false 413817 2 <p>The rapidly disappearing wetlands that once spread so abundantly across the American continent serve an essential and irreplaceable ecological function. Yet for centuries, Americans have viewed them with disdain. Beginning with the first European settlers, we have thought of them as sinkholes of disease and death, as landscapes that were worse than useless unless they could be drained, filled, paved or otherwise "improved." As neither dry land, which can be owned and controlled by individuals, nor bodies of water, which are considered a public resource, wetlands have in recent years been at the center of controversy over issues of environmental protection and property rights.<p>The confusion and contention that surround wetland issues today are the products of a long and convoluted history. In Discovering the Unknown Landscape, Anne Vileisis presents a fascinating look at that history, exploring how Americans have thought about and used wetlands from Colonial times through the present day. She discusses the many factors that influence patterns of land use-ideology, economics, law, perception, art-and examines the complicated interactions among those factors that have resulted in our contemporary landscape. As well as chronicling the march of destruction, she considers our seemingly contradictory tradition of appreciating wetlands: artistic and literary representations, conservation during the Progressive Era, and recent legislation aimed at slowing or stopping losses.<p>Discovering the Unknown Landscape is an intriguing synthesis of social and environmental history, and a valuable examination of how cultural attitudes shape the physical world that surrounds us. It provides important context to current debates, and clearly illustrates the stark contrast between centuries of beliefs and policies and recent attempts to turn those longstanding beliefs and policies around. Vileisis's clear and engaging prose provides a new and compelling understanding of modern-day environmental conflicts. 403042 1997 Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History Of America's Wetlands total:5|5:1|4:2|3:2|2:0|1:0| 5 19 10 2 5 0 false false Tue Apr 28 20:51:50 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 28 20:53:40 -0700 2009 BOGS
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bayous ---> wetlands - we miss you!]]> 4 0 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Fri Nov 16 00:11:01 -0800 2007 Fri Nov 16 00:11:01 -0800 2007 4 0 false false Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Aug 20 15:14:06 -0700 2009 Mon Nov 09 14:49:42 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jul 16 15:34:58 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 15:34:58 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Jul 07 12:22:16 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 07 12:22:16 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Nov 21 18:19:13 -0800 2008 Fri Nov 21 18:19:13 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Fri Jul 18 11:37:03 -0700 2008 Fri Jul 18 11:37:03 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Thu Mar 13 13:58:26 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 13 13:58:26 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Dec 19 22:39:59 -0800 2007 Wed Sep 17 12:58:57 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Wed Mar 21 17:48:08 -0700 2007 Wed Mar 21 17:48:08 -0700 2007 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=2356801