The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands (Hardcover)

by Stephen Packard (Editor), Cornelia F. Mutel (Editor), John Norton (Contributor), Al Steuter (Contributor), Jim Reinartz (Contributor), Steve Apfelbaum (Contributor), Fred Faessler (Contributor), Peter Schramm (Contributor), Michael Ulrich (Contributor), Dave Egan (Contributor), Virginia Kline (Contributor), William R. Jordan (Contributor), Wayne Pauly (Contributor), Neil Diboll (Contributor), James F. Steffen (Contributor), Brian Bader (Contributor), Jane Balaban (Contributor) "Grasslands developed in the midsection of the North American continent millions of years ago, sometime after the uplift of the Rocky Mountains created a wedge-shaped..." (more)
Key Phrases: seed strippers, floristic quality assessment, tallgrass region, New York, Scientific Name Common Name, Species Common Name (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
In The Tall Grass Restoration Handbook over two dozen authors discuss the rehabilitation and management of native prairies, savannas, and oak woodlands. This "how-to" restoration manual provides a detailed account of what has been learned about the art and science of prairie and savanna restoration and the application of that knowledge to restoration projects. Restoring such areas not only allows us to learn about the process of restoration but also to learn about the relationship between nature and humans. The Tall Grass Restoration Handbook explains step-by-step the multiple activities involved with reviving damaged lands to vibrant good ecological health. The Tall Grass Restoration Handbook covers every step of the restoration from conceptualization and planning through execution and monitoring. Specific chapters are devoted to conserving biodiversity, restoring populations of rare plants, plowing and seeding, interseeding, obtaining and processing seeds, conducting burns, controlling invasive plants, restoring animal populations, and monitoring vegetation. Several comprehensive appendices include hard-to-find data on the plants and animals of prairies and savannas, seed collection dates, propagation methods and sources of seed and equipment. The Tall Grass Restoration Handbook is an incredibly valuable addition to the ecological studies reference shelf and is a "must" for conservation groups and environmental restoration activities. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Prairies are among the most severely degraded ecosystems on the North American continent, with virtually no original prairie land extant in a pristine state. Because of the amount and severity of environmental damage visited upon them, prairies have become a proving ground for the fledgling craft of ecological restoration.

The restoration of ecosystems is a practical science, with little theoretical knowledge available to guide the work of practitioners. Information is acquired primarily through an arduous process of trial and error, and the need for sharing information is immense. The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook is thus an essential contribution to the literature.

The book is a hands-on manual that provides a detailed account of what has been learned about the art and science of prairie restoration and the application of that knowledge to restoration projects throughout the world. Chapters provide guidance on all aspects of the restoration process, from conceptualization and planning, to execution and monitoring. Specific chapters cover:

• conserving biodiversity
• restoring populations of rare plants
• plowing and seeding
• obtaining and processing seeds
• conducting burns
• controlling invasive plants
• animal populations
• monitoring vegetation and more

Other resources include a key to restoration options that provides detailed instructions for specific types of projects and a comprehensive glossary of restoration terms. Appendixes present hard-to-find data on plants and animals of the prairies, seed collection dates, propagation methods, sources of seeds and equipment, and more.

The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook is a state-of-the-art compendium that can serve a vital role as a sort of "parts catalog and repair manual" for the tallgrass prairies and oak openings of the Midwest. Written by those whose primary work is actually the making of prairies, it explores a myriad of restoration philosophies and techniques and is an essential resource for anyone working to nurture our once-vibrant native landscapes to a state of health.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 495 pages
• Publisher: Island Press; 1 edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559633190
• ISBN-13: 978-1559633192
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,068,802 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The prairie restoration and management bible., August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands (Paperback)

As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook : For Prairies, Savannas,, July 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands (Paperback)

Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just a reprint of 1997 edition, September 25, 2006

By	Herman Bubbert - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands (The Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration Series) (Paperback)

If you don't already have the original 1997 edition, then this is definitely a 5 star title. However, if you DO have the original, don't bother to buy this one. Despite the various developments mentioned in the preface to this 2005 edition -- advances in no-till planting techniques, restoration strategies for woodland wildflowers, methods for integrating native biodiversity into agriculture, and exploding Internet resources -- none are dealt with here. There is no updated information about weed problems and herbicides, despite the ongoing advance of invasives and development of new products. Lots has happened in the field in the decade since the prior edition was written, but you learn none of it here. This is just a reprint of the original -- and this is quite disappointing.

That said, what is covered is truly excellent. It just could have been far better with a thorough rewrite.