""One day I was gazing out my window at a stretch of trees when I was suddenly struck with the realization that I couldn't name any of them .... like most Americans, I had somehow become an adult who could not claim even an elementary knowledge of my natural neighborhood."" "Thus begins Mary Blocksma's ambitious quest to identify the flora and fauna of her Great Lakes home. With no big program, no particular organization, Blocksma sets out to identify her environment just a name at a time, a few times a week, for a year. Covering everything from blue moons and bald eagles to arbor vitae and lake-effect snow, this book transports the armchair explorer out of the living room and into the forests and wetlands of the Great Lakes." "In this charming guide to the everyday but often overlooked ecological treasures that await the would-be naturalist, you'll find not just the names of plants and animals but tips on buying bird feeders, identifying spiders, and telling a blue jay from a belted kingfisher. Packed with helpful hints, novel trivia, and a useful "guide to guidebooks," Great Lakes Nature is sure to delight and educate."--BOOK JACKET.

A comprehensive travelogue and guidebook exploring island adventures on many of the 135 islands accessible by ferry or bridge in the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes Basin is the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. The more than 30,000 islands dotted throughout the basin provide some of the best ways to enjoy the Great Lakes. While the vast majority of these islands can only be reached by private boat or plane, a surprising number of islands—each with its own character and often harboring more than a bit of intrigue in its history—can be reached by merely taking a ferry ride, or crossing a bridge, offering everyone the chance to experience a variety of island adventures. Great Lakes Island Escapes: Ferries and Bridges to Adventure explores in depth over 30 of the Great Lakes Basin islands accessible by bridge or ferry and introduces more than 50 additional islands. Thirty-eight chapters include helpful information about getting to each featured island, what to expect when you get there, the island's history, and what natural and historical sites and cultural attractions are available to visitors. Each chapter lists special island events, where to get more island information, and how readers can help support the island. Author Maureen Dunphy made numerous trips to a total of 135 islands that are accessible by ferry or bridge in the Great Lakes Basin. On each trip, Dunphy was accompanied by a different friend or relative who provided her another adventurer's perspective through which to view the island experience. Great Lakes Island Escapes covers islands on both sides of the international border between the United States and Canada and features islands in both the lakes and the waterways that connect them. Anyone interested in island travel or learning more about the Great Lakes will delight in this comprehensive collection.

An impressive piece of work that deserves to be on every European agricultural economist s bookshelf. Jean-Christophe Bureau, European Review of Agricultural Economics This is an excellent text that could be used in specialist academic courses in environmental and natural resource economics, ecological economics and cost benefit analysis, as well as in interdisciplinary courses in public policy, planning and environmental management. David James, Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is one of the most useful tools of applied economics for the social appraisal of public projects and government policies. Nick Hanley and Edward Barbier show how CBA can be applied to environmental policy choice and environmental resource management. They cover the conceptual underpinnings of CBA, practical methods for applying CBA, and a wide range of case study applications from Europe, North America and developing countries. Issues such as the value of ecosystem services and the special problems posed for CBA by environmental management are brought into close focus. The textbook is aimed at students on inter-disciplinary courses as well as those studying environmental economics, welfare economics and public policy. It will also be of interest to people in the policy community, NGOs and consultancy sectors.

Chapters: enhancing MI's environ. for the 21st cent.; the Great Lakes (GL) in Ô98; binat'l. toxics strategy; Lake Erie phosphorus debate; toxic algae; DDT; working to protect Lake St. Clair; GL water diversions in Ô98; the paradox of GL water diversion policy; anticipating impacts of GL water levels on coastal properties; MI's battle against harmful aquatic nuisance species; biocides for controlling the invasion of nonindigenous species; sea lamprey control; contaminated sediments; valuing the environ'l. and natural resources of the GL; the public trust doctrine in MI tourism and MI's GL; a new lock at the Soo; and fish stocking cutbacks.

Making Nature Whole is a seminal volume that presents an in-depth history of the field of ecological restoration as it has developed in the United States over the last three decades. The authors draw from both published and unpublished sources, including archival materials and oral histories from early practitioners, to explore the development of the field and its importance to environmental management as well as to the larger environmental movement and our understanding of the world. Considering antecedents as varied as monastic gardens, the Scientific Revolution, and the emerging nature-awareness of nineteenth-century Romantics and Transcendentalists, Jordan and Lubick offer unique insight into the field's philosophical and theoretical underpinnings. They examine specifically the more recent history, including the story of those who first attempted to recreate natural ecosystems early in the 20th century, as well as those who over the past few decades have realized the value of this approach not only as a critical element in conservation but also as a context for negotiating the ever-changing relationship between humans and the natural environment. Making Nature Whole is a landmark contribution, providing context and history regarding a distinctive form of land management and giving readers a fascinating overview of the development of the field. It is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding where ecological restoration came from or where it might be going.

Showcases over 600 sites easily accessible by the amateur naturalist. Chapters describe how to get the most out of a nature trip, and provide overviews of Ontario's natural history and rich plant and animal life.

Drawing and writing exercises, maps and Venn diagrams, match-ups and mazes, and other engaging activities explain photosynthesis, evaporation, erosion, tree rings, and more fascinating aspects of nature.

A Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and Winner of the Bancroft Prize. "No one has written a better book about a city…Nature's Metropolis is elegant testimony to the proposition that economic, urban, environmental, and business history can be as graceful, powerful, and fascinating as a novel." —Kenneth T. Jackson, Boston Globe

Welcome to Iowa, the land of cornfields and endless horizons. This state in the American Midwest is characterized by a landscape characterized by rolling hills, wide plains and the characteristic corn fields. But Iowa is much more than farmland; it's a state full of history, culture, natural wonders, and a warm community ready to share its stories and treasures with you. In this book, we'll go on a journey of discovery through Iowa together, ranging from the endless cornfields to the state's big cities and natural wonders. We'll explore Iowa's role as the Mississippi River's lifeline and take a look at the rich culture and culinary delights that make this state so unique. We'll visit historic sites and monuments shaped by the pioneers and settlers, and learn about the stunning wildlife and natural beauty in Iowa's magnificent landscapes. In addition, we will delve into the state's arts scene, festivals, breweries, vineyards, and music culture. This journey will also take us to the mysterious places and inexplicable phenomena of Iowa, and we will discover the stories and experiences of the people who live here. Iowa is more than just a landmass; it is a place marked by its community and its inhabitants. Whether you're a passionate nature lover, history buff, culinary lover, or adventurer, Iowa has something for everyone. We invite you to join us on a journey to discover the secrets, treasures and stories of this unique state. Join us on a journey through Iowa, the land of cornfields and endless horizons.