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Forests
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Comments/Reviews
Description: Forests are considered the lungs of the planet, as they consume and store carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. They have provided an economic foundation for growing nations, supplying wood for buildings, firewood and fuel, and land for expanding cities and farms. But population pressures are causing considerable environmental distress in even the most remote forest areas. Case studies in Forests explore illegal logging in the Amazon rain forest, examine the effect of increased hunting in the Congo forest, and discuss encroachment on old-growth tropical forests on the Southern Pacific island of Borneo, among other issues relevant to the world's forests.
Selected Contents:
Preface
Part I. Introduction
1. The Forests Around Us
2. Humans and Forests
Part II. Forests of the World: Case Studies
3. Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil
4. Sequoia National Park and National Forest, California
5. Taiga Forest, Russia
6. Rain Forests of Costa Rica
7. Congo Forest, Central Africa
8. Black Forest, Germany
9. Borneo Rain Forest, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia
Part III. Forest Conservation
10. Forest Challenges
11. Forest Stability
Glossary
Web Sites
Further Reading
Index
Comment(s): "The natural world and its uses to support the explosion of human life in the last century have made understanding the environment in all its forms essential. We live in a period where species are displaced--think of coyotes in our yards--and sometimes are eclipsed even before they are discovered. An awareness of the fragility of the fish stocks and the forests we depend on, or the quality of our water and our air, and the disaster that it would mean to despoil them, makes a series such as James Balliett's Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives a vital reference and source. With evenhandedness and intelligence, Balliett has compressed enormous amounts of complicated information and science into distinct and very readable narratives. His collection is as good a survey as I am aware of. Any library, school room, or individual would be broadened by having these necessary books." -- Alec Wilkinson, staff writer for New Yorker Magazine
"James Balliett's Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives is a comprehensive scientific investigation of the problems facing the quality of life on Earth, and an examination of some of the solutions to these problems. The five volumes that make up this work-- Oceans, Freshwater, Wetlands, Forests, and Mountains--are a well researched and written primer on today's complex global environmental challenges and should find their way to the bookshelves of readers everywhere, and into classrooms across the nation." -- Paul Brodeur, award-winning journalist and author of Downstream, The Asbestos Hazard , Secrets, and Currents of Death.
Review(s): "The illustrated encyclopedia on each topic includes photos, charts, maps, and text tied to student curricula in science, environmental science, and contemporary issues. Students will find the information they need to absorb the complicated scientific and social topics along with a global perspective on even lesser known environmental concerns. With library budgets and interest in mind, this series can be purchased as a set or as individual volumes. With a glossary, index, and sources for further study including relevant websites and readings, this set is a great resource for public and high school libraries." -- Library Journal
"This series' strength is its visual presentation of information about current environmental issues. Each title contains a variety of maps, charts, and graphs to help the reader visualize the information. This series could be used for research in science or social studies classes. Researchers will appreciate the specificity of the information given mostly through illustrations. Recommended." -- Library Media Connection
    
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