Customer Reviews

Restoring Nature: Perpectives from the Social Sciences and Humanities

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While ecological restoration is undeniably a valuable part of the growing "new" conservation movement, many of its adherents have been somewhat reluctant to look at the social side of their work. This book does a nice job of that. Several of the authors' contributions provide unique views of activities that many of us in the conservation movement take for granted. The editors' pieces (Gobster and Hull) are excellent and thought provoking. The philosophical works in the volume, though wordy and, at times, unnecessarily academic, are useful discussions of arguments we have been debating for years. Finally, a chapter by Dr. Helford, while a nice bit of ethnographic writing, just plain pissed me off, but I can't help to think he is on to something and may be right. I just am not ready to accept his ideas. I think that reaction sumarizes my feelings about the book. Maybe we in the conservation and restoration movements aren't ready for what some of these people in this volume are telling us. If you consider yourself an ecological restorationist or just a conservationist, you owe it to yourself and to these authors to read this book.