- Table View
- List View
Beyond the War on Invasive Species
by David Holmgren Tao OrionInvasive species are everywhere, from forests and prairies to mountaintops and river mouths. Their rampant nature and sheer numbers appear to overtake fragile native species and forever change the ecosystems that they depend on. Concerns that invasive species represent significant threats to global biodiversity and ecological integrity permeate conversations from schoolrooms to board rooms, and concerned citizens grapple with how to rapidly and efficiently manage their populations. These worries have culminated in an ongoing "war on invasive species," where the arsenal is stocked with bulldozers, chainsaws, and herbicides put to the task of their immediate eradication. In Hawaii, mangrove trees (Avicennia spp.) are sprayed with glyphosate and left to decompose on the sandy shorelines where they grow, and in Washington, helicopters apply the herbicide Imazapyr to smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) growing in estuaries. The "war on invasive species" is in full swing, but given the scope of such potentially dangerous and ecologically degrading eradication practices, it is necessary to question the very nature of the battle. Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers a much-needed alternative perspective on invasive species and the best practices for their management based on a holistic, permaculture-inspired framework. Utilizing the latest research and thinking on the changing nature of ecological systems, Beyond the War on Invasive Species closely examines the factors that are largely missing from the common conceptions of invasive species, including how the colliding effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and changes in land use and management contribute to their proliferation. Beyond the War on Invasive Species demonstrates that there is more to the story of invasive species than is commonly conceived, and offers ways of understanding their presence and ecosystem effects in order to make more ecologically responsible choices in land restoration and biodiversity conservation that address the root of the invasion phenomenon. The choices we make on a daily basis--the ways we procure food, shelter, water, medicine, and transportation--are the major drivers of contemporary changes in ecosystem structure and function; therefore, deep and long-lasting ecological restoration outcomes will come not just from eliminating invasive species, but through conscientious redesign of these production systems.
Beyond Western Economics: Remembering Other Economic Cultures
by Trent SchroyerThis book combines intellectual history with contemporary events to offer a critique of mainstream economic thought and its neoliberal policy incarnation in global capitalism. The critique operates both theoretically, at the level of metaphysics and the philosophy of science, and concretely, in case studies of globalization and world events. Trent Schroyer provides a moral and cultural interpretation of modernity and scientism, highlighting their political and economic consequences – but the book’s main purpose is not to criticize. The author moves beyond this to offer alternative "economic cultures," again combining abstract theoretical analysis with concrete case studies of alternative economic formations from local self-sufficiency movements to cooperatives and other anti-capitalist institutional experiments. These case studies exhibit an impressive range of variation, from first world to third world, from reformist to utopian transformative. Finally, Schroyer links the project to the global justice movement that opposes corporate globalization and eventually links participatory economics and democratic politics to a new image of science as "participatory social learning."
Beyond Words: What Animals Think And Feel (Beyond Words #1)
by Carl SafinaA young reader’s adaptation of The New York Times bestsellerFollow researcher Carl Safina as he treks with a herd of elephants across the Kenyan landscape, then travel with him to the Pacific Northwest to track and monitor whales in their ocean home. Along the way, find out more about the interior lives of these giants of land and sea—how they play, how they fight, and how they communicate with one another, and sometimes with us, too.Weaving decades of field research with exciting new discoveries about the brain and featuring astonishing photographs taken by the author, Beyond Words: What Elephants and Whales Think and Feel gives readers an intimate and extraordinary look at what makes these animals different from us, but more important, what makes us all similar.
