A down-to-earth focus on the environment

Living close to the beach makes us aware of our environment and its

beauty on a daily basis. We certainly don’t need to read about it to

know just how much we enjoy the ocean, forests or natural wildlife,

but determining the best way to protect the environment can be a

complex, controversial and thought-provoking topic.

Whether you’d like to gain a better understanding of environmental

issues or just learn more about some of our country’s natural

habitats, the Newport Beach Public Library presents a high-profile

guest speaker on the environment this week as well as an intriguing

selection of environmentally focused books and videos.

On March 19 and 20, Bruce Babbitt, former secretary of the

Interior, will speak at the Newport Beach Central Library about

current environmental policy and how it affects business and

America’s natural wonders. For registration and tickets, call (866)

301-2411 or visit the library’s website at https://www.newportbeach

library.org.

Can’t make it to this special event? You should still head over to

one of the Newport Beach libraries. There are several fascinating new

books on a wide range of topics relating to the environment. Some of

these titles are coffee table-style books with lavish illustrations

and photographs. Others give more in-depth research on various

environmental issues.

“Smithsonian Book of National Wildlife Refuges” by Eric Jay Dolin

is a beautifully illustrated volume that chronicles the history of

America’s 538 national wildlife refuges. Dolin explores Teddy

Roosevelt’s initial development of national wildlife refuges and

describes how 17 presidents followed his lead in signing

proclamations that helped earn the United States its reputation as a

leader in global conservation.

Another visually appealing and informative book for the armchair

naturalist is Jeff Corwin’s “Living on the Edge: Amazing

Relationships in the Natural World.” Corwin, an explorer and wildlife

biologist, is the executive producer and host of the popular Animal

Planet series “The Jeff Corwin Experience.”

Travel with him through Arizona, Africa, Costa Rica and Venezuela

as he enthusiastically describes the animals, the land and his

concerns about protecting the natural habitats in these countries.

Acclaimed author and artist Richard Ellis’ “The Empty Ocean” takes

a more serious tone as he laments the great losses the world’s oceans

have suffered. Through captivating portraits of an array of marine

creatures, his descriptions bring to life the natural history of the

various species, the threats they face and their struggles for

survival. Along with scientific data, anecdotes and surprising facts,

Ellis offers some realistic alternatives and possible solutions for

reversing the plundering of life in the sea.

“Strangely Like War: The Global Assault on Forests,” by Derrick

Jensen and George Draffan, exposes the crisis of worldwide

deforestation. Jensen and Draffan are pessimistic and concerned that

three-quarters of the world’s original forests are gone. This

carefully documented work analyzes how the destruction of forests

causes flooding, erosion, landslides and the extinction of plants and

animals. The authors claim that globalization allows those in power

to consume the natural resources of other nations.

Vaclav Smil also voices concern about the future course of global

environmental change in “The Earth’s Biosphere: Evolution, Dynamics,

and Change.” However, as a scientist, Smil is hesitant to proclaim

doom as the certain outcome of human influences on the planet. This

comprehensive survey tells the story of the Earth’s biosphere,

explores the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe, and

offers fresh approaches on solar radiation, plate tectonics and plant

metabolism.

Another book written by an internationally renowned scientist is

Daniel B. Botkin’s “Strange Encounters: Adventures of a Renegade

Naturalist.” This collection of essays by the UC Santa Barbara

research professor is a warm and witty account of his adventures in

nature, ecology and science. There is so much humor in this

delightful, open-minded narrative that illuminates the complex and

ever-changing relationship between humans and their environment.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Tamara Henn. All titles may be

reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at

https://www.newport beachlibrary.org. For more information on the

Central Library or any of the branch locations, please contact the

Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.