Book Description

As logging continues to rule the rural Northwest, Wintergreen's message is more important than ever. Set in the Willapa Hills of southwest Washington, both people and forest are threatened with extinction. Timeless among the literature of the land, Wintergreen is now back in print with a new afterword by the author. This is the first book in Sasquatch's Library of the West series ... Read more

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated history of the values that govern the resources of Weyerhaeuser, an American icon.

Weyerhaeuser is both a legend in the forest products industry and the steward of the largest private softwood forests in the world. Its management tenets are rooted in corporate values established 100 years ago. This book explores the origin of Weyerhaeuser's practices, and explains how the company is guided by principle-based relationships and its century-old respect for its resources and the communities with which it works. Beautifully illustrated with historic and contemporary images from the Weyerhaeuser archives, Traditions Through the Trees captures the spirit that has guided the company's destiny since 1900. ... Read more

Book Description

This is an account of the now fast vanishing world of the South American rainforest and savannah. Marine ecologist Ro McConnell spent six years in Guyana studying the delicate ecosystems of the tropics and its flora and fauna as well as observing the tribal customs of the Amerindians. ... Read more

Book Description

The rapid progress made on somatic embryogenesis and itsprospects for potential applications in improving woody plantsprompted us to edit this book initially in three volumes, and now toadd two more volumes. The editors were all convinced that such atreatise was needed and would be extremely useful to researchers andstudents. This Volume 5 has been divided into four sections andcontains 18 chapters. Section A contains eleven chapters coveringtopics such as somatic embryogenesis in Ocotea catharinensis,Tilia spp., Swiententia macrophylla, Eucalyptusgrandii and E. dunni, Gnetum ula, Araujiasericifera, Aralia elata, Hoheria angustifolia,Robinia pseudoacacia, and Indian tree legumes. Section Bcontains three chapters dealing with somatic embryogenesis in selectedfruit trees, including kiwi fruit (Actinida sp.), avocado(Persea americana), and Prunus spp. Section C comprisestwo chapters related to somatic embryogenesis in commercial plantationcrops such as tea (Camellia sinensis) and coffee. Section D hastwo chapters on genetic transformation of conifers, and somaticembryos of fruit trees and grapevine. All the chapters have beenpeer-reviewed and revised accordingly to improve their quality. ... Read more

Book Description

This book covers forest mensuration—the process of counting, measuring, and estimating the economic value of a stand of trees. This process also involves measuring non-timber, landscape values such as soils, wildlife habitat, and hydrology. ... Read more

Book Description

The first of two volumes documenting the latest findings on forest biodiversity, this book presents original, new contributions by some three hundred scientists from over forty countries. Researchers from the massive Smithsonian/MAB Biological Diversity Program cover the feasibility of using long-term inventory plots as a framework for monitoring multi-layer vegetation, socioeconomic applications of research results, and promotion of multidisciplinary research and training. The book is in five main sections covering first the methodology for forest monitoring and modeling and then the results of research from Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia/Pacific. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide describes and illustrates the 50 different kinds of forest and related habitats found throughout the United States and Canada, from the boreal forests and tundra of the north to the mangrove swamps, desert scrub, and giant saguaro forests of the south. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume comprises eighteen papers, dealing with theapplication of economics in forest resource management, woodprocessing industry and the forest products markets. Within thesefields, many different subjects are treated, all of them relevant tocurrent discussions of how to use forests and to some extent alsoother natural resources. Some subjects are treated at the micro- orowner level, others at the macro- or country, or even higher level,implying forest policy aspects. Many different analytical methods arerepresented, for example, deterministic and stochastic analysis,single- and multi-objective decision making, discounting, simulation,operations research methods, time-series analysis, Data EnvelopmentAnalysis. ... Read more

Book Description

Each year, more and more people participate in outdoor activities, many of them recreating in America's forestlands. Forest Recreation, Fifth Edition responds to forest managers' continual need to change the way they do their job--both planning and operation--to adapt to the shifting perceptions, wants, and needs of recreational visitors. Douglass provides current and prospective land managers, forest technicians, professional foresters, and park technicians with valuable techniques to finance, design, construct, develop, and manage forest recreation facilities successfully. He incorporates such contemporary issues as the environmental conservation movement and the impact of the Internet. Readers who have little background in the specifics of the day-to-day workings of forest recreation administration will appreciate the broad overview supported by a detailed treatment of topics and the abundant illustrations and photographs. Forest Recreation, Fifth Edition is a valuable tool both in the classroom and on the job. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Read with a grain of salt
Forest Recreation by Prof. Robert Douglass has a definite conservative slant. The book has many facts about recreation programs and policies and is well organized, although you will be subject to his opinions. His book repeatedly mentions that there is less public support for publicly funded recreation. He dooms the economy by referring to today's so called climate of shrinking public resources and funds. His support for the private sector is taken to an extreme. He writes, "Recreation was moved, for the most part, into the private and merit good categories because of the changing economy, individual choices, and demographic changes." He feels recreation is better and more appropriately funded by the private sector. His criticism of the public sector makes me wonder why he is employed by a public university. He told my class at Ohio State University that he won't go to public campgrounds, only private ones; that's because he says the staff of the public sector don't treat the public with courtesy. His support of multiple-use practices dominates over environmental practices, such as preservation. He continually presents the original intent of programs and policies to criticizes the legal changes to these policies and programs, despite shifting public values that support preservation. ... Read more

