The Sierra Club Guide to the Ancient Forests of the Northeast (Paperback)

~ (Author), Robert T. Leverett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Before European settlers arrived in North America in the seventeenth century, 950 million acres of virgin forest blanketed the eastern United States. But as the colonists established their communities, they cleared vast tracts of forest for farms and cut trees for lumber, tanbark, charcoal, and paper. In just 200 years, the original forests were gone. Or so it seemed. In The Sierra Club Guide to the Ancient Forests of the Northeast, two of the nation's foremost experts on eastern old-growth forests reveal that an estimated 2 million acres of ancient forests still thrive throughout the eastern United States, with approximately 400,000 of those acres in the Northeast. This is the first guide to these northeastern treasures. The 134 sites featured in the book showcase the most magnificent and inspiring forests across nine states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Taking travelers into the heart of each state, authors Bruce Kershner and Robert T. Leverett offer practical details on where to go, how to get there, and what to see-including recommendations for little-known trails that lead to some of the Northeast's oldest, tallest, and biggest trees. This unique guide is guaranteed to inspire residents and visitors alike to protect the Northeast's primeval forests for generations to come. Illustrations: 10 black-and-white illustrations, 13 maps

About the Author

Bruce Kershner is an award-winning naturalist and an authority on America's old-growth forests. He is the author of ten previous books, including four on ancient forests. Cofounder of the New York Old Growth Association, he has discovered more than 150 ancient forest sites, including many of the tallest and oldest trees in the Northeast. He makes his home near Buffalo, New York. Robert T. Leverett is a specialist on eastern old-growth forests. He is the Cofounder of the Eastern Native Tree Society; Cofounder and Executive Director of Massachusetts' Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest; and principal architect of the Ancient Eastern Forest Conference Series. Leverett is also the coauthor of several books and numerous articles on old-growth forests. He lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books; 1 edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578050669
• ISBN-13: 978-1578050666
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #471,357 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Resource, but Times Are Changing Too Quickly, August 23, 2005

By	RG (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

This is probably the most startling book on old growth you will read. You'll be delighted and amazed that there are so many old growth sites in the heavily populated and ecologically disturbed Northeast. I have used this book as a hiking guide for the past year or so, and it has led me to wondrous discoveries, but also heartbreaking surprises.

The introduction is very informative, and (along with a good field guide) makes a great primer for the budding amateur naturalist. The writing style is quite enthusiastic. Both authors obviously love the Northeast's forests. My only complaint is that the directions and trail descriptions can be confusing sometimes; but all are accurate enough to get the job done.

Many of the sites described here are as entrancing as they ever were. Unfortunately, and even though the copyright of this book is 2004, many sites have been seriously degraded since the time the descriptions were written. Kelly's Run in Pennsylvania and Wawayanda State Park in New Jersey were obviously lush, dark hemlock groves when the authors visited them, but are now being reduced to forest boneyards by the wooly adelgid pest (introduced from Asia).

On the other hand, there are sites included here that are as majestic as ever and are mentioned in no other 'trail guide' that I am aware of. More than a few of the included sites are simply astounding!

This book would rate 5 stars if all of the information was completely up-to-date, but it's a sign of our times that this would be impossible. From alien fungi and sap-sucking insects to acid deposition from the air, what precious little is left of our ancient forests is under attack. If ancient forests inspire you and you want to experience what few remain, then this book will prove to be an indispensible tool.