Bezugssysteme (Grundlagen der Physikalischen und Mathematischen Geodäsie)
by Karl Heinz IlkDieses Lehrbuch aus der Reihe „Grundlagen der Physikalischen und Mathematischen Geodäsie“ zeigt, warum Bezugssysteme und Bezugsrahmen in der Erdmessung eine fundamentale Rolle spielen. Der Autor erläutert den Newtonschen Raum-Zeit-Begriff und gibt eine Einführung in das Einsteinsche Raum-Zeit-Konzept. Wichtige Beziehungen für die Translation der Erde im Sonnensystem werden präsentiert, und es wird ausführlich die Mechanik der Rotation der Erde im Falle drehmomentfreier Bewegungen sowie unter dem Einfluss eines luni-solaren Drehmomentes behandelt. Neben diesen grundlegenden Aspekten werden die Begriffe Ekliptik- und Äquatorsystem als raumfeste Bezugssysteme eingeführt und die Transformationen zwischen den verschiedenen Bezugssystemen bzw. zwischen den verschiedenen Bezugsrahmen behandelt. Eine Zusammenstellung verschiedener Zeitsysteme rundet das Werk ab.
BGE S1–S3 Geography: Third and Fourth Levels
by Carly BlackmanSyllabus: CfE (Curriculum for Excellence, from Education Scotland) and SQALevel: BGE S1-S3: Third and Fourth LevelSubject: GeographyTake your pupils on a journey where they will think, question and explore like geographers, developing their geographical skills, knowledge and understanding throughout S1-S3.Covering all CfE Third and Fourth Level Benchmarks for Social Studies: People, Place and Environment, this ready-made and fully differentiated BGE Geography course puts progression for every pupil at the heart of your curriculum.- Build understanding of geographical ideas, issues and processes: Clear explanations, diagrams and definitions of key words make the content accessible and engaging for all pupils- Interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical data: Pupils will practise and improve their geographical skills by completing a range of activities that involve maps, photos, graphs and case studies - with answers provided at the back of the book- Meet the needs of each pupil in your class: The content and activities are designed to ensure accessibility for those with low prior attainment, while extension tasks will stretch and challenge higher ability pupils- Effectively check and assess progress: All activities support formative assessment, helping you monitor progression against the Experiences & Outcomes and Benchmarks (with additional assessments and worksheets in the separate Planning & Assessment Pack)- Lay firm foundations for National qualifications: The skills, knowledge and understanding established through the course will set pupils up for success at National 5 and beyond- Deliver the 'responsibility for all' Es and Os: Plenty of activities that address literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing skills are threaded through the book
BGE S1–S3 Geography: Third and Fourth Levels
by Carly BlackmanSyllabus: CfE (Curriculum for Excellence, from Education Scotland) and SQALevel: BGE S1-S3: Third and Fourth LevelSubject: GeographyTake your pupils on a journey where they will think, question and explore like geographers, developing their geographical skills, knowledge and understanding throughout S1-S3.Covering all CfE Third and Fourth Level Benchmarks for Social Studies: People, Place and Environment, this ready-made and fully differentiated BGE Geography course puts progression for every pupil at the heart of your curriculum.- Build understanding of geographical ideas, issues and processes: Clear explanations, diagrams and definitions of key words make the content accessible and engaging for all pupils- Interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical data: Pupils will practise and improve their geographical skills by completing a range of activities that involve maps, photos, graphs and case studies - with answers provided at the back of the book- Meet the needs of each pupil in your class: The content and activities are designed to ensure accessibility for those with low prior attainment, while extension tasks will stretch and challenge higher ability pupils- Effectively check and assess progress: All activities support formative assessment, helping you monitor progression against the Experiences & Outcomes and Benchmarks (with additional assessments and worksheets in the separate Planning & Assessment Pack)- Lay firm foundations for National qualifications: The skills, knowledge and understanding established through the course will set pupils up for success at National 5 and beyond- Deliver the 'responsibility for all' Es and Os: Plenty of activities that address literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing skills are threaded through the book
Bhutan: Conservation and Environmental Protection in the Himalayas
