Not so anymore. All but exterminated, these predators of the not-too-distant past have been reduced to minor players of the modern era. And what of it? Wildlife journalist William Stolzenburg follows in the wake of nature's topmost carnivores, and finds chaos in their absence.From the brazen mobs of deer and marauding raccoons of backyard America to streamsides of Yellowstone National Park crushed by massive herds of elk; from urchin-scoured reefs in the North Pacific to ant-devoured islands in Venezuela, Stolzenburg leads a startling tour through bizarre, impoverished landscapes of pest and plague. For anyone who has seldom given thought to the meat-eating beasts so recently missing from the web of life, here is a world of reason to think again.

    Classics of the environmental imagination—the essays of Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and John Burroughs; Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac; Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring—are set against the inspiring story of an emerging activist movement, as revealed by newly uncovered reports of pioneering campaigns for conservation, passages from landmark legal opinions and legislation, and searing protest speeches. Here are some of America’s greatest and most impassioned writers, taking a turn toward nature and recognizing the fragility of our situation on earth and the urgency of the search for a sustainable way of life. Thought-provoking essays on overpopulation, consumerism, energy policy, and the nature of “nature” join ecologists’ memoirs and intimate sketches of the habitats of endangered species. The anthology includes a detailed chronology of the environmental movement and American environmental history, as well as an 80-page color portfolio of illustrations.

    Even young children are eager to help the environment — and here is a bright, inviting novelty book that offers simple ways to make a difference.Do you remember to turn off the tap while you brush your teeth? How about using both sides of the paper when writing and drawing? Or planting seeds and nurturing the new plants as they grow? Bold, child-friendly illustrations and die-cut pages will draw even the youngest listeners to this gentle reminder of the easy, everyday ways we can be kinder to the earth.

    Tropical seas lap on the shores of an Arizona beach. Immense sand dunes shift and swirl in Sahara-like deserts in Utah and New Mexico. Ancient rivers spill from a mountain range in Colorado that was a precursor to the modern Rockies. Such flights of geologic fancy are now tangible through the thought-provoking and beautiful paleogeographic maps, reminiscent of the maps in world atlases we all paged through as children, of Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.Ron Blakey of Northern Arizona University is one of the world’s foremost authorities on the geologic history of the Colorado Plateau. For more than fifteen years, he has meticulously created maps that show how numerous past landscapes gave rise to the region’s stunning geologic formations. Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau is the first book to showcase Blakey’s remarkable work. His maps are accompanied by text by Wayne Ranney, geologist and award-winning author of Carving Grand Canyon. Ranney takes readers on a fascinating tour of the many landscapes depicted in the maps, and Blakey and Ranney’s fruitful collaboration brings the past alive like never before.Features: More than 70 state-of-the-art paleogeographic maps of the region and of the world, developed over many years of geologic research Detailed yet accessible text that covers the geology of the plateau in a way nongeologists can appreciate More than 100 full-color photographs, diagrams, and illustrations A detailed guide of where to go to see the spectacular rocks of the region

    GREEN PORNO‚ the colorful‚ indescribable‚ wonderfully odd shorts became a sensation on the internet‚ receiving over 1.3 million views and major national publicity including CNN‚ David Letterman‚ The New York Times Magazine‚ Wired and the Wall Street Journal. The overwhelming success of the shorts led Sundance to commission a second GREEN PORNO series which is to focus on marine animals: shrimp‚ squid seals etc. (The first series focused primarily on insects) Co−director Jody Shapiro has taken 125 arresting film stills of Isabella dressed in animal costumes which are the centerpiece of the book‚ along with narrative text describing the "love making" process of each animal. Each chapter will also include a quirky‚ freakonomics style one−sheet that includes surprising facts about each species. GREEN PORNO also includes a DVD of both GREEN PORNO series which are not available for sale elsewhere. Provocative‚ hilarious‚ and truly one of a kind‚ GREEN PORNO is a great gift−−for readers of Michael Pollan and fans of independent film alike. Isabella has committed to promoting the book at the time of publication. Praise for GREEN PORNO FILMS "Shocking‚ whimsical‚ entertaining"−Shine "[Rossellini] plays the male of each species in splendidly kitschy home−made costumes‚ while explaining the procedures in a humorous running commentary"− Telegraph "Bright colors‚ goofy leotard−based costumes‚ undulating foam rubber−it′s hot stuff."−Playboy "Magical" − The Flog "Rossellini′s subjects carry the weight of a fierce‚ natural morality."− Border Crossings"A funny and insightful study of the curious ways various bugs "make love." − Hot Docs 2008"Rossellini has really done the unexpected"− The Auteurs

    Join the adventure to learn more about volcanoes, one of nature's most spectacular events.

    Twenty-five years later, she and a small group of teachers and volunteers turned over long-abandoned soil at an urban middle school in Berkeley and planted the Edible Schoolyard. The schoolyard has since grown into a universal idea of Edible Education that integrates academics with growing, cooking, and sharing wholesome, delicious food. With inspiring images of the garden and kitchenand their young caretakersEdible Schoolyard is at once a visionary model for sustainable farming and childhood nutrition, and a call to action for schools across the country.

