Derek Caelin reviewed Reindeer Chronicles by Judith Schwartz
Change is Possible
5 stars
I made a video review: sunbeam.city/system/media_attachments/files/109/003/050/194/362/756/original/0d0cad431b57cf3a.mp4
This book looks at the work that goes into ecosystem restoration, exploring case studies from across north-central china, the Sinai, Yemen, New Mexico, Spain, and many others. What's striking is that the work is not simply planting trees or protecting animal species. Each story is deeply focused on the humans who need to come together, collaborate, resolve conflicts or plan for a complex future.
This reflects the reality that humans are not "outside" of nature, or separate from it. We are deeply enmeshed in our ecosystems, and the damage we see to the world stems from our failure to recognize that fact. In many places, our conflicts over water (see the story about New Mexico) as much result from our own land management policies as the broader trends of climate change. I really appreciated book's focus on the humans involved in ecosystem restoration, looking …
I made a video review: sunbeam.city/system/media_attachments/files/109/003/050/194/362/756/original/0d0cad431b57cf3a.mp4
This book looks at the work that goes into ecosystem restoration, exploring case studies from across north-central china, the Sinai, Yemen, New Mexico, Spain, and many others. What's striking is that the work is not simply planting trees or protecting animal species. Each story is deeply focused on the humans who need to come together, collaborate, resolve conflicts or plan for a complex future.
This reflects the reality that humans are not "outside" of nature, or separate from it. We are deeply enmeshed in our ecosystems, and the damage we see to the world stems from our failure to recognize that fact. In many places, our conflicts over water (see the story about New Mexico) as much result from our own land management policies as the broader trends of climate change. I really appreciated book's focus on the humans involved in ecosystem restoration, looking at the movements to preserve reindeer herds in Norway and regenerative agriculture in Hawaii as culural, justice-oriented campaigns.
On a personal note, it was a pleasant surprise to see my organization's partners Commonland in The Netherlands and AlVelAl in Spain featured in the final chapter. A principle character featured is Dietmar Roth, a very kind German man who was an adopted son of his community in Vélez Blanco Spain. Dietmar generously spent several hours with me early on when I started working in my conservation-oriented job. He passed away in July 2021, and it was pleasant to see the work he loved held up as an example in the story.
Read the book!
