Smithsonian Book of National Wildlife Refuges

Celebrating the 100th Birthday of the National Wildlife Refuges, this book is a revealing and oft inspiring account of the history of the refuges and the closely allied conservation movement. Accompanying the text are stunning photographs of the wildlife and lands they have preserved.The story begins with a heartbreaking description of the wanton destruction of wildlife from the time the colonists arrived through the 19th Century. Some species were driven to extinction and many more were threatened by that fate. In the latter half of the 19th century, individuals and groups struggled to stem this desecration of our heritage to little avail. Many argued that only Federal government action could protect wildlife from the excesses of a market driven economy. While there were some steps in that direction during the late 1800's, the seminal event came in 1903 when Teddy Roosevelt established Pelican Island in Florida as the first National Wildlife Refuge. In the century since, the refuge system has steadily grown to its current count of 538 refuges in all 50 states. Throughout this history, there have been continual battles with those who sought to use the refuges for activities detrimental to wildlife. Finally, in 1997 the dominant purpose of the refuges to protect wildlife was made the law of the land. Unfortunately, there is one crucial exception. A political compromise at the time of its creation left the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- also known as the "American Serengeti" -- vulnerable to devastating oil development. The author chronicles the origin of that controversy and its evolution to the present time. Given his strong advocacy for wildlife and the refuges in this book, his treatment of the protagonists in the ANWR controversy is remarkably even handed. By contrast, the writers in Subhankar Banerjee's "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land" are unabashedly on the side of preserving the Coastal Plain. I think they got it right. The final section of the book contains profiles of eight of the refuges selected for their beauty and diversity. In his introduction, Eric Dolin writes -- "The refuge system is a priceless gift. It reflects the great diversity of the tapestry of life and commitment of the United States to wildlife conservation." His book demonstrates the truth of these assertions and provides many reasons to hope that our nation's commitment will only grow stronger.

Reasons for HopeCelebrating the 100th Birthday of the National Wildlife Refuges, this book is a revealing and oft inspiring account of the history of the refuges and the closely allied conservation movement. Accompanying the text are stunning photographs of the wildlife and lands they have preserved.The story begins with a heartbreaking description of the wanton destruction of wildlife from the time the colonists arrived through the 19th Century. Some species were driven to extinction and many more were threatened by that fate. In the latter half of the 19th century, individuals and groups struggled to stem this desecration of our heritage to little avail. Many argued that only Federal government action could protect wildlife from the excesses of a market driven economy. While there were some steps in that direction during the late 1800's, the seminal event came in 1903 when Teddy Roosevelt established Pelican Island in Florida as the first National Wildlife Refuge. In the century since, the refuge system has steadily grown to its current count of 538 refuges in all 50 states. Throughout this history, there have been continual battles with those who sought to use the refuges for activities detrimental to wildlife. Finally, in 1977 the dominant purpose of the refuges to protect wildlife was made the law of the land. Unfortunately, there is one crucial exception. A political compromise at the time of its creation left the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- also known as the "American Serengeti" -- vulnerable to devastating oil development. The author chronicles the origin of that controversy and its evolution to the present time. The final section of the book contains profiles of eight of the refuges selected for their beauty and diversity. In his introduction, Eric Dolin writes -- "The refuge system is a priceless gift. It reflects the great diversity of the tapestry of life and commitment of the United States to wildlife conservation." His book demonstrates the truth of these assertions and provides many reasons to hope that our nation's commitment will only grow stronger.

Accessibly written and superbly organized by Eric Jay Dolin, Smithsonian Book Of National Wildlife Refuges is a most engaging history of the system of 538 wildlife refuges that exist among all fifty of the United States. The intricate text discusses the travails, conservation efforts, ecology and more of America's wildlife refuges while gorgeous full-color natural photographs by John and Karen Hollingsworth of wilderness and wildlife add a special, vivid touch. A highly recommended giftbook for nature lovers, the Smithsonian Book Of National Wildlife Refuges would make an excellent Memorial Fund acquisition for either academic or community library collections.