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Global warming, acid rain, the depletion of forests, the polluting
of our atmosphere and oceans -- the threats to our environment are numerous, raising
justifiable concern among most of us and genuine alarm in some. But as scientist
Daniel Botkin argues in this provocative book, our ability to solve these problems
is limited not by our scientific knowledge, but by the age-old myths and metaphors
that shape our perception of the natural world. Indeed, our beliefs about nature
have fallen far behind our knowledge. Daniel Botkin is
a seasoned scientist. He has spent three decades in the field studying the changes
and interactions of forests and animal species. In the 1960s, he pioneered the
use of computers to predict ecological trends. Now, in Discordant Harmonies,
he combines his considerable expertise with the well-honed eye of the nature writer
and a philosopher's sense of how ideas shape our perceptions of reality to take
us on a marvelous tour of the natural world. He introduces problems in our beliefs
about nature by giving us fascinating case studies: of predator-prey relationships,
of forests evolving over centuries, of species nearing extinction, of the ways
our "protection" of nature has had surprising -- and often disappointing
-- results. Botkin's revealing examples also highlight controversial present-day
issues, such as controlled burning in national forests, fishing and hunting quotas,
and policy-making for management of natural resources. He looks at each of these
cases in the light of past thinking and current research, revealing how old myths
often blind us to the new technology and ways of thinking needed to solve our
environmental problems. Above all, he is concerned with finding the delicate balance
between man and nature -- that place where human needs and the intricate system
of nature can viably coexist. Whether discussing moose
herds on Isle Royale or Yosemite's famous Mariposa Grove of Sequoias, Botkin writes
vividly and insightfully about nature, challenging us to rethink some of our most
cherished notions. Daniel Botkin is Professor of Biology
and Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. |
