We must join together in the quest to find better ways to use and take care of Earth’s land. With engaging text and eye-catching images—plus a special Going Green section—this book tells you all about Earth’s land and what you can do to protect it.
Massive hurricanes, devastating tornadoes, out-of-control wildfires, and deadly floods: it seems as though there are more natural disasters each year. Scientists tell us that the increase in natural disasters is tied to climate change and the negative impact that human activity is having on our planet. This volume looks at the damage done to the planet through pollution, deforestation, and other human activities. Your readers will survey the efforts made to protect and preserve our planet. Colorful photographs, helpful graphics, and primary sources will encourage young readers to take an active role in protecting Earth.
"An audacious and concrete proposal…Half-Earth completes the 86-year-old Wilson’s valedictory trilogy on the human animal and our place on the planet." —Jedediah Purdy, New Republic In his most urgent book to date, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and world-renowned biologist Edward O. Wilson states that in order to stave off the mass extinction of species, including our own, we must move swiftly to preserve the biodiversity of our planet. In this "visionary blueprint for saving the planet" (Stephen Greenblatt), Half-Earth argues that the situation facing us is too large to be solved piecemeal and proposes a solution commensurate with the magnitude of the problem: dedicate fully half the surface of the Earth to nature. Identifying actual regions of the planet that can still be reclaimed—such as the California redwood forest, the Amazon River basin, and grasslands of the Serengeti, among others—Wilson puts aside the prevailing pessimism of our times and "speaks with a humane eloquence which calls to us all" (Oliver Sacks).
An urgent, resounding call to protect 50 percent of the earth's land by 2050—thereby saving millions of its species—and a candid assessment of the health of our planet and our role in conserving it, from the award-winning author of The Experience of Place and veteran New Yorker staff writer. "An upbeat and engaging account of the remarkable progress being made to preserve vast wild spaces for animals to roam." —The Wall Street Journal Beginning in the vast North American Boreal Forest that stretches through Canada, and roving across the continent, from the Northern Sierra to Alabama's Paint Rock Forest, from the Appalachian Trail to a ranch in Mexico, Tony Hiss sets out on a journey to take stock of the "superorganism" that is the earth: its land, its elements, its plants and animals, its greatest threats--and what we can do to keep it, and ourselves, alive. Hiss not only invites us to understand the scope and gravity of the problems we face, but also makes the case for why protecting half the land is the way to fix those problems. He highlights the important work of the many groups already involved in this fight, such as the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, and the global animal tracking project ICARUS. And he introduces us to the engineers, geologists, biologists, botanists, oceanographers, ecologists, and other "Half Earthers" like Hiss himself who are allied in their dedication to the unifying, essential cause of saving our own planet from ourselves. Tender, impassioned, curious, and above all else inspiring, Rescuing the Planet is a work that promises to make all of us better citizens of the earth.
From massive hurricanes to devastating tornadoes to out-of-control wildfires, deadly natural disasters wreak havoc on the planet each year. Scientists have linked the incidence of natural disasters to the issue of climate change and the negative impact of human activity on the planet. Your readers will study the ramifications of pollution, deforestation, and other human activities. They'll learn about the steps being taken to protect Earth and how they can contribute to conservation efforts.
Every living thing on our planet needs air to survive. Most of the time, we hardly even think about Earth's air. But did you know that many of the things we use every day-from cars to electricity-hurt the quality of our air? The pollution in the air can make people, plants, and animals sick. We must join together in the quest to improve Earth's air quality. With engaging text and eye-catching images-plus a special Going Green section-this book tells you all about Earth's air and what you can do to protect it. Book jacket.
From roaring oceans to trickling streams, water covers seventy percent of our planet! But did you know that less than one percent of Earth’s water is usable by humans? Most water on Earth is salt water. It can’t be used for drinking, bathing, or growing plants. We need freshwater. Yet about two-thirds of Earth’s freshwater is frozen solid at the North and South Poles. And the water we can access—from lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, or underground sources—is in danger of being polluted. There is not enough water to waste. We must join together in the quest to protect this valuable resource. With engaging text and eye-catching images—plus a special Going Green section—this book tells you all about Earth’s water and what you can do to protect it.
From brilliantly colored birds and wild elephants to towering trees and exotic flowers, rain forests are home to more than half of Earth’s plants and animals. People living in rain forests depend on this vast array of life, and Earth itself relies on the world’s rain forests to keep our climate and atmosphere in balance. But rain forests around the world are under threat. Once rain forests covered nearly 14 percent of Earth, but now they have shrunk to less than half that size. People around the globe are joining the quest to save rain forests. With engaging text and eye-catching images—plus a special Going Green section—this book tells you all about Earth’s rain forests and what you can do to protect them.
Human health depends on the health of the planet. Earth’s natural systems—the air, the water, the biodiversity, the climate—are our life support systems. Yet climate change, biodiversity loss, scarcity of land and freshwater, pollution and other threats are degrading these systems. The emerging field of planetary health aims to understand how these changes threaten our health and how to protect ourselves and the rest of the biosphere. Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves provides a readable introduction to this new paradigm. With an interdisciplinary approach, the book addresses a wide range of health impacts felt in the Anthropocene, including food and nutrition, infectious disease, non-communicable disease, dislocation and conflict, and mental health. It also presents strategies to combat environmental changes and its ill-effects, such as controlling toxic exposures, investing in clean energy, improving urban design, and more. Chapters are authored by widely recognized experts. The result is a comprehensive and optimistic overview of a growing field that is being adopted by researchers and universities around the world. Students of public health will gain a solid grounding in the new challenges their profession must confront, while those in the environmental sciences, agriculture, the design professions, and other fields will become familiar with the human consequences of planetary changes. Understanding how our changing environment affects our health is increasingly critical to a variety of disciplines and professions. Planetary Health is the definitive guide to this vital field.
“The Earth says, God has placed me here. The Earth says that God tells me to take care of the Indians on this earth; the Earth says to the Indians that stop on the Earth, feed them right. . . . God says feed the Indians upon the earth.” —Cayuse Chief Young Chief, Walla Walla Council of 1855 America has always been Indian land. Historically and culturally, Native Americans have had a strong appreciation for the land and what it offers. After continually struggling to hold on to their land and losing millions of acres, Native Americans still have a strong and ongoing relationship to their homelands. The land holds spiritual value and offers a way of life through fishing, farming, and hunting. It remains essential—not only for subsistence but also for cultural continuity—that Native Americans regain rights to land they were promised. Beth Rose Middleton examines new and innovative ideas concerning Native land conservancies, providing advice on land trusts, collaborations, and conservation groups. Increasingly, tribes are working to protect their access to culturally important lands by collaborating with Native and non- Native conservation movements. By using private conservation partnerships to reacquire lost land, tribes can ensure the health and sustainability of vital natural resources. In particular, tribal governments are using conservation easements and land trusts to reclaim rights to lost acreage. Through the use of these and other private conservation tools, tribes are able to protect or in some cases buy back the land that was never sold but rather was taken from them. Trust in the Land sets into motion a new wave of ideas concerning land conservation. This informative book will appeal to Native and non-Native individuals and organizations interested in protecting the land as well as environmentalists and government agencies.
