Awards

• Commended for Oregon Book Awards (Creative Nonfiction) 2011

Overview

For millions, the Galapagos represent nature at its most unspoiled, an inviolate place famed for its rare flora and fauna. But soon today's 30,000 human residents will surpass 50,000, a huge problem since almost all of the land is national park. Add invasive species, floods of tourists, and unresolved conflicts between Ecuadorian laws and local concerns- It's easy to see why the Galapagos were recently added to UNESCO's World Heritage in Danger list.Each chapter in this provocative, perceptive book focuses on a specific person or group endeavoring either to exploit or protect the Galapagos' natural resources-from modern-day pirates who poach endangered marine species to environmental activists who patrol protected waters to catch them red-handed. The story Bassett tells explores the inevitable clash in values between these often quirky, always dedicated individuals and their activities.Bassett presents a perspective as readable as it is sensible. Told with wit, passion, and grace, the Galapagos story serves as a microcosm for Earth itself, a perfect example of how an environment can be destroyed.

Full Product Details

9781426204029

Table of Contents

Reviews

A modern portrait of the islands... as tourists, fishermen, and immigrants exact their toll on the fragile ecosystem.

A modern portrait of the islands... as tourists, fishermen, and immigrants exact their toll on the fragile ecosystem. --Conservation Magazine (Society for Conservation Biology) A fantastic tutorial for anyone curious about the natural and human health of the island state today. -- Jon Bowermaster, filmmaker, photographer, and writer An outstanding saga of a threatened ecosystem...specific and revealing ... a 'must' for any library serious about science and ecological issues. -- Midwest Book Review Portrays today's Galapagos caught in a deadly vortex of interests that may destroy one of the world's last Edens. -- Broadway Books Explores the changing landscape of one of the most interesting and biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth. -- Willamette Week If you are looking for an example of the battle between the natural environment and human encroachment, this book provides the perfect case. -- The Andersen Library Blog A vivid, lyrical account of natural wonders and growing threats...invasive species, illegal fishing, political corruption, lack of education, eco-tourism. -- The Denver Post Bassett ... uses science, journalism and personal story to illuminate a species ... as a barometer for how the planet is faring. -- The Register-Guard Absorbing and convincing... -- The News-Reporter .. .could have easily been called Galapagos in the Crosshairs. She makes a passionate case for the preservation of these islands. --American Scientist Takes a hard look at the real story: Due to a number of modern-day issues, the islands are in jeopardy. --Cosis.net

Author Information

Carol Ann Bassett is the author of A Gathering of Stones and Organ Pipe. She has contributed pieces to The New York Times, The Nation, Mother Jones, Science, The Los Angeles Times, and Conde Nast Traveler.

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