White Pine: The Natural and Human History of a Foundational American Tree

John Pastor

Jan 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Kimesimuliwa na Jonathan Yen

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America was built on white pine. From the 1600s through the Civil War and beyond, it was used to build the nation's ships and houses, barns, and bridges. Yet this popularity came at a cost: by the end of the nineteenth century, clear cutting had decimated much of America's white pine forests. In White Pine, ecologist and writer John Pastor takes listeners on walk through history, connecting the white pine forests that remain today to a legacy of destruction and renewal. Since the clear-cutting era, naturalists, foresters, and scientists have taken up the quest to restore the great white pine forests. White Pine follows this centuries-long endeavor, illuminating how the efforts shaped Americans' understanding of key scientific ideas, from forest succession to the importance of fire. Pastor shows us why restoring the vitality of these forests has not been simple: a host of other creatures depend on white pine and white pine depends on them. In weaving together cultural and natural history, White Pine celebrates the way humans are connected to the forest-and to the larger natural world. Today, white pine forests have begun to recover, but face the growing threat of climate change. White Pine shows us that hope for healthy forests lies in understanding the lessons of history, so that iconic species survives.

Kuhusu mwandishi

John Pastor is an ecologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, focusing on natural history and ecology of northern ecosystems. He is past cochair of the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America and founding editor of "The Scientific Naturalist" series in the journal Ecology.

Jonathan Yen was inspired by the Golden Age of Radio, and he's carried that inspiration through to commercial work, voice acting, and stage productions. From vintage Howard Fast science fiction to naturalist Paul Rosolie's true adventures in the Amazon, Jonathan loves to tell a good story.