The Great Bear Rainforest: Canada's Forgotten Coast (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Karen McAllister (Author), Cameron Young (Author) "The morning dazzles and sparkles, the waters of Bond Sound shining with a rain-polished brightness after days of downpour..." (more)
Key Phrases: ancient temperate rainforest, clearcut logging, bear trails, Great Bear Rainforest, First Nations, Knight Inlet (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Magnificent photographs and crisp prose make a powerful statement about the need to protect the largest tract of intact temperate rainforest on Earth. Until the authors embarked on their sailing odyssey from the northern border of the United States to the panhandle of Alaska, no one had undertaken an environmental inventory of the western Canadian coastline. This area is the home of the coastal grizzly bear and teems with wildlife and old-growth trees. The grizzly's dwindling numbers indicate the historic decline of natural wilderness throughout a sizable portion of the northwestern hemisphere. The authors make the case that only by protecting very large tracts of this coastline from logging and mining can the character of this environment be preserved. At first glance, this work might appear to be another coffee-table book, but its main purpose is to inform and motivate. The panoramic views, intimate shots of flora and fauna, chronicle of the social history of the area, and generous maps make this title beautiful as well as timely. It is unfortunate that the index merely lists references to locations noted in the text rather than to biological information, which would have made it more useful for research.
Cynthia J. Rieben, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Along the coast between Vancouver Island and Alaska lies 250 miles of forested island and inlets. Ian and Karen McAllister spent seven years photographing and mapping this forgotten wild ecosystem. Their informative text and remarkable photographs (including some of the most extraordinary images of wild bears ever published) present a complete picture of this unique area. 150 color photos.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 143 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578050111
• ISBN-13: 978-1578050116
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #924,253 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #11 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecosystems > Tropical
  #64 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecology > Rain Forests

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Journey AND A Desperate Plea, December 26, 2000

By	Dr Lawrence Hauser (NYC, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is written as a journal of a sailing voyage. Although the authors had previously visited the remarkable areas they photograph and describe six times before, the seventh visit is chronicled in these pages. Thus there is a great depth of knowledge and experience inherent to this work which transforms a simple if elegant journal into a powerful, somewhat doleful, environmental monograph.

This is a beautifully done book with many fascinating photographs of rainforest topography and the diverse life forms which abide therein. The accompanying text is well-written and consistently informative and interesting. But the overarching theme here is that pristine environments which are critical to the survival of untold species of flora and fauna are in jeopardy. Grave jeopardy. Moreover, the McAllisters take great pains to point out that the small islands of preserved and protected ecosystem created in compromise between commercial interests and environmentalists are insufficent to protect wildlife (bears, for example) that depend upon an interlinked vastness of unspoiled terrain in which to flourish.

So this book is as much an alarm and a plea for action as it is a wondrous presentation of its picturesque subject matter. As such, it is urgent reading for those of us concerned about the ravages unleashed when a society values short-term economic advantage (as when untouched river valleys are clear-cut by logging companies) over the work nature takes eons to complete.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must of bear lovers, intersting facts, great photos, May 2, 2000

By	Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a wonderful book for both nature and bear lovers alike. It is packed with beautiful color photos. Many interesting facts about the wildlife & plants of the area are detailed in the captions.

The landscape photos feature vibrant wildflowers, ancient forests, & mountains. There are also many remarkable pictures of several bear types. I loved the close-up shot of a bear eating a fish & another of a sprit bear on a log.

Stunning photos of some other animals include a puffin close-up, a bald eagle mother with baby, & an elephant seal gathering. If you can tear yourself away from the pictures, the text is equally impressive.

The authors tell of their experiences while exploring the rainforest. They also discusses the environmental concerns of the area. Journal entries from the trip are scatted throughout the book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep sacred places secret while we can, January 31, 2000

By	Rahul (Truckee, CA) - See all my reviews

A powerful book on this special place. But, now she's discovered