Nature's Allies

It s easy to feel small and powerless in the face of big environmental challenges. When climate change forces species to fight for their very survival and the planet s last places of wilderness are growing smaller and smaller, what can a single person do? But environmentalism s greatest change-makers started out living ordinary lives. In Nature s Allies, Larry Nielsen uses the inspiring stories of conservation pioneers to show that through passion and perseverance we can each make a difference. In eight engaging biographies John Muir, Ding Darling, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Chico Mendes, Billy Frank Jr., Wangari Maathai, and Gro Harlem Brundtland we meet individuals who have little in common except that they all made a lasting mark on our world. Some famous and some little known to readers, they all spoke out to protect wilderness, wildlife, fisheries, rainforests, and wetlands. They exposed polluting practices and fought for social justice. They wrote books, marched, testified before Congress, performed acts of civil disobedience, and, in one case, were martyred for their defense of nature. Nature s Allies pays tribute to them all as it seeks to rally a new generation of conservationists to follow in their footsteps. These brief, vivid biographies will inspire students, conservationists, and nature lovers to speak up for nature, and show how seemingly small efforts can affect positive change in the world."