Nature's Temples: A Natural History of Old-Growth Forests Revised and Expanded

An impassioned case for the importance of ancient forests and their preservation Standing in an old-growth forest, you can instinctively sense the ways it is different from forests shaped by humans. These ancient, undisturbed ecosystems are increasingly rare and largely misunderstood. Nature's Temples explores the science and alchemy of old-growth forests and makes a compelling case for their protection. Many foresters are proponents of forest management, while ecologists and conservation biologists believe that the healthiest forests are those we leave alone. Joan Maloof brings together the scientific data we have about old-growth forests, drawing on diverse fields of study to explain the ecological differences among forests of various ages. She describes the life forms and relationships that make old-growth forests unique--from salamanders and micro-snails to plants that communicate through fungi--and reveals why human attempts to manage forests can never replicate nature's sublime handiwork. This revised and expanded edition also sheds new light on the special role forests play in removing carbon from the atmosphere and shares what we know about the interplay between wildfires and ancient forests. With drawings by Andrew Joslin that illustrate scientific concepts and capture the remarkable beauty of ancient trees, Nature's Temples invites you to discover the power of these fragile realms that are so inextricably connected to our planet, our fellow species, and our spirits.

About the Author :
Joan Maloof, PhD, is founder and director of the Old-Growth Forest Network, a national organization that works to save threatened forests, and professor emerita of biological sciences at Salisbury University. Her books include Treepedia (Princeton) and Teaching the Trees.

Review :
"Maloof eloquently urges us to cherish the wildness of what little old-growth woodlands we have left. . . . Not only are they home to the richest diversity of creatures, but they work hard for humans too."-- "New York Times Book Review" "For anyone visiting the United States to see large trees in old-growth forests this book would be perfect to take along. . . . This revised and expanded book gives an excellent insight into both the flora and fauna within the forests, complimented by beautiful black and white illustrations."---Diane Farrar, British Naturalists Association "Joan Maloof is a powerful advocate for old-growth forests."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds