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Rainforest: Dispatches from Earth's Most Vital Frontlines
Rainforests are the lungs of our planet - regulators of the earth's temperature and weather. They are also home to 50 per cent of the world's animals and plants - which for centuries have been the source of many of our key medicines. And yet we've all heard of their systematic destruction; the raising of trees to make way for plantations of oil palms or cattle, the disenfranchisement of indigenous peoples, and the corruption that leads to illegal logging and pollution. But this is the full story you've never an in depth, wide-ranging, first-hand narrative that not only looks at the state of the world's tropical rainforests today and the implications arising from their continuing decline, but also at what is being done, and can be done in future, to protect the forests and the 1.6 billion people that depend upon them. It is inspirational, too, in its descriptions of the rainforest's remarkable birds and plants ... and its indigenous people.Rainforest is a personal story, drawing on the author's many years' experience at the frontline of the fight to save the rainforests, explaining the science and history of the campaigns, and what it has felt like to be there, amid the conflicts and dilemmas.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 10, 2022
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Rainforests: Planet Earth’s most diverse terrestrial ecosystems
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“In the pages that follow I tell the story of the battle for the rainforests, what I have seen at the frontlines, what has worked, and how progress has sometimes been made.
We start, though, with more on why these rainforest ecosystems are so important and extraordinary, and the crucial roles they play in the rise of truly twenty-first–century challenges—water security, climate change, and conserving the Earth’s staggering natural diversity.”
The above quote (in italics) comes from this fascinating, detailed, and well-written book by Tony Juniper (with color images by Tom Marent who has been photographing the rainforest for the past 25 years). Juniper is a writer, sustainability advisor, and long-time environmentalist. He has worked on efforts to conserve tropical rainforests for more than thirty years. Juniper is currently Chair of Natural England (the official government conservation agency).
What exactly is a rainforest? Rainforests are forests characterized by high and continuous rainfall. They are divided into tropical (of which this book is concerned) and temperate rainforests (refers to rainforests that exist at cooler northern and southern latitudes). For tropical rainforests, annual rainfall is between 2.5 and 4.5 metres (98 and 177 inches).
First and foremost, this book makes it crystal clear that rainforests are connected to the health of our entire planet.
It appears to me that the author has taken complex subject matter and distilled it down into this amazingly accessible book. We get a picture through the passionate and informative narrative of the varied roles rainforests serve, their present state, and the efforts underway to save them.
I especially liked that each chapter starts with a very brief summary of that chapter. For example, here is the summary of the fourth chapter:
"The most diverse ecosystems on Earth, rainforests comprise living assets of incalculable value."
The regions covered in this book that have tropical rainforests are the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Finally, I counted exactly 130 photos in this book with almost 40 of them being in color. There are also 3 maps. The photos and maps add another dimension to this book.
In conclusion, this is truly a vital work for all those interested in the world’s rainforests!!
(2018, 2019; introduction; 5 parts or 22 chapters; main narrative 400 pages; endnotes; note on the maps; photo credits, acknowledgements; index)
XXXXX
Rainforests: Planet Earth’s most diverse terrestrial ecosystems
XXXXX
“In the pages that follow I tell the story of the battle for the rainforests, what I have seen at the frontlines, what has worked, and how progress has sometimes been made.
We start, though, with more on why these rainforest ecosystems are so important and extraordinary, and the crucial roles they play in the rise of truly twenty-first–century challenges—water security, climate change, and conserving the Earth’s staggering natural diversity.”
The above quote (in italics) comes from this fascinating, detailed, and well-written book by Tony Juniper (with color images by Tom Marent who has been photographing the rainforest for the past 25 years). Juniper is a writer, sustainability advisor, and long-time environmentalist. He has worked on efforts to conserve tropical rainforests for more than thirty years. Juniper is currently Chair of Natural England (the official government conservation agency).
What exactly is a rainforest? Rainforests are forests characterized by high and continuous rainfall. They are divided into tropical (of which this book is concerned) and temperate rainforests (refers to rainforests that exist at cooler northern and southern latitudes). For tropical rainforests, annual rainfall is between 2.5 and 4.5 metres (98 and 177 inches).
First and foremost, this book makes it crystal clear that rainforests are connected to the health of our entire planet.
It appears to me that the author has taken complex subject matter and distilled it down into this amazingly accessible book. We get a picture through the passionate and informative narrative of the varied roles rainforests serve, their present state, and the efforts underway to save them.
I especially liked that each chapter starts with a very brief summary of that chapter. For example, here is the summary of the fourth chapter:
"The most diverse ecosystems on Earth, rainforests comprise living assets of incalculable value."
The regions covered in this book that have tropical rainforests are the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Finally, I counted exactly 130 photos in this book with almost 40 of them being in color. There are also 3 maps. The photos and maps add another dimension to this book.
In conclusion, this is truly a vital work for all those interested in the world’s rainforests!!
(2018, 2019; introduction; 5 parts or 22 chapters; main narrative 400 pages; endnotes; note on the maps; photo credits, acknowledgements; index)
XXXXX
January 13, 2020
Such a huge undertaking needs but a lifetime spent in the frontlines of conservation, trying to get govs ad people to care, to listen, to fear... and by all means, that is a life worth living! Tony Juniper's creation is a page-turner, one that transports you to the far and most biodiverse corners of the world.
