Beyond the war on invasive species :

Title :

Beyond the war on invasive species : a permaculture approach to ecosystem restoration / Tao Orion ; foreword by David Holmgren.

Title:

Beyond the war on invasive species :

Varying Form of Title:

Permaculture approach to ecosystem restoration

Author:

Orion, Tao, 1980-

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

xii, 254 pages ; 23 cm

ISBN:

9781603585637

Production / Publication Information:

White River Junction, Vermont : Chelsea Green Publishing, [2015]

Contents:

Introduction -- Against all ethics -- Getting to the root of invasive species -- Thinking like an ecosystem -- A matter of time -- Problems into solutions -- Everyone gardens -- Restoring restoration -- Putting permaculture to work in restoration -- Species identification list -- Organisms that moved around the world prior to the modern colonial era -- Recommended resources for holistic restoration and invasive species management alternatives.

Bibliography note:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Language:

English

Subject Term:

Permaculture.

Restoration ecology.

Introduced organisms -- Control.

Endemic animals -- Conservation.

Endemic plants -- Conservation.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	631.58 ORI	31330007911302	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Georgetown Peabody Library	631.58 ORION	32120001231560	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Hamilton-Wenham Public Library	631.58 ORI	30470001408664	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Littleton - Reuben Hoar Library	631.58 ORI	39965002323169	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rockport Public Library	631.58 ORION	32129002076312	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Invasive species are everywhere, from forests and prairies to mountaintops and river mouths. Their rampant nature and sheer numbers appear to overtake fragile native species and forever change the ecosystems that they depend on.

Concerns that invasive species represent significant threats to global biodiversity and ecological integrity permeate conversations from schoolrooms to board rooms, and concerned citizens grapple with how to rapidly and efficiently manage their populations. These worries have culminated in an ongoing "war on invasive species," where the arsenal is stocked with bulldozers, chainsaws, and herbicides put to the task of their immediate eradication. In Hawaii, mangrove trees (Avicennia spp.) are sprayed with glyphosate and left to decompose on the sandy shorelines where they grow, and in Washington, helicopters apply the herbicide Imazapyr to smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) growing in estuaries. The "war on invasive species" is in full swing, but given the scope of such potentially dangerous and ecologically degrading eradication practices, it is necessary to question the very nature of the battle.

Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers a much-needed alternative perspective on invasive species and the best practices for their management based on a holistic, permaculture-inspired framework. Utilizing the latest research and thinking on the changing nature of ecological systems, Beyond the War on Invasive Species closely examines the factors that are largely missing from the common conceptions of invasive species, including how the colliding effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and changes in land use and management contribute to their proliferation.

There is more to the story of invasive species than is commonly conceived, and Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers ways of understanding their presence and ecosystem effects in order to make more ecologically responsible choices in land restoration and biodiversity conservation that address the root of the invasion phenomenon. The choices we make on a daily basis--the ways we procure food, shelter, water, medicine, and transportation--are the major drivers of contemporary changes in ecosystem structure and function; therefore, deep and long-lasting ecological restoration outcomes will come not just from eliminating invasive species, but through conscientious redesign of these production systems.

Reviews (3)

Booklist Review

Ecosystem restoration, broadly defined as reinstating native flora and fauna by controlling invasive species, is a noble goal. But in the case of plants, it is often achieved through the use of harsh pesticides. This irony is not lost on botanist Orion, who encourages fellow environmental professionals to factor in the larger picture and turn on the macroscope to meet desired end goals. Systematically pointing out avenues for improvement in our approach to restoration, from consuming more local foods to changing how we work with pristine nature, Orion provides us with a practical worksheet that takes the permaculture view, a holistic way of looking at habitat. This slender volume might be too textbookish to be accessible to the lay reader but Orion's reminders that the very definition of native is in flux (a process exacerbated by climate change) and her eco-friendly suggestions about what to do with unwanted species should be essential reading for all. Plenty of real-world instances of invasive flora and fauna (e.g., kudzu, zebra mussels) make the case effectively.--Apte, Poornima Copyright 2015 Booklist

Choice Review

Emphasizing a holistic use of what is present in the landscape, rather than what managers presume should be there, Orion (Oregon State Univ.) delves into the somewhat controversial field of invasive ecology, using both plant and animal examples in ecosystem restoration. She thoughtfully discusses the ethics of restoring function to ecosystems and looks at species migrations and movements in a broader context than would most land managers having conversations on landscape scales. She also points out many examples in which understanding the roles and relationships of problem species could lead to multiple solutions for ecosystem health and society. A permaculture perspective is not widely seen in restoration science; however, Orion calls for managers and scientists to recognize destructive patterns, especially with changing climate, habitat shifts, and society's attitudes toward conservation. This thought-provoking book is an interesting read for anyone dealing with natural resources or agricultural sciences who aspires to be an environmental steward of a healthier planet. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners. --Tara Lee Bal, Michigan Technological University

Library Journal Review

Here is a brilliant, alternative way of dealing with nonnative, invasive species. Oregon State University permaculturist Orion's emphasis is on plants, and her survey of relevant literature is a virtuoso incorporation of books, journals, electronic resources, and personal communications, written in commendable expository prose. In the face of overwhelming political correctness, which dictates that invasive species should be eliminated, the author offers ways to exploit and adapt to them in addition to extolling the virtues some of the species exhibit. As an instructor, Orion teaches ways to manage ecosystems with an eye to long-term results, free of herbicides and destructive attempts to remove species seen as undesirable. She pays special attention to the behaviors of "primitive" societies in relation to their surroundings. In her view, pre-Columbian America was already far from pristine; it underwent many changes wrought by Native Americans, especially through fire. This thoughtful, controversial, and well-documented book is guaranteed to infuriate many and to provoke us into rethinking our attitudes about what is natural and best for the land. With essays such as "The Myth of Wilderness," the reader is challenged to confront revolutionary ideas about our landscapes. VERDICT Ideal for all interested in natural history, agriculture, chemicals, climate change, ecology, and anthropology.-Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.