Leo T. reviewed on 11/19/2018 + 1775 more book reviews

Ms. Higgins, of Vermont, kindly supplied this book. Given the election of the new president of Brazil that seems to plan on development of the Amazon region, it is timely. The text is well written and the photos well chosen, beginning with sunset in Costa Rica and ending with the reforestation (it is better not to clear cut in the first place). Pp. 187-188 shows a clear cut in Brazil.
The book fails to address population increases as a major source of the problem. Dr. John Rees, Professor of Geography offered his class a handout showing the gradual retreat of the forest in Costa Rica. In the late 1950s it was still possible to hack out a farm in the woods because Costa Rica had a relatively stable population and good government (Pepe Figueres). Unfortunately, as the population raced out of control in Nicaragua, many people relocated to Costa Rica and in 2018 there are thousands more arriving.
"Impoverished peoples will only protect trees when it is in their interest to do so."
I wish that Washington's Olympic Peninsula temperate rain forest had been covered.
Index.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details