Dead Zone: Where the Wild Things Were

Lymbery (coauthor, with Isabel Oakeshott, of Farmageddon), a conservationist and animal rights activist, bemoans the loss of delicate ecosystems and threats to various species in this lengthy volume on the detrimental effects of industrial farming. He warns against reckless exploitation, arguing that land ought to be used judiciously and efficiently with an eye toward sustainability. Though Lymbery primarily calls attention to the cattle industry and ways in which cows are affected by horrible feedlot conditions, he also sheds light on other animals affected by industrial agriculture, including elephants and penguins. Visiting Sumatra, Lymbery observes declines in the area’s elephant, orangutan, and tiger populations. He points out that many species’ habitats have been decimated by profit-seekers clearing wetland forests and jungle habitats for palm-oil plantations. Palm oil is used to produce a variety of supermarket items, including margarine and ice cream, while palm-kernel meal is widely used to feed cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry on factory farms around the world. Damage can thus be traced back to increasing demand for cheap foodstuffs. The author contends that by shifting consumption and buying habits, we can make headway in saving certain animals and preserving valuable natural resources. In this comprehensive volume, Lymbery encourages collective effort and effectively offers practical solutions to stymie further degradation. (June)