Nature's Ghosts: Confronting Extinction from the Age of Jefferson to the Age of Ecology - Softcover

"Long before the birth of the modern American environmental movement, naturalists recognized the problem of human-caused extinction. Barrow offers a concise but richly detailed chronological history beginning with Thomas Jefferson and his interest in the fossils of woolly mammoths being discovered in the West. . . . Essential for anyone interested in our environmental past or concerned about our future."--Library Journal "starred review " "Mark Barrow knows more about the history of wildlife biology and conservation in the United States than anyone else. In these pages he gives us the most comprehensive picture we have of how naturalists discovered species extinction and humanity's role in it, then set about to take responsibility for the destruction of the bison, the bald eagle, the spotted owl, and so many other creatures, even in far off Latin America and Africa. Well researched and clearly told." --Donald Worster, author of A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir and Nature's Economy: The History of Ecological Ideas "At a time when the specter of extinction hangs over much of the natural world, it's remarkable to think that the very concept of a species disappearing was once incomprehensible, even to educated scientists. In Nature's Ghosts, Mark Barrow brings his customary insight to the fascinating story of how humanity slowly recognized its impact on biodiversity, and the largely forgotten conservation heroes who battled steep odds to preserve what remains of the wild world."--Scott Weidensaul, author of Of a Feather and Living on the Wind --Scott Weidensaul, author of Of a Feather and Living on the Wind "I fear we'll have good reason to think more and more about extinction as this century progresses, and this fascinating (and rueful) history provides a good base for that reflection." --Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy "To the naturalist, who exults in the magnificent diversity of life, nothing is more devastating than the current mass extinction event, caused entirely by humans. In this intriguing book, Mark Barrow confronts the paradox of naturalists collecting specimens of imperiled species and striving to be value-free, while becoming intensely concerned about extinction. Barrow shows through a fascinating series of case studies that, despite some contradictions and ironies, the traditions of natural history, ecology, and field biology have been essential to the conservation movement from the late eighteenth century until today. We should be worried, as is Barrow, that the naturalist tradition is fading from our universities, museums, and indeed our entire culture." --Reed F. Noss, author of The Science of Conservation Planning Mark Barrow knows more about the history of wildlife biology and conservation in the United States than anyone else.In these pages he gives us the most comprehensive picture we have of how naturalists discovered species extinction and humanity s role in it, then set about to take responsibility for thedestruction of the bison, the bald eagle, the spotted owl, and so many other creatures, even in far off Latin America and Africa. Well researched and clearly told. --Donald Worster, author of A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir and Nature's Economy: The History of Ecological Ideas" "With rich source material and a compelling story, this book should become the definitive account of conservation biology prior to the Endangered Species Act. . . . Nature's Ghost deserves a wide audience. It would make a strong text for courses in history and environmental studies. By weaving together multiple disciplines, the text offers a solid introduction to the history of ecology and evolution, the history of environmentalism, and environmental ethics. . . . At the same time, the book offers valuable insight into the broader social movements and political discussions that determine the fate of many species."--Kevin Francis "Journal of the History of Biology " At a time when the specter of extinction hangs over much of the natural world, it's remarkable to think that the very concept of a species disappearing was once incomprehensible, even to educated scientists. In Nature s Ghosts, Mark Barrow brings his customary insight to the fascinating story of how humanity slowly recognized its impact on biodiversity, and the largely forgotten conservation heroes who battled steep odds to preserve what remains of the wild world. --Scott Weidensaul, author of Of a Feather and Living on the Wind --Scott Weidensaul, author of Of a Feather and Living on the Wind" I fear we'll have good reason to think more and more about extinction as this century progresses, and this fascinating (and rueful) history provides a good base for that reflection. --Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy"

The rapid growth of the American environmental movement in recent decades obscures the fact that long before the first Earth Day and the passage of the Endangered Species Act, naturalists and concerned citizens recognized-and worried about-the problem of human-caused extinction. As Mark V. Barrow reveals in Nature's Ghosts, the threat of species loss has haunted Americans since the early days of the republic. From Thomas Jefferson's day-when the fossil remains of such fantastic lost animals as the mastodon and the woolly mammoth were first reconstructed-through the pioneering conservation efforts of early naturalists like John James Audubon and John Muir, Barrow shows how Americans came to understand that it was not only possible for entire species to die out, but that humans themselves could be responsible for their extinction. With the destruction of the passenger pigeon and the precipitous decline of the bison, professional scientists and wildlife enthusiasts alike began to understand that even very common species were not safe from the juggernaut of modern, industrial society. That realization spawned public education and legislative campaigns that laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement and the preservation of such iconic creatures as the bald eagle, the California condor, and the whooping crane. A sweeping, beautifully illustrated historical narrative that unites the fascinating stories of endangered animals and the dedicated individuals who have studied and struggled to protect them, Nature's Ghosts offers an unprecedented view of what we've lost-and a stark reminder of the hard work of preservation still ahead.