A far more interesting look into a subject that I'm not all too familiar with than I expected it to be. This book had a lot of interesting information that was well researched. I definitely enjoyed it.

#EcologicalRestorationInTheMidwest #NetGalley

Ecological challenges become more common, especially with the climate change. This book is a good example that ecological restoration is possible. The book compiles a collection of midwestern restoration efforts illustrated as study cases and .restoration concepts written by fifteen authors. I recommend this book for environmental studies or civil engineering classes.

I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to ecology these days. I live in the Cleveland area and have watched this restoration for a very, very long time. I'm probably not it's target audience either, but find it of note. I guess my skepticism stems from my time in a botany class in college (it's been a while, but I don't think some things change that much.). Our factories have mostly folded and I have been watching the transformation of land along the Cuyahoga River. My question is- How do the heavy metals get out of the soil? Plant what you will, the soil is still contaminated with God only knows what. Think it leeches out somehow or magically disappears? It's not all washing out into the water table. New farms along the river and community gardens worry me. I pray those foods aren't making their way into my diet. Detroit, Michigan becoming known for farms??? Too scary to think about. I hear Lake Erie is making a comeback and getting "healthier due to the great number of midges, mayflies and other critters. Yet mercury remains in the lake bottom.We "rescued" land from farmers in what became the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, THEN turn around and leased the farms to urban farmers to farm! Then there's the MetroParks, hardly the wild life area and nature reserve it was when I was growing up, it now resembles a city park. Sad. The nature trails, intrepretive centers with their asphalt aren't good. It's funny how environmentalists will rant about asphalt parking lots at stores, yet heartily applaud the new whatever with IT"S not ecologically sound parking lot. I guess it's all about who's running the show. I'm not convinced I believe the hype.
But the book is an interesting read as I got to read about what other places are blowing their horns about. I just wonder if all this isn't just a distraction from what's really going on (fracking comes to mind...) Ah, well, business as usual.
Anyone who wants to read about what may or may not be actually happening will likely find this book interesting. It's been well-researched.