by Ugyen Tshewang Michael Charles Tobias Jane Gray MorrisonLocated in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan practices the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (“GNH”) that embraces environmental conservation as one of the main building blocks for its sustainable development goals. Bhutan’s conservation strategies and success are largely driven by the strong political will and visionary leadership of His Majesty the King of Bhutan The nation’s Buddhist perspectives regarding a deep and abiding respect for nature; and the strategic enforcement of a wide-ranging stringent set of internal regulations and controls have helped ensure ecological gold standards in Bhutan. Moreover, the country is an active member of the international conservation community by fulfilling its implementation of various Multilateral Environment Agreements. While it emerged into the 21st century as one of the 36 global terrestrial “hotspots” in biological diversity conservation ranks, Bhutan’s sheer commitment with more than 51% of its territory being managed under the explicit status of a protected area network, and more than 70% of the land under forest cover, represents Bhutan’s exemplary dedication to protect the planet despite its smallness in size and economy, and the biological fragility exemplified by its hotspot situation. In the face of imminent severe threats of global warming, Bhutan nonetheless exemplifies the truth that “a small country with a big conservation commitment” can make an enormous contribution to the global community.At the regional level, Bhutan is intent upon protecting the Water Towers of Asia (that glacial expanse of the Himalayas) which is a critical resource bulwark for about one-fifth of the global population downstream in South Asia. Such protections invariably help mitigate climate change by acting as a nation-wide carbon sink through its carbon neutral policies. In short, Bhutan has long represented one of the world’s foremost national guardians of biodiversity conservation, ecological good governance, and societal sustainability at a period when the world has entered the Anthropocene – an epoch of mass extinctions.We envision this publication to be ecologically and ethically provocative and revealing for the concerned scientific communities, and governments. Through an extensive review of the scientific and anthropological literature, as well as the research team's own data, the Author's have set forth timely recommendations for conservation policies, strategies and actions. This book provides technical and deeply considered assessments of the state of Bhutan’s environment, its multiple, human-induced stressors and pressures; as well as extremely sound, practical techniques that would address conservation strategies in the Himalayas and, by implication, worldwide.
Białowieża Primeval Forest: Nature and Culture in the Nineteenth Century (Environmental History #11)
by Tomasz Samojlik Ian D. Rotherham Anastasia Fedotova Piotr DaszkiewiczUnderstanding the current state and dynamics of any forest is extremely difficult - if not impossible - without recognizing its history. Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF), located on the border between Poland and Belarus, is one of the best preserved European lowland forests and a subject of myriads of works focusing on countless aspects of its biology, ecology, management. BPF was protected for centuries (15th-18th century) as a game reserve of Polish kings and Lithuanian grand dukes. Being, at that time, a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, BPF was subject to long-lasting traditional, multi-functional utilisation characteristic for this part of Europe, including haymaking on forest meadows, traditional bee-keeping and fishing in rivers flowing through forest. This traditional model of management came to an abrupt end due to political change in 1795, when Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania ceased to exist in effect of partitioning by neighbouring countries, and the territory of BPF was taken over by the Russian Empire. The new Russian administration, influenced by the German trends in forestry, attempted at introducing the new, science-based forestry model in the BPF throughout the 19th century. The entire 19th century in the history of BPF is a story of struggle between new trends and concepts brought and implemented by new rulers of the land, and the traditional perception of the forest and forest uses, culturally rooted in this area and originating from mediaeval (or older) practices.The book will show the historical background and the outcome of this struggle: the forest’s history in the long 19th century focusing on tracking all cultural imprints, both material (artificial landscapes, introduced alien species, human-induced processes) and immaterial (traditional knowledge of forest and use of forest resources, the political and cultural significance of the forest) that shaped the forest’s current state and picture. Our book will deliver a picture of a crucial moment in forest history, relevant not only to the Central Europe, but to the continent in general. Moment of transition between a royal hunting ground, traditional type of use widespread throughout Europe, to a modern, managed forest. Looking at main obstacles in the management shift, the essential difference in perceptions of the forest and goods it provides in both modes of management, and the implications of the management change for the state of BPF in the long 19th century could help in better understanding the changes that European forests underwent in general.
