Enduring Seeds: Native American Agriculture and Wild Plant Conservation - Softcover

Nabhan, Gary Paul

  • 4.10 out of 5 stars
    122 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780816522590: Enduring Seeds: Native American Agriculture and Wild Plant Conservation
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0816522596 ISBN 13: 9780816522590
Publisher: University of Arizona Press, 2002

Synopsis

As biological diversity continues to shrink at an alarming rate, the loss of plant species poses a threat seemingly less visible than the loss of animals but in many ways more critical. In this book, one of America's leading ethnobotanists warns about our loss of natural vegetation and plant diversity while providing insights into traditional Native agricultural practices in the Americas.

Gary Paul Nabhan here reveals the rich diversity of plants found in tropical forests and their contribution to modern crops, then tells how this diversity is being lost to agriculture and lumbering. He then relates "local parables" of Native American agriculture—from wild rice in the Great Lakes region to wild gourds in Florida—that convey the urgency of this situation and demonstrate the need for saving the seeds of endangered plants. Nabhan stresses the need for maintaining a wide gene pool, not only for the survival of these species but also for the preservation of genetic strains that can help scientists breed more resilient varieties of other plants.

Enduring Seeds is a book that no one concerned with our environment can afford to ignore. It clearly shows us that, as agribusiness increasingly limits the food on our table, a richer harvest can be had by preserving ancient ways.

This edition features a new foreword by Miguel Altieri, one of today's leading spokesmen for sustainable agriculture and the preservation of indigenous farming methods.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

A MacArthur Fellow and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Conservation Biology, Gary Paul Nabhan is Director of the Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern Arizona University.

From the Back Cover

As biological diversity continues to shrink at an alarming rate, the loss of plant species poses a threat seemingly less visible than the loss of animals but in many ways more critical. In this book, one of America's leading ethnobotanists warns about our loss of natural vegetation and plant diversity while providing insights into traditional Native agricultural practices in the Americas. Gary Paul Nabhan here reveals the rich diversity of plants found in tropical forests and their contribution to modern crops, then tells how this diversity is being lost to agriculture and lumbering. He then relates "local parables" of Native American agriculture--from wild rice in the Great Lakes region to wild gourds in Florida--that convey the urgency of this situation and demonstrate the need for saving the seeds of endangered plants. Nabhan stresses the need for maintaining a wide gene pool, not only for the survival of these species but also for the preservation of genetic strains that can help scientists breed more resilient varieties of other plants. "Enduring Seeds" is a book that no one concerned with our environment can afford to ignore. It clearly shows us that, as agribusiness increasingly limits the food on our table, a richer harvest can be had by preserving ancient ways. "This edition features a new foreword by Miguel Altieri, one of today's leading spokesmen for sustainable agriculture and the preservation of indigenous farming methods."

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
University of Arizona Press
Publication date
2002
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0816522596
ISBN 13 
9780816522590
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
1
Number of pages
225
Rating
  • 4.10 out of 5 stars
    122 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780865473430: Enduring Seeds: Native American Agriculture and Wild Plant Conservation

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0865473439 ISBN 13:  9780865473430
Publisher: North Point Pr, 1989
Hardcover