Restoring Nature: The Evolution of Channel Islands National Park

The California Channel Islands are an archipelago of eight islands off the coast of California, designated as a National Park in 1980 to protect and restore their rich habitat. Lary M. Dilsaver and Timothy J. Babalis' book "Restoring Nature" examines how the National Park Service has attempted to reestablish native wildlife and vegetation through restorative ecology and public land management. The program became a blueprint for management throughout the U.S. park system.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 426 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The California Channel Islands, an archipelago off the coast of California, stretches from Santa Barbara to La Jolla. In 1980, the northern five islands were designated as Channel Islands National Park to safeguard and restore their rich habitat and surrounding waters. However, as scientists delved deeper into the damage to these delicate ecosystems, the urgency of their mission grew. In their book, "Restoring Nature," Lary M. Dilsaver and Timothy J. Babalis explore how the National Park Service has undertaken a remarkable effort to reintroduce native wildlife and vegetation to these five islands through restorative ecology and public land management.

The Channel Islands staff pioneered an inventory and monitoring program that exposed resource problems, serving as a blueprint for management across the U.S. park system. Dilsaver and Babalis offer a unique regional and environmental history of this little-known corner of the Pacific West, as well as a broader national narrative about how the Park Service developed its restoration ecology approach, which became a guiding principle for broader environmental conservation policies.

The book sheds light on the challenges and successes of restoring ecosystems, highlighting the importance of public engagement, scientific research, and collaborative efforts to protect and preserve these natural treasures for future generations. It serves as a valuable resource for environmentalists, policymakers, and anyone interested in preserving and restoring the natural world.

Weight: 644g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496233554