First published 2009
Development destroys habitats at an accelerating pace, putting wildlife populations under mounting pressure. Douglas Tallamy reveals a crucial connection that offers hope: native plant species form an unbreakable bond with native wildlife. Alien plants cannot sustain native insects, which refuse to eat them. When native plants vanish, insects disappear too. This collapse impoverishes the food web that sustains birds and other animals. In regions where habitat destruction has reached extensive levels, local wildlife faces crisis and potential extinction. Tallamy demonstrates how goldenrod, wild black cherry, milkweed, and other indigenous species support the larvae that feed birds. Remove these plants and you starve the creatures that depend on this intricate web. The author provides practical recommendations that allow anyone with earth access to contribute meaningfully to biodiversity conservation. His approach has ignited national discussion about connections between healthy local ecosystems and human welfare.
Genres: science, nature, environment, non-fiction
Vibes: educational, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, informative
360 pages · Paperback · Timber Press