Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet

Conservationist Reid and biologist Lovejoy (Biodiversity and Climate Change) convincingly argue in this trenchant work that preserving Earth’s five megaforests is vital to stop climate change. The authors cite studies that suggest “stopping tropical deforestation would reduce global emissions by 16 to 19 percent,” and interview activists, scientists, and Indigenous people who are researching the impact of deforestation activities such as logging and mining. In Russia, they tour the Taiga forest—the world’s largest—and speak to a botanist and an ecologist who mapped the world’s intact forests. In the Congo, they visit a research team observing the cohabitation habits of gorillas and chimps, and in New Guinea, they visit Yunus Yumte, who leads an organization that “helps Indigenous peoples keep their livelihoods and spiritual lives entwined with nature.” The authors depict the flora and fauna of these far-flung locations in vivid descriptions that chart how each species is part of a vast ecosystem, and make a strong case for the inherent value of the plants, animals, and people that live in the megaforests. This clarion call should have a spot on the shelves of climate-minded readers. Photos. (Mar.)