The Tropical Rainforest : A World Survey of Our Most Valuable Endangered Habitat : With a Blueprint for Its Survival [Hardcover]

Arnold Newman (Author), Robert Redford (Preface), Jane Goodall Ph.D. (Introduction), His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000

Fully revised, this landmark volume takes readers deep inside the "living cathedral" of the forest interior and examines the forces that threaten the biome's survival.

Tropical Rainforest presents an action plan for the concerned individual and the whole of humanity to implement before the potentially bleak consequences of tropical deforestation become unavoidable. Combining comprehensive fact-filled text and an extensively revised bibliography and tables with 300 stunning full-color photographs, this book is destined to remain the leading reference on this vital issue.

Among the topics covered are:
* What is a Tropical Rainforest?: Examines the vast array of species and life forms that comprise the rainforest
* This Web of Life: Explains the dynamics of the rainforest, including pollination and seed dispersal and the food chain
* Threats to the Forest: Details the contributing factors to rainforest destruction, including timber extraction, mining and pollution, and cattle raising
* What Do We Lose?: Focuses of the effects of deforestation, including dwindling land, natural, and human resources
* A Blueprint for Survival: Offers concrete plans for conservation, such as habitat preservation, and funding for rainforest projects
* Reason for Hope: Assesses the future of the tropical rainforest.

Reviews:
Praise for the previous edition:
"...big, beautifully designed and illustrated with extraordinary photographs." -Friends of the Earth

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- Superbly researched, compiled, and illustrated, this book takes readers into the world of the rainforests. Newman first shows their beauty by explaining how intricately life exists within them. Next, he explains how the rainforests are being ravaged by the carelessness and thoughtlessness of civilization and the consequences of these actions. Yet he does not leave readers without suggestions for remedying the deforestation of the Earth; in the last section he offers solutions that seem viable and necessary. Charts, diagrams, and graphs and give information, as do the more than 200 magnificent full-color photographs. Excellent, insightful, and much needed.
- Jeannet M. Lippencott, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Newman, a science writer and conservationist, writes with authority based on his many years of travel in tropical forests around the world. His descriptions of rain forest ecology and the economic factors bringing about rain forest destruction are detailed and well researched. His last chapter concerns the faint gleams of hope for preservation embodied in the focus of world consciousness and changing technology. The examples of the 300 color photographs promised for the finished book were dramatic and eye-catching and enhanced the rather pedantic text. While this is a good supplementary text on this subject, a more readable rain forest book is John Nichol's The Mighty Rain Forest ( LJ 6/15/90). See also Scott Lewis's The Rainforest Book , reviewed in this issue, above.--Ed.
- Eleanor Maass, Maass Assocs., New Milford, Pa.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books; Revised edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816039739
• ISBN-13: 978-0816039739
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Rain Forests

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Rainforest Book, October 20, 2006

By 

bbeeds (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tropical Rainforest: A World Survey of Our Most Valuable Endangered Habitat : With a Blueprint for Its Survival (Hardcover)

Mr. Newman has written one of the great and comprehensive rainforest books on the market. The book is loaded with great pictures from Mr. Newmans travels around the world. His book is research based but he explains it in a manner that everyone can understand. It is well organized. Each chapter has a differernt topic that breaks down the complexities into a much simplier discussion. He also outlines his beliefs in how society can save the rainforests. It is an outstanding book, one of the few everyone should own on the topic.

5.0 out of 5 stars You want to know about the Rain Forest? Get decades worth of knowledge with this book, October 28, 2011

By 

MILPIL - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tropical Rainforest : A World Survey of Our Most Valuable Endangered Habitat : With a Blueprint for Its Survival (Hardcover)

I will admit, I am completely biased on this book, as I helped with the research on MANY MANY travels with the author, who also happens to be my father. That being said, I have read many books on this subject, and can honestly state that the research for rainforest ecology, and what is being done, is not only accurate but hands on. My contribution was mainly in the marine section for rivers, streams, and reefs. The rest is definitely the authors and contributions from very well known people in this field. Hope you enjoy it, as much as I did in getting the data from the countries that we had to go to, just to get the research and photos that are in this book.
Gandhi "Jim" Newman

3.0 out of 5 stars Tropical Rainforest, September 30, 2011

By 

RamRuth - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tropical Rainforest : A World Survey of Our Most Valuable Endangered Habitat : With a Blueprint for Its Survival (Hardcover)

Service is great. Had a problem and it was taken care of immediately.Will try again in the future. Thank You.