From Publishers Weekly
The author of several books on nature walks (Afoot in the South, etc.), Manning now describes his visits to 10 wildlife sanctuaries in four countries. He draws upon research and interviews with ecologists to flesh out his lucid descriptions of each preserve's landscape with information on its history and current problems. At Bonaire Marine Park in the Netherlands Antilles, stringent regulations protect the delicate coral reefs, but the park managers worry that rises in ocean levels (caused by melting polar caps) could "drown" the coral's algae. At El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve in Mexico, which was founded as the result of some handy detective work by a Canadian entomologist, the brilliant orange insects are threatened by the logging practices of a resentful local population. At Cape May National Wildlife refuge in New Jersey, Manning looks at the relationship between shorebirds and horseshoe crabs. At the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Oklahoma, he describes the efforts to restore a pristine landscape complete with bison. He examines wild geese in Wisconsin; puffins on Mathias Seal Island, Canada; hummingbirds in Alabama; storks at Corkscrew Swamp in Florida; wild swans in North Carolina. All in all, he gives an optimistic picture of preservation in the U.S. and Canada. Manning aims to find out what methods make a preserve, and in each chapter he highlights a sound principle (far-sighted planning; protection of the surrounding area). Nonetheless, the thrust of his book is descriptive. Long passages detail the beauty of each refuge's ecosystem and recount colorful anecdotes. This is a work that will please nature readers and inspire many vacations, but will probably disappoint ecologists looking for more thorough analysis. Illustrations. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
When in 1903 Teddy Roosevelt heard about private yacht passengers frequently blasting away for amusement at a huge breeding colony of pelicans on an island in Florida's Indian River, he ordered Pelican Island reserved as a breeding ground for birds, thus establishing North America's first wildlife refuge and setting the stage for thousands of these "oases of green" to be protected. Outdoors and travel writer Manning (Orange Blossom Trails: Walks in the Natural Areas of Florida) chooses ten sanctuariesAranging from a Caribbean marine park to a tallgrass prairie preserve in OklahomaAto illustrate how wildlife refuges have contributed to the protection of North America's animals. He describes the history of each preserve, the animals and ecosystems it protects, the staff who work there, and the ever-present threats looming. Although this is clearly a book for the lay reader, Manning weaves into the narrative relevant scientific principles. Recommended for public libraries.ALynn C. Badger, Univ. of Florida Lib., Gainesville
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
