Overview

It is a widely held belief that a climax vegetation of closed forest systems covered the lowlands of Central and Western Europe before humans intervened in prehistoric times to develop pastoral agriculture. If this intervention had not taken place, it would still be there and so if left, the grassland vegetation we see today would revert to its natural closed forest state, although with a reduced number of wild species. This book challanges this view using examples from pollen analyses and studies on tree species such as oak and hazel. It tests the hypothesis that species composition, structure and succession of vegetation was governed by herbivores and that the Central and Western European lowlands were covered in grasslands, scrub, solitary trees and groves surrounded by cover and border vegetation. Comparative information from America is also included.

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9780851994420

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Inspirational, scholarly and supremely well-argued.

Vera's book is a major contribution to a stimulating debate. Grazing Ecology and Forest History is an important and fascinating book and it has been published not a moment too soon, for the last vestiges of natural Europe are currently slipping away unrecognized. Technical in nature, it is likely to be read by relatively few, yet so explosive are its implications that it may well set off a revolution. F.W. M Vera has written a provocative and simulating book. It should be read by all concerned with forest and landscape ecology and conservation. How has the landscape of Europe changed? In pre-agricultural times, was it largely dense forest as is often assumed? Vera has provided an alternative interpretation One man is challenging the time-honored picture of the landscape our ancestors inhabited. One of those potentially paradigm-shift books. A magnificent book, a landmark book, of the very greatest importance to ecology and conservation. --Francis Rose One of those potentially paradigm-shift books. --Keith Kirby Inspirational, scholarly and supremely well-argued. --Keith Alexander -A magnificent book, a landmark book, of the very greatest importance to ecology and conservation.---Francis Rose -One of those potentially paradigm-shift books.---Keith Kirby -Inspirational, scholarly and supremely well-argued.---Keith Alexander

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