Drawing from the author's experience and vast knowledge, the book is a must-read for everyone. I believe this book should be handed out to children since primary schools as it graciously and effortlessly teaches readers the principles of ecology while at the same time filling you in on all that we need to know about the modern climate crisis through the roles played by rainforests and the all-out assault we have been wreaking on them over the last decades and whose consequences are now playing all around us.
However, Juniper's masterpiece doesn't stop at academics, it goes much further taking you with him as he witnesses the world's forests shrinking ever further, the clever battles fought to change the foul practices of myopic companies, and the determination to get governments to get their heads out of the sand.
Above all, it takes you into the most magical and wild biome on our planet and reminds you that the battle to save it is the biggest battle of this century - one that will determine our future - one that compels us all to do our part.
Drawing from the author's experience and vast knowledge, the book is a must-read for everyone. I believe this book should be handed out to children since primary schools as it graciously and effortlessly teaches readers the principles of ecology while at the same time filling you in on all that we need to know about the modern climate crisis through the roles played by rainforests and the all-out assault we have been wreaking on them over the last decades and whose consequences are now playing all around us.
However, Juniper's masterpiece doesn't stop at academics, it goes much further taking you with him as he witnesses the world's forests shrinking ever further, the clever battles fought to change the foul practices of myopic companies, and the determination to get governments to get their heads out of the sand.
Above all, it takes you into the most magical and wild biome on our planet and reminds you that the battle to save it is the biggest battle of this century - one that will determine our future - one that compels us all to do our part.
April 17, 2020
The author has spent his entire career on the front lines of rainforest protection, and his depth of knowledge of the subject is readily apparent. I particularly enjoyed the overview of the ecology and evolutionary background of this highly biodiverse biome, complete with a walking tour of the changing environment as one walks from the foothills to the top of a tropical mountain in the Americas. After this introductory section, the book is divided into the three rainforest regions. Here the author's familiarity with the New World is reflected in the greater number of pages devoted to the Americas, compared with Africa and Asia, where his experiences were more limited to a few places.
The last section sums up the previous thirty odd years since the 1990s to present day with a global overview of trends. Here I must admit he tried too hard to sound optimistic about developments and future prospects, alluding to the change in attitudes he sensed over the years, from one of resource exploitation to resource conservation. The sad reality is reflected in the continuation of massive environmental destruction in the decades that marked the rise of China as a superpower. If they are now beginning to start 'atoning' for their sins in the efforts at restoration, it is hardly any consolation for the irrecoverable loss that has already occurred. Just a year after this book was published saw the no holds barred assault on the Amazon under Bolsonaro, which goes to show how fragile and reversible the commitments made by nations can be.
The color plates are pretty spectacular and quite representative of the wealth of lifeforms found, adding greatly to my enjoyment of the book.
The last section sums up the previous thirty odd years since the 1990s to present day with a global overview of trends. Here I must admit he tried too hard to sound optimistic about developments and future prospects, alluding to the change in attitudes he sensed over the years, from one of resource exploitation to resource conservation. The sad reality is reflected in the continuation of massive environmental destruction in the decades that marked the rise of China as a superpower. If they are now beginning to start 'atoning' for their sins in the efforts at restoration, it is hardly any consolation for the irrecoverable loss that has already occurred. Just a year after this book was published saw the no holds barred assault on the Amazon under Bolsonaro, which goes to show how fragile and reversible the commitments made by nations can be.
The color plates are pretty spectacular and quite representative of the wealth of lifeforms found, adding greatly to my enjoyment of the book.
January 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Especially the first half which really enlightens you on the diversity of Rainforests, their importance and their plight. This is an urgent warning that we all have to change. We have to change what we eat, where we get it from and how we earn a living. We need to change our economic systems and our political leanings because so far we have gone very wrong. The solutions are there, if only we open our eyes. Great book
July 20, 2023
I learned a lot, such as how global governments' attitudes have shifted over the last two decades, from a 'right to economic development' over saving rainforests view, to a 'oh, actually economies will collapse without rainforests and, in fact, we can make money off them' outlook.
Pictures are well-utilised and the chapters aren't too long, but I found it laboriously descriptive at times.
Pictures are well-utilised and the chapters aren't too long, but I found it laboriously descriptive at times.
November 17, 2019
In this book, Tony Juniper discusses the surprising ways that the rainforests of our world impact climate change. With exciting visuals,this novel shows us what is happening in our rain forests right now.
May 30, 2019
Not only vital, but THE MOST vital, from any point of view, of course.
May 12, 2022
Good information but man is this guy all about himself. Wasn’t a fan of his writing.
June 27, 2023
It is a great book on the history of rainforests and the impacts deforestation has on our society and economy.
April 30, 2025
Such a great book - should be mandatory reading.
August 3, 2020
Wonderful book! I was hooked with the first chapters about how the rainforests sustain themselves and affect life and weather around the world.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews