Nature's Last StrongholdsRobert Burton As the pace of human development accelerated and centers of civilization developed in the most fertile and cultivable areas of the world, wildernesses were regarded as unproductive and wasteful: forests had to be cleared, grasslands plowed, and wetlands drained to accommodate the world's growing populations. Even after the cataclysmic changes of the Industrial Revolution, there still appeared to be plenty of wilderness left to be plundered for its wealth of natural resources. As the scale of global environmental destruction has magnified, it has become increasing clear that the world's wildernesses must be preserved. This study reviews the distribution of the last natural refuges around the world and explains why they are vital for the health of our planet. It traces the process of global destruction from early historic times through its mass acceleration since World War II, and evaluates the steps that have been, and are being taken, to conserve and protect the world's fragile ecosystems. Lavishly illustrated with over 200 full-color illustrations, Nature's Last Strongholds is an important reminder of the ephemerality of the Earth's beauty. |
Contents
PREFACE | 7 |
REGIONS OF THE WORLD 4243 | 42 |
Central Europe Australasia Oceania and Antarctica | 248 |
Copyright | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acres Africa agriculture alpine Arctic beech biomes Biosphere Reserve birds breeding broadleaf forest central climate coast coastal coniferous forest conservation coral reefs cover deciduous delta dense desert diversity dunes east eastern ecosystem endemic species environment established Europe evergreen feed fish grass grassland grazing growing habitats Herbivores human hunting islands Lake land landscape live lowland major protected area mammals mangrove marshes meadows Mediterranean migrate million mountain National Park natural parks nature reserves northern NP WH OCEAN percent pine plains plants and animals pollution population predators pressure protected areas rainfall rainforest Ramsar Ramsar site region rich rivers savanna sclerophyll scrubland shrubs soil southern sq km survive swamps taiga temperate temperate broadleaf forest threat threatened tion tourism trees tundra unique valleys vegetation Waddenzee wetlands wild wilderness areas wildlife winter woodland World Heritage World Heritage site zone