Product Overview
In The Emerald Horizon, Cornelia Mutel combines lyrical writing with meticulous scientific research to portray the environmental past, present, and future of Iowa. In doing so, she ties all of Iowa's natural features into one comprehensive whole.
Since so much of the tallgrass state has been transformed into an agricultural landscape, Mutel focuses on understanding todays natural environment by understanding yesterdays changes. After summarizing the geological, archaeological, and ecological features that shaped Iowas modern landscape, she recreates the once-wild native communities that existed prior to Euroamerican settlement. Next she examines the dramatic changes that overtook native plant and animal communities as Iowas prairies, woodlands, and wetlands were transformed. Finally she presents realistic techniques for restoring native species and ecological processes as well as a broad variety of ways in which Iowans can reconnect with the natural world. Throughout, in addition to the many illustrations commissioned for this book, she offers careful scientific exposition, a strong sense of respect for the land, and encouragement to protect the future by learning from the past.
The emerald prairie that gleamed and shone to the horizons edge, as botanist Thomas Macbride described it in 1895, has vanished. Cornelia Mutels passionate dedication to restoring this damaged landscapeand by extension the transformed landscape of the entire Corn Beltinvigorates her blend of natural history and human history. Believing that citizens who are knowledgeable about native species, communities, and ecological processes will better care for them, she gives us hopeand sound suggestionsfor the future.
Since so much of the tallgrass state has been transformed into an agricultural landscape, Mutel focuses on understanding todays natural environment by understanding yesterdays changes. After summarizing the geological, archaeological, and ecological features that shaped Iowas modern landscape, she recreates the once-wild native communities that existed prior to Euroamerican settlement. Next she examines the dramatic changes that overtook native plant and animal communities as Iowas prairies, woodlands, and wetlands were transformed. Finally she presents realistic techniques for restoring native species and ecological processes as well as a broad variety of ways in which Iowans can reconnect with the natural world. Throughout, in addition to the many illustrations commissioned for this book, she offers careful scientific exposition, a strong sense of respect for the land, and encouragement to protect the future by learning from the past.
The emerald prairie that gleamed and shone to the horizons edge, as botanist Thomas Macbride described it in 1895, has vanished. Cornelia Mutels passionate dedication to restoring this damaged landscapeand by extension the transformed landscape of the entire Corn Beltinvigorates her blend of natural history and human history. Believing that citizens who are knowledgeable about native species, communities, and ecological processes will better care for them, she gives us hopeand sound suggestionsfor the future.