Book Description

The contributors explore possible sustainable uses of the world's largest rainforest, the Amazon, which is now being destroyed on an unprecedented scale. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

From the inner place
The best review of the aspects nd consequences of tropical deforestation! ... Read more

Book Description

* "A clear and balanced overview of the key issues relating to timber certification" --Chris Elliot, Director, WWF International Forest Program, on the first edition *"I strongly recommend it to. . . forest managers, traders, government officials or simply those who are concerned for the future of forests" -- Duncan Poore *Fully revised and updated from the landmark first edition, covering all aspects of policy, business and hands-on technical issues First published in 1995, "The Forest Certification Handbook" has become the landmark book concerning all aspects of forest and wood product certification from policy to business to in-the-field technical issues. Yet since first publication an enormous amount has happened in the field. This new second edition has been entirely rewritten to incorporate the changes over the past decade and to provide a complete and up-to-date source of information on all aspects of developing, selecting and operating forest certification programs that provide both market security and raise standards of forest management. ... Read more

Book Description

The 15 original essays written by leading scientists, policy analysts, public lands managers, and advocates addresses four related issues regarding the future of our nation's forests: ideas and practices of sustainable forestry; science and policymaking; threatened and endangered species protection on forested lands; and the future of public forest lands management in the Pacific Northwest. Though the focus of the essays is regional, the co-editors' introduction and conclusion will make connections between the Northwest forests as a case study and scientific and policy dilemmas generally. ... Read more

Book Description

Jon Marañón offers a gripping first person account of nature and persons in conflict and the difficulties of meshing human existence into the once pristine rain forests of Costa Rica.

The Gringo’s Hawk promotes reader awareness of the natural environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and socio-culture of this remote area.Ecology and spirituality are intertwined as he describes his journey in a mix of naturalist and lyrical prose that, along with humor and introspection, mark the style of The Gringo’s Hawk. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Book, great live... loved it!
Even after reading so many books about costa rica and people that have gone to the tropics and try to make it, I read the Gringo's Hawk... and it is a great book. It is one of those books that flows and makes you want to know what is coming next. A great writer, simple and to the point. It brings you in and makes you part of the story.

I most say that it is a most for all of us who have travel the world, or for those that want to know about the tropics and the struggles with life.

GREAT BOOK!

A compelling, highly recommended autobiographical story
The Gringo's Hawk is the personal memoir of a varied and remarkable life. Jon Maranon was an idealistic American who became a landowner on the southwest coast of Costa Rica. Maranon found himself confronted with one crisis after another ranging from chicken hawks, to termites, to adjudicating peasant disputes, to conflicts with other landlords who felt Maranon paid his peasants too much. He fervently battled with Costa Rican government to stop the slow degradation of the environment, and worked with scientists to understand more about the migration patterns of whales. The Gringo's Hawk is the compelling, highly recommended autobiographical story of a unique, candidly presented, and singularly fascinating life.

My favorite kind of book!
I have piles of books that I intend to read someday. I thus have no time for slow moving books. Gringo's Hawk is a delightful and fast moving story that drew me in and allowed me to feel like I was participating in the story. I laughed. I cried. I shook with anticipation. This story is a joy to read.

Now, where can I find another as good?

An enlightening work on change and growth in Costa Rica
The Gringo's Hawk is a thoroughly enjoyable read by Jon Marañon (nom de plume). Marañon made the tropical paradise of Costa Rica his home some 30 years ago and documented the immense change he witnessed in the ensuing years in a charming erstwhile enlightening manner. He describes the socio-cultural and ecological conditions of a remote part of Costa Rica as he found them, and the changes and growing pains he suffered and shared with the local community during his years there.

Through his memoirs we share Marañon's joy, anger, and frustration in his dealings with inept beauracracies and cultural roadblocks. At times one is drawn into his dejection, his pain and sorrow; at other times we are taken by his joy and satisfaction. We feel his love and fascination for the rainforest, the flora and fauna, and the planet. The book is full of interesting cultural and ecological observations, yet is never pedantic.

As we follow the author while he eeks out an existence in the rainforest, we learn about a life without luxuries such as power and transportation. We witness the personal transformations he underwent from idealist, to realist, and ultimately to environmental activist and philanthropist.

The lessons learned in the Gringo's Hawk make it a must-read for anyone interested in the recent natural history and changing sociology of Costa Rica. From his unique perspective, Marañon has successfully documented the challenges, on personal, ecological and cultural levels, faced by Costa Rica and its citizens during its emergence as a modern, globalized nation.

Having lived in Costa Rica in recent times, often wondering how the country once was, I highly recommend The Gringo's Hawk.

A great book, a must read for everyone
Once in a while you come across a movie, a place, or a book that takes you in and makes you part of it. One can have this experience at so many levels, but the deeper you are taken the better the experience. A book that does this and at the same time it forces you see the world in a different way, or to think about the way you look at life... well, that's a GREAT book. I had only a few books create such an experience in my life. But none so exuberant as this master piece.

I hope that you have a chance to read this book and I hope that it creates an unique experience for you as it as for me. ... Read more