The Bible and Sustainability: Bringing Biblical Passages and Practices into the Ecological Debate
by John AbubakarThe Bible and Sustainability addresses the ecological crisis the world is facing, and what the Bible can teach us about sustainable living. Drawing on the interest in the ecological debate generated by Laudato Si, this book attempts to push the discussion beyond intellectual perspectives and help students and researchers apply biblical wisdom to the UN sustainable development goals.It begins with a discussion of what sustainability is, and how people, planet, and profit are affected by unsustainable practices, before exploring four specific biblical practices and their relationship with sustainability: Covenants, the sabbatical year, monastic communities, and the fruit of the spirit. It also discusses the creation account and personalistic nature texts, considering the social relationship that humans have with nature. Finally, it examines an Augustinian perspective on sustainability which encourages sharing, common ownership of property, and living simply. The book concludes by inviting governments, civil society organizations, and academia to bring these biblical practices and passages into the ecological debate.It is an outstanding resource for researchers of the Bible and environment, and Religion and environment more generally.
The Bible Atlas (DK Pictorial Atlases)
by DKDiscover where events in the Old and New Testaments took place and see how people lived in Biblical times in this illustrated guide.Take a trip around the Holy Land with this collection of beautifully drawn maps, which show where events from the Bible took place.Introducing The Bible Atlas – a beautifully illustrated guide to the geography, events and people of the Old and New Testaments for children aged 9-12. In illustrated guide, follow the journeys of the patriarchs, view inside Solomon's Temple, witness Jesus' miracles, and see exactly where Paul traveled while spreading the message of Christianity.Dive straight into this pictorial Bible guide for kids, offering: - An illustrated guide to key events of the Old and New Testaments for children.- A variety of maps showing in detail where events from the Bible took place.- An original and retro-feel illustration style combined with modern fonts, which creates a different approach compared to photographic or CGI-based books.As well as recapping many of the stories from both the Old and New Testaments, each page in this Bible guide provides additional information, illustrations, and photos explaining how people lived, who ruled the lands, and what places look like today. The information is presented in a visual and accessible way for children to grasp, immersing themselves in each map as they follow the stories and read summaries from the Bible.More in the seriesIf you like The Bible Atlas, then why not complete the collection? Take a peek inside the beautiful and absorbing world of birds with The Bird Atlas, explore the complex animal kingdom with The Animal Atlas, reveal the inner workings of the human body with The Body Atlas, take a trip around the globe with The Earth Atlas, and dive deep below the sea with The Oceans Atlas.
A Biblical Perspective of East Australian Geology
by Fiona SmithThis book begins by outlining the scientific evidence for ages of the Earth in millennia (thousands of years) rather than the Megaanni (millions of years) often taught.It outlines features that you would expect by long-age uniformitarian geology compared to 'young Earth' catastrophic (Flood) geology, and how what we see around us satisfies the latter predictions.The second half of the book details a realistic account of the geologic formations in eastern Australian in a time-formation sequence.In the book, the reader will be introduced to many standard geologic terms and concepts that are used in middle and upper high school. These have all been well defined. There is also a glossary at the back to help revise any new terms.At the end of each section there are Review Questions to re-enforce learning for the student or enquiring adult. Answers to these appear at the back.The book also contains many photographs of eastern Australian rock formations. These look best in colour (the eBook). However, even in black and white they still give a good detail.
A Bibliography of the Literature on North American Climates of the Past 13,000 Years
by Donald K GraysonOriginally published in 1975, this extensive bibliography has been drawn from archaeological, botanical, geological, meteorological and zoological sources. It covers those studies which deal with periods of time for which modern observational data are not available. Included sources range from those which make minor contributions to our understanding of North American paleoclimates to those whose impacts upon this understanding have been considerable.
