Review by Choice Review
For those concerned about the loss of biological diversity, rewilding is an audacious attempt to save our planet. Faced with the sixth mass extinction in the history of life on Earth and the only one caused by a single species, Homo sapiens, a generation of conservation biologists have been working for 25 years to halt the loss of species and reverse the trend toward ecosystem degradation. With clear, compelling prose, science writer Fraser weaves numerous stories from the contemporary conservation movement into a compelling, insightful tale of hope. Covering the applications of island biogeography theory to the state of science in corridor ecology, this book presents numerous clear-eyed case studies from North America and around the globe. Each is written in an accessible, personal, engaging style with solid scientific grounding. Like Jonathan Adams in The Future of the Wild (CH, Jul'06, 43-6505), Fraser offers a realistic but optimistic view of a future that may, despite recent trends, remain a place where our grandchildren might have the privilege of seeing rhinos, gorillas, and jaguars. It will appeal to anyone interested in conservation, land use, park design, and the practical application of science to saving the natural heritage of the planet. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic, professional, and general readers, all levels. D. Flaspohler Michigan Technological University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Though the poisons of pollution and the encroachment of climate change are continuing environmental threats, it's the acceleration of biodiversity loss that most alarms Fraser (God's Perfect Child) in this well-sourced study of worldwide attempts to knit together enough ecosystems to keep life alive. The problem: the disappearance of nature itself-the mass extinction of species, from lumbering polar bears to fragile flowers-that could see half of all nonhuman life extinct by the end of this century. The solution: rewilding-a nascent "resurrection ecology" that designs wildlife refuges ("cores") and, more importantly, creates corridors connecting one refuge to another so that species such as elephants, tigers and wolves can range more wildly, a key to survival. Successful rewilding in North America, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, has led to a rebound in mountain lion and bear populations; more unexpectedly, the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea, a narrow 155-mile-long corridor uninhabited by humans for 55 years, has seen an ecological rebirth and is now home to 67 endangered species. Though Fraser's fact-heavy prose is slow reading, her story of grassroots activism paired with the scientific is environmentally inspirational. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Freelance writer and author Fraser (God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church) takes us on a global tour of conservation efforts to save endangered species and landscapes through "rewilding." She discusses what it means to rewild an area, the importance of reestablishing animal migration routes, how to involve and educate local communities about conservation, and how these three techniques are morphing into "sustainable conservation." Fraser is to be commended for bringing to light the histories, current events, and key players of each of the geographical regions she explores; she demonstrates their interconnectedness in a readable, engaging style that laypeople and scientists will appreciate. Readers will come away better informed about the complexity of the ecosystems around us and with an increased awareness of the many factors involved in maintaining natural order and balance. VERDICT Heavily researched with endnotes for those looking for more information, this truly is an essential read for conservationists, biologists, and anyone interested in the natural world. Highly recommended for all libraries with life sciences or environmental collections.-Kyrille Goldbeck, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Libs., Blacksburg (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A passionate, optimistic account of a sometimes successful movement aimed at restoring natural habitats. During the past decades, nature researchers have discovered a practical tactic for preserving native environments and slowing the massive extinction now in progress. "Rewilding," writes journalist Fraser (God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church, 1999), does not try to re-create wilderness, but it requires "Cores, Corridors, and Carnivores." Cores such as national parks are too small to do the job alone. Censuses in American parks always show a steady decline in the number of species. Corridors connecting refuges enable wildlife to disperse widely and multiply; they may include farms and even towns, but barriers (fences and highways) are disastrous. Fraser notes that large predators are the key to maintaining species diversity. In the absence of wolves, deer eat everything in sight. More bird species thrive when coyotes are present than when they are absent because coyotes eat domestic cats, the leading bird-killer. The author focuses on several dozen projects around the world, ranging from modest links between two parks to massive ongoing efforts to connect a million square miles from Yellowstone Park in Wyoming to the Yukon in northern Canada ("Y2Y") and in southern Africa. Sad experience has taught that successful schemes require money, long-term commitment, relatively honest governments andmost importantcooperation of the people living on the land. Fraser's colorful stories do not conceal rewilding's painful educational curve and mixed results, but she makes a convincing case that it represents the only realistic strategy for conserving our steadily diminishing wildlife. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
