The Reindeer Chronicles: And Other Inspiring Stories of Working with Nature to Heal the Earth

In this worthwhile look at conservation, journalist Schwartz (Water in Plain Sight) sheds light on a global and “growing cohort of scientists, mavericks, and young people” engaged in the “participatory sport” of land restoration. Schwartz begins with a large-scale project in China’s Loess Plateau, a “stunning makeover” that occurred over 15 years and involved tens of thousands of people. She also highlights efforts by indigenous Sámi people in Norway to fight government-mandated thinning of the reindeer they have traditionally herded, by proving that this practice doesn’t accelerate climate change, as many other forms of animal agriculture do. In the U.S., Schwartz examines water and land management issues in New Mexico, where conflict and tension between different parties has abounded. Perhaps most fascinating are the sections on Hawaii, which describe the ecological damage wreaked by commodity sugar production, which “invariably (involved) toxic pesticides, fertilizer runoff, and diversions of natural waterways.” In recent decades, however, people in Hawaii have paid greater attention to viable land use, erosion mitigation, and “regenerative agriculture.” Bolstered by a hopeful tone, Schwartz’s study shows what can be accomplished to ensure “that the green-blue orb we sail on remains fit for habitation.” (Aug.)