Bicycle Justice and Urban Transformation: Biking for all? (Routledge Equity, Justice and the Sustainable City series)
by Aaron Golub Melody L. Hoffmann Adonia E. Lugo Gerardo F. SandovalAs bicycle commuting grows in the United States, the profile of the white, middle-class cyclist has emerged. This stereotype evolves just as investments in cycling play an increasingly important role in neighborhood transformations. However, despite stereotypes, the cycling public is actually quite diverse, with the greatest share falling into the lowest income categories. Bicycle Justice and Urban Transformation demonstrates that for those with privilege, bicycling can be liberatory, a lifestyle choice, whereas for those surviving at the margins, cycling is not a choice, but an often oppressive necessity. Ignoring these "invisible" cyclists skews bicycle improvements towards those with choices. This book argues that it is vital to contextualize bicycling within a broader social justice framework if investments are to serve all street users equitably. "Bicycle justice" is an inclusionary social movement based on furthering material equity and the recognition that qualitative differences matter. This book illustrates equitable bicycle advocacy, policy and planning. In synthesizing the projects of critical cultural studies, transportation justice and planning, the book reveals the relevance of social justice to public and community-driven investments in cycling. This book will interest professionals, advocates, academics and students in the fields of transportation planning, urban planning, community development, urban geography, sociology and policy.
Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration
by Sara Dykman&“What a wonderful idea for an adventure! Absolutely inspired, timely, and important.&” —Alistair Humphreys, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and author of The Doorstep Mile and Around the World by Bike Outdoor educator and field researcher Sara Dykman made history when she became the first person to bicycle alongside monarch butterflies on their storied annual migration—a round-trip adventure that included three countries and more than 10,000 miles. Equally remarkable, she did it solo, on a bike cobbled together from used parts. Her panniers were recycled buckets. In Bicycling with Butterflies, Dykman recounts her incredible journey and the dramatic ups and downs of the nearly nine-month odyssey. We&’re beside her as she navigates unmapped roads in foreign countries, checks roadside milkweed for monarch eggs, and shares her passion with eager schoolchildren, skeptical bar patrons, and unimpressed border officials. We also meet some of the ardent monarch stewards who supported her efforts, from citizen scientists and researchers to farmers and high-rise city dwellers. With both humor and humility, Dykman offers a compelling story, confirming the urgency of saving the threatened monarch migration—and the other threatened systems of nature that affect the survival of us all.
Bifurcation Analysis of Fluid Flows
by Henk A. Dijkstra Fred W. WubsA better understanding of the mechanisms leading a fluid system to exhibit turbulent behavior is one of the grand challenges of the physical and mathematical sciences. Over the last few decades, numerical bifurcation methods have been extended and applied to a number of flow problems to identify critical conditions for fluid instabilities to occur. This book provides a state-of-the-art account of these numerical methods, with much attention to modern linear systems solvers and generalized eigenvalue solvers. These methods also have a broad applicability in industrial, environmental and astrophysical flows. The book is a must-have reference for anyone working in scientific fields where fluid flow instabilities play a role. Exercises at the end of each chapter and Python code for the bifurcation analysis of canonical fluid flow problems provide practice material to get to grips with the methods and concepts presented in the book.
Bifurcation and Degradation of Geomaterials in the New Millennium: Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials (Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering)
by Kam-Tim Chau Jidong ZhaoThis book contains contributions to the 10th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials held in Hong Kong, May 28-30, 2014. This event marks the silver Jubilee anniversary of an international conference series dedicated to the research on localization, instability, degradation and failure of geomaterials since 1988 when its first workshop was organized in Germany. This volume of book collects the latest progresses and state-of-the-art research from top researchers around the world, and covers topics including multiscale modeling, experimental characterization and theoretical analysis of various instability and degradation phenomena in geomaterials as well as their relevance to contemporary issues in engineering practice. This book can be used as a useful reference for research students, academics and practicing engineers who are interested in the instability and degradation problems in geomechanics and geotechnical engineering.
Bifurcation and Degradation of Geomaterials with Engineering Applications: Proceedings of the 11th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials dedicated to Hans Muhlhaus, Limassol, Cyprus, 21-25 May 2017 (Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering)
by Euripides Papamichos Panos Papanastasiou Elena Pasternak Arcady DyskinThis book contains the scientific contributions to the 11th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials (IWBDG) held in Limassol-Cyprus, May 21-25, 2017. The IWBDG series have grown in size and scope, since their inception 30 years ago in Germany, covering more and wider areas of geomaterials and geomechanics research including modern trends. The papers cover a wide range of topics including advances in instabilities, localized and diffuse failure, micromechanical, multiscale phenomena, multiphysics modeling and other related topics. This volume gathers a series of manuscript by brilliant international scholars who work on modern recent advances in experimental, theoretical and numerical methods. The theoretical and applied mechanics are linked successfully with engineering applications in traditional and in emerging fields, such as geomechanics for the energy and the environment. The quality of the contributed papers has benefited from the peer review process by expert referees. This book can be used as a useful reference for research students, academics and practicing engineers who are interested in the instability and degradation problems in geomaterials, geomechanics, geotechnical engineering and other related applications.
Big and Small, Room for All
by Jo Ellen BogartA captivating look at how a child, fits into the great, big universe around us.“Big sky, big sky, what is bigger than the sky?”In this clever concept book for young readers, award-winning author Jo Ellen Bogart explores the size of animate and inanimate objects and their place in the universe. She introduces children to the concept of “we” — that humans are a big part of the world, but a small part of existence.In the vastness of the universe, with galaxies swirling through space, the book begins with simple words printed on the darkness. Moving closer to our world, we see the solar system, our sun at the center. Closer still, we see the huge ball of fire, which is the sun, and the third planet out from it — our blue Earth. From Earth looming huge on the page, young readers view smaller and smaller objects, from mountain to tree to man to child to kitten to mouse to flea to microscopic beings, amazing in their complexity.Accompanied by artist Gillian Newland’s lavish watercolor paintings, Big and Small, Room for All places the immensity and wonder of space in perspective so young readers comprehend they are part of creation, but a small part of all that exists.
Big as a Giant Snail (The World of Weird Animals)
by Jess KeatingGo big or go home! Meet the biggest weirdos on Earth in this colosally cool collection from the team that brought you Pink Is For Blobfish.It's a big wide world, full of critters that are larger than life! Sure, there are the usual suspects: blue whales, polar bears, elephant seals . . . but others will take you by surprise. The giant snail, for instance, or the ginormous Atlas moth. Like Pink Is for Blobfish and Cute as an Axolotl, Big as a Giant Snail will cover a wide variety of species, while subtly delving into misconceptions and stereotypes associated with size. Best of all? These tall tales are totally true! "Awe-inspiring... This work fits into so many lessons, from endangered species to climate change and habitat preservation, that it&’s hard to imagine a collection that would not benefit from having it on its shelves." —School Library Journal
Big Basin Redwood Forest: California's Oldest State Park (Landmarks)
by Traci BlissThe epic saga of Big Basin began in the late 1800s, when the surrounding communities saw their once "inexhaustible" redwood forests vanishing. Expanding railways demanded timber as they crisscrossed the nation, but the more redwoods that fell to the woodman's axe, the greater the effects on the local climate. California's groundbreaking environmental movement attracted individuals from every walk of life. From the adopted son of a robber baron to a bohemian woman winemaker to a Jesuit priest, resilient campaigners produced an unparalleled model of citizen action. Join author Traci Bliss as she reveals the untold story of a herculean effort to preserve the ancient redwoods for future generations.
The Big Book of Nature Activities: A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Learning
by Jacob Rodenburg Drew MonkmanThe average child can identify over one thousand corporate logos, but only ten native plants or animals--a telling indictment of our modern disconnection from nature. Soaring levels of obesity, high rates of ADHD, feelings of stress and social awkwardness, and "Nature Deficit Disorder" are further unintended consequences of a childhood spent primarily indoors.The Big Book of Nature Activities is a comprehensive guide for parents and educators to help youth of all ages explore, appreciate and connect with the natural world. This rich, fully illustrated compendium features: Nature-based skills and activities such as species identification, photography, journaling, and the judicious use of digital technology Ideas, games, and activities grounded in what's happening in nature each season Core concepts that promote environmental literacy, such as climate change and the mechanisms and wonder of evolution, explained using a child-friendly, engaging approach Lists of key species and happenings to observe throughout the year across most of North AmericaPerfect for families, educators, and youth leaders , The Big Book of Nature Activities is packed with crafts, stories, information and inspiration to make outdoor learning fun.Jacob Rodenburg is the Executive Director of the Camp Kawartha summer camp and outdoor education centre. As well as publishing numerous articles on children, nature and the environment, he has worked in the field of outdoor education for twenty-five years.Drew Monkman is an award-winning environmental advocate, naturalist, and retired teacher. In addition to his weekly nature column, Drew is the author of two season-based nature guides, including Nature's Year.
The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America (Playaway Adult Nonfiction Ser.)
by Timothy EganNational Book Award-winner Timothy Egan turns his historian's eye to the largest-ever forest fire in America and offers an epic, cautionary tale for our time. On the afternoon of August 20, 1910, a battering ram of wind moved through the drought-stricken national forests of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, whipping the hundreds of small blazes burning across the forest floor into a roaring inferno that jumped from treetop to ridge as it raged, destroying towns and timber in the blink of an eye. Forest rangers had assembled nearly ten thousand men to fight the fires, but no living person had seen anything like those flames, and neither the rangers nor anyone else knew how to subdue them. Egan recreates the struggles of the overmatched rangers against the implacable fire with unstoppable dramatic force, and the larger story of outsized president Teddy Roosevelt and his chief forester, Gifford Pinchot, that follows is equally resonant. Pioneering the notion of conservation, Roosevelt and Pinchot did nothing less than create the idea of public land as our national treasure, owned by every citizen. Even as TR's national forests were smoldering they were saved: The heroism shown by his rangers turned public opinion permanently in favor of the forests, though it changed the mission of the forest service in ways we can still witness today.
Big Cats: Revised Edition
by Seymour SimonIn this completely updated edition of Big Cats, award-winning writer Seymour Simon celebrates the grace and power of lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, pumas, and snow leopards. Readers will learn all about how they hunt, care for their young, and rest in their varied natural habitats. This nonfiction picture book is packed with information and beautiful color photographs. Cat fans and kids ages 6 to 10 looking for facts, whether for a report or just for fun, will find much to like in Big Cats.This updated edition includes:Author’s noteStunning full-color photographsGlossaryIndexAdditional reading sourcesSupports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards.
The Big Cloud
by Camille Seaman Alan BurdickOur culture is addicted to weather: hourly forecasts, apps, radio, TV channels, alerts, warnings, and watches. And understandably—our food, clothing, livelihoods, and, increasingly, safety are tied directly to the weather and climate change. In The Big Cloud, photographer Camille Seaman stands in front of tornados, at the edges of lightning storms, and in pelting hail under pitch-black skies to capture supercells and mammatus clouds in their often sublime and terrifying splendor. In these awe-inspiring photographs, Seaman's work is a potent reminder that there is no art more dramatic, in scale or emotion, than that created by nature. Big Cloud includes an introduction by award-winning New Yorker science writer and author Alan Burdick (Out of Eden, Why Time Flies).
Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future
by Jeff GoodellPresident Bush has said coal is America's "economic destiny." Despite a century-long legacy that has claimed millions of lives and ravaged the environment, why has coal become hot again? Few of us realize that coal already supplies more than half the energy needed to power our iPods, laptops, lightsanything we use that consumes electricity. Every time we flip on a switch, we burn a lump of coal. Our desire to find a homegrown alternative to Mideast oil, the rising cost of oil and natural gas, and the fossil fuelfriendly mood in Washington will soon push our coal consumption through the roof. Because we have failed to develop alternative energy sources, coal has become the default fuel for the twenty-first century. In the tradition of Rachel Carson and Eric Schlosser, the veteran journalist Jeff Goodell examines the faulty assumptions underlying coal's revival and shatters the myth of cheap coal energy. In a compelling blend of hard-hitting investigative reporting, history, and business analysis, Big Coal illuminates the stark economic imperatives America faces and the collusion of business and politics that has already set us on the dangerous course. Filled with troubling environmental and health revelations, Big Coal shows us that our shiny white iPod economy is propped up by dirty black rocks.