    With thousands of photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and maps and a text written by a team of international experts, it presents an impressive overview of our globe—beginning with the history of the universe and ending with today's conservation issues. A truly spectacular reference, The Encyclopedia of Earth offers new visual interpretations of many ideas, concepts, and facts, painting a fascinating picture of Earth today and across the ages. The encyclopedia is divided into six sections that are designed for either browsing or in-depth study. Birth gives an overview of Earth's 4.6-billion-year history, including the evolution of life. Fire explains the inner workings of our dynamic planet, its structure, and the tectonic forces that have molded its landscape. Land surveys rocks, minerals, and habitats. Air covers weather, including extreme weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Water tours the oceans, rivers, and lakes of the world. The final section, Humans, provides a compelling portrait of our relationship with Earth, and of how the natural world has shaped social and political developments. Copub: Weldon Owen Publishing The Encyclopedia of Earth features: * Some of the world's finest landscape photography and hundreds of detailed illustrations and diagrams, cross sections, cutaways, maps, and charts * Coverage of topics including volcanology, paleontology, geology, natural history, cosmology, and more * Simple, easy-to-understand explanations of complex phenomena * The most recent scientific information and conservation data * "Fact files" providing information at readers' fingertips * "Heritage Watch" boxes focusing on key conservation issues and World Heritage sites

    They mingle a generosity of spirit and the childlike pleasure of discovery with a grown-up sense of a time and a place, if not lost, then in danger of disappearing altogether---things to treasure and preserve for today and tomorrow.

    But it is also under threat. Take a closer look at the challenges facing planet Earth today and discover what we can all do to make a difference.

    Each section of the book starts with an informative introduction explaining how the phenomena formed and their major defining characteristics, the formations in which they are typically found, and where the best examples are to be found around the world. How-to techniques for the amateur geologist and palaeontologist show how to extract samples safely, and how to identify, date and classify them. The book's major feature is its two extensive visual directories -one on rocks and minerals and one on fossils - containing over 800 in-depth specimen profiles. Each profile features a superb color photograph for easy identification. Handy information boxes give facts and figures such as type and location, and detailed artworks and reconstructions show the form and structure of rocks, and how each fossil originally looked.

    In this stunning and inspiring guide, Kate Rew, founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society, takes you on a wild journey across Britain, braving the elements to experience first-hand some of the country's most awe-inspiring swim spots, from tidal pools in the Outer Hebrides to the white-sand beaches of the Isles of Scilly.Waterfalls, natural jacuzzis, sea caves, meandering rivers - every swim is described in loving detail, taking in not only the gleeful humour of each mini-adventure and the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings, but also practical information about how to find these remote spots.Featuring evocative photography from Dominick Tyler, this is a must-have book for serious swimmers and seaside paddlers alike, and is perfect for the outdoors enthusiast in your life.

    After tireless hours of research to bring the most accurate and up-to-date information, as well as the most intriguing facts and historical illuminations 75 Remarkable Fruits for Your Garden provides a history of each plant, thoughts and tips on growing it, and ends with a simple recipe for serving up these mouth-watering fruits in salads, side dishes, breads, and desserts.Fruits Include:Apple 'Ashmead's Kernel', Blood Banana, Currant 'Pink Champagne', Boysenberry, Autumn Olive, Fig 'Petite Negra', Grapefruit 'Red Rio', Honeyberry 'Blue Sky', Lime 'Key Lime', Mulberry 'Dwarf Weeping Black', Persimmon 'Jiro', Prickly Pear 'Burbank', Rhubarb 'MacDonald',Author Bio: Jack Staub is one of the country's leading experts on fruit and vegetable gardening. He frequently lectures on the subject, and his articles have appeared in numerous magazines and print publications, including Country Living, Fine Gardening, and The New York Times. He is also a featured guest on NPR. You can learn more about Jack and Hortulus Farms at http: //hortulusfarmdiary.blogspot.com.

    Full color.

    Shiva shows that a world beyond dependence on fossil fuels and globalization is both possible and necessary.Condemning industrial agriculture as a recipe for ecological and economic disaster, Shiva’s champion is the small, independent farm: their greater productivity, their greater potential for social justice as they put more resources into the hands of the poor, and the biodiversity that is inherent to the traditional farming practiced in small-scale agriculture. What we need most in a time of changing climates and millions hungry, she argues, is sustainable, biologically diverse farms that are more resistant to disease, drought, and flood. In her trademark style, she draws solutions to our world’s most pressing problems on the head of a pin: “The solution to climate change,” she observes, “and the solution to poverty are the same.”Using Shiva’s organization Navdanya—praised by Barbara Kingsolver as “a small, green Eden framed against the startling blue backdrop of the Himalayas”—as a model, Soil Not Oil lays out principles for feeding the planet that are socially just and environmentally sound. Shiva then expands her analysis to broader issues of globalization and climate change, arguing that a healthy environment and a just world go hand in hand. Unwavering and truly visionary, Soil Not Oil proposes a solution based on self-organization, sustainability, and community rather than corporate power and profits.A world-renowned environmental leader and thinker, Vandana Shiva is the author of many books, including Earth Democracy, Water Wars, and Staying Alive. She is the editor of Manifestos on the Future of Food and Seed.

    As as a geologist, one of America's premier aerial photographers and a gifted science writer, Michael Collier is exceptionally well qualified to present these spectacular landscapes and stunning aerial photographs that vividly demonstrate geological processes.Vivid text and clear captions guide readers through the exciting photographs, enhancing their understanding of fundamental geological processes. Collier explores, for example:How a 6,000-foot-deep canyon was carved out by the erosive power of a single river How violent tectonic forces millions of years ago vaulted a river over a mountain Why one river takes its time meandering, another suddenly drops over a cliff, and a third slowly separates into a sprawling delta. Over the Rivers inspires as it informs, and dazzles as it enlightens.

    It is full of fascinating facts and intriguing information. Discover the answers to questions such as: what is Earth made of? why does the weather change? what makes volcanoes erupt? which creatures live in hot deserts? ...and many, many more.