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Center Books
Earth Repair: A Transatlantic History of Environmental Restoration
Just as the restoration of Michelangelo's Last Judgment sparked enormous controversy in the art world, so are environmental restorationists intensely divided when it comes to finding ways to rehabilitate damaged ecosystems. Although environmental restoration is quickly becoming a widespread pursuit, debate over the methods and goals of this endeavor often halts progress. The same question confronts artistic and environmental restorationists: Which systems need restoring, and to what states should they be restored?
In Earth Repair: A Transatlantic History of Environmental Restoration, Marcus Hall explores the answer to this question while offering an alternative to the usual narrative of humans disrupting and spoiling the earth. Hall's purpose is not to deny that humans have done lasting damage but to show that those who believed in restoration did not always agree on what they wanted to restore, or how, or to what form. With guidance from the pioneer conservationist George Perkins Marsh, the reader travels between the United States and Italy to see that restoration has taken many forms over the past two hundred years, from maintaining and repairing, to gardening and naturalizing. By contrasting land management in these two countries and elsewhere, Earth Repair clarifies different meanings of restoration, shows how such meanings have changed through time and place, and suggests how restorationists can apply these insights to their own practices.
In Earth Repair: A Transatlantic History of Environmental Restoration, Marcus Hall explores the answer to this question while offering an alternative to the usual narrative of humans disrupting and spoiling the earth. Hall's purpose is not to deny that humans have done lasting damage but to show that those who believed in restoration did not always agree on what they wanted to restore, or how, or to what form. With guidance from the pioneer conservationist George Perkins Marsh, the reader travels between the United States and Italy to see that restoration has taken many forms over the past two hundred years, from maintaining and repairing, to gardening and naturalizing. By contrasting land management in these two countries and elsewhere, Earth Repair clarifies different meanings of restoration, shows how such meanings have changed through time and place, and suggests how restorationists can apply these insights to their own practices.
- GenresEnvironment
310 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
18 people want to read
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November 29, 2017
Another environmental book review, this one is long overdue.
This was another book that greatly peaked my interest when I was looking for books to read in my field of study. It attempts to provide a revisionist history on environmental protection, particularly restoration. The traditional view of environmental history has been a very negative doomsday scenario- wherever humans were in the picture, the environment would suffer and ecosystems would be destroyed, until humans found another area to spoil and the process would repeat; it wouldn't be until modern times that humans finally learn the error of their ways and begin taking responsibility for environmental stewardship.
However, this book tries to dispel that myth to try and provide a more positive relationship between people and the environment. And for the most part, it worked.
It opens by talking about George Perkins Marsh, widely considered to be the first champion of environmental restoration. He raised awareness of the destructive tendency of the human race and advocated for the restoration of landscapes by replanting native species. It wasn't just for aesthetic beauty- Marsh recognized that healthy ecosystems have practical uses both economically and for reducing damage caused by natural disasters.
The book then goes into the history of restoration by showcasing the efforts of Americans in Utah's Rockies and Italy's Cuneo Alps, to show that people not only practiced restoration as early as the 1870s, but also went through many of the same difficulties that restoration projects suffer from today. It also contrasts the points of view of the Americans and Italians in terms of why they were doing what they were doing.
While I think it dragged on occasion, but overall it was an interesting book. I liked the contrasting points of view and the gradual evolution of those points of view. I also found it relateable because early restorations faced many of the same challenges and problems that we do today with our restoration projects.
While I don't think I would recommend this book to everybody, those who are interested in the field of environmental science should check this one out.
This was another book that greatly peaked my interest when I was looking for books to read in my field of study. It attempts to provide a revisionist history on environmental protection, particularly restoration. The traditional view of environmental history has been a very negative doomsday scenario- wherever humans were in the picture, the environment would suffer and ecosystems would be destroyed, until humans found another area to spoil and the process would repeat; it wouldn't be until modern times that humans finally learn the error of their ways and begin taking responsibility for environmental stewardship.
However, this book tries to dispel that myth to try and provide a more positive relationship between people and the environment. And for the most part, it worked.
It opens by talking about George Perkins Marsh, widely considered to be the first champion of environmental restoration. He raised awareness of the destructive tendency of the human race and advocated for the restoration of landscapes by replanting native species. It wasn't just for aesthetic beauty- Marsh recognized that healthy ecosystems have practical uses both economically and for reducing damage caused by natural disasters.
The book then goes into the history of restoration by showcasing the efforts of Americans in Utah's Rockies and Italy's Cuneo Alps, to show that people not only practiced restoration as early as the 1870s, but also went through many of the same difficulties that restoration projects suffer from today. It also contrasts the points of view of the Americans and Italians in terms of why they were doing what they were doing.
While I think it dragged on occasion, but overall it was an interesting book. I liked the contrasting points of view and the gradual evolution of those points of view. I also found it relateable because early restorations faced many of the same challenges and problems that we do today with our restoration projects.
While I don't think I would recommend this book to everybody, those who are interested in the field of environmental science should check this one out.
Displaying 1 of 1 review