Bibliograph

We alone, how humans have conquered the planet and can also save it, David Western

Type

Label

We alone, how humans have conquered the planet and can also save it, David Western

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-293) and index

Illustrations

illustrationsplates

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

We alone

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1202532784

Responsibility statement

David Western

Sub title

how humans have conquered the planet and can also save it

Summary

"This personal and thoughtful book by renowned Kenya conservationist David Western traces our global conquest from Maasai herders battling droughts in Africa to the technological frontiers of California. Western draws on a half century of research in the savannas and his own life's journey to argue that conservation is not a modern invention. The success of all societies past and present lies in conservation practices, breaking biological barriers and learning to live in large cooperative groups able to sustain a healthy environment. Our ecological emancipation from nature enabled us to expand our horizons from conserving food and water for survival to saving whales, elephants, and our cultural heritage. In the Anthropocene, our scientific knowledge and modern sensibilities offer hope for combating global warming and creating a planet able to sustain the wealth of life, but only if we use our unique cultural capacity of cooperation to plan our future"--Publisher's website

Table Of Contents

Introduction: Confronting the human age -- The roots of our success. Survival in the savannas ; Consuming passions ; The conservation paradox ; Limits to growth : hope or despair? ; Lessons from disasters ; Why some succeed where others fail ; Icons of two worlds ; An altruistic species ; Breaking biological barriers ; Domesticating nature ; Ecological emancipation -- The human age. The global express ; Converging worlds ; Our novel age ; The modern conservation movement -- Our once and future planet. Unnatural reconnections ; New tools for a new age ; Cleaning our planetary nest ; Nature and human well-being ; Natural capital ; The city and the planet -- Conclusion: From conservation philosophy to citizen action

Classification