Almost Somewhere


Book Description

This updated edition of a month-long backcountry trip on the John Muir Trail is part memoir, part nature writing, and part travelogue.




150 Nature Hot Spots in California


Book Description

An illustrated guide to California's most popular and iconic nature getaways. 150 Nature Hot Spots in California showcases the legendary diversity and beauty of California's landscape and wildlife -- famous deserts, iconic badlands, lush forests and beautiful beaches. The book is organized by region. Each entry includes at-a-glance information on activities, addresses and contact information; a feature on the location's characteristics, history and best hiking paths; and photography illustrating the geography and prominent wildlife and flora of the region. The destinations and sites include: Waterfalls and giant sequoias of Yosemite National Park The cinder cone of Amboy Crater Below-sea-level salt flats of Death Valley National Park Elephant seals at A-o Nuevo State Park The palm oasis at Coachella Valley Preserve Tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument The wind-sculpted badlands of Alabama Hills Hydrothermal features of Lassen Volcanic National Park Tule elk and whales at Point Reyes National Seashore. California is one of America's most popular travel destinations. According to Visit California, the state is the No. 1 tourism destination in the U.S. Of the 268 million tourists that visited in 2016, roughly 75 percent were Californians, 18 percent were from other states and 7 percent were from outside the country. This guidebook will appeal to all travelers: families, hikers, campers, photographers and other nature enthusiasts; those who'd want to spend a week in the wilderness; and those who simply want to take a day trip. The book is a must-have for libraries, tourism offices, travel agents and bookstores.




Ecosystems of California


Book Description

This long-anticipated reference and sourcebook for CaliforniaÕs remarkable ecological abundance provides an integrated assessment of each major ecosystem typeÑits distribution, structure, function, and management. A comprehensive synthesis of our knowledge about this biologically diverse state, Ecosystems of California covers the state from oceans to mountaintops using multiple lenses: past and present, flora and fauna, aquatic and terrestrial, natural and managed. Each chapter evaluates natural processes for a specific ecosystem, describes drivers of change, and discusses how that ecosystem may be altered in the future. This book also explores the drivers of CaliforniaÕs ecological patterns and the history of the stateÕs various ecosystems, outlining how the challenges of climate change and invasive species and opportunities for regulation and stewardship could potentially affect the stateÕs ecosystems. The text explicitly incorporates both human impacts and conservation and restoration efforts and shows how ecosystems support human well-being. Edited by two esteemed ecosystem ecologists and with overviews by leading experts on each ecosystem, this definitive work will be indispensable for natural resource management and conservation professionals as well as for undergraduate or graduate students of CaliforniaÕs environment and curious naturalists.




California Wine Guide


Book Description




Explorer's Guide Santa Barbara & California's Central Coast: A Great Destination: Includes the Santa Ynez Valley (Explorer's Great Destinations)


Book Description

"Consistently rated the best guides to the regions covered."—National Geographic Traveler From the region’s laid-back beach towns to the jumble of Monterey’s Cannery Row, California’s Central Coast offers the most spectacular triptych of landscapes—surf, forests, and picturesque small towns—in the West. Includes coverage of the region’s vineyards, culinary gems, and coastal hideaways.




National Geographic Guide to Birding Hot Spots of the United States


Book Description

Pinpoints the best places to view more than four hundred species of birds, utilizing color photographs and maps to identify bird sanctuaries, national and state parks, wildlife refuges, nature trails, and other birding locales.




Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected Areas


Book Description

Cultural and spiritual bonds with ‘nature’ are among the strongest motivators for nature conservation; yet they are seldom taken into account in the governance and management of protected and conserved areas. The starting point of this book is that to be sustainable, effective, and equitable, approaches to the management and governance of these areas need to engage with people’s deeply held cultural, spiritual, personal, and community values, alongside inspiring action to conserve biological, geological, and cultural diversity. Since protected area management and governance have traditionally been based on scientific research, a combination of science and spirituality can engage and empower a variety of stakeholders from different cultural and religious backgrounds. As evidenced in this volume, stakeholders range from indigenous peoples and local communities to those following mainstream religions and those representing the wider public. The authors argue that the scope of protected area management and governance needs to be extended to acknowledge the rights, responsibilities, obligations, and aspirations of stakeholder groups and to recognise the cultural and spiritual significance that ‘nature’ holds for people. The book also has direct practical applications. These follow the IUCN Best Practice Guidelines for protected and conserved area managers and present a wide range of case studies from around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas.




Trends


Book Description




California Friendly


Book Description

California Friendly® is California's future. Water reliability is dependent on using water wisely. We need to create sustainable gardens that rely on less water. This maintenance guide will help you support California's future:*Uncover the secrets of efficient irrigation.*Explore the techniques for irrigating with recycled water.*Get the maintenance tips for hundreds of California Friendly® plants.*Discover the methods and means of managing weed and pest infestations.*Learn how to maintain rainwater capture opportunities.This book has been written for every landscaper, gardener and land manager in Southern California. It has been produced by the very first collaboration between three Southern California organizations, LADWP, MWD and SoCalGas. Grab a copy--they are free--use the information in your garden and help us create a beautiful, thriving and sustainable future.




Ecosystems of California


Book Description

This long-anticipated reference and sourcebook for California’s remarkable ecological abundance provides an integrated assessment of each major ecosystem type—its distribution, structure, function, and management. A comprehensive synthesis of our knowledge about this biologically diverse state, Ecosystems of California covers the state from oceans to mountaintops using multiple lenses: past and present, flora and fauna, aquatic and terrestrial, natural and managed. Each chapter evaluates natural processes for a specific ecosystem, describes drivers of change, and discusses how that ecosystem may be altered in the future. This book also explores the drivers of California’s ecological patterns and the history of the state’s various ecosystems, outlining how the challenges of climate change and invasive species and opportunities for regulation and stewardship could potentially affect the state’s ecosystems. The text explicitly incorporates both human impacts and conservation and restoration efforts and shows how ecosystems support human well-being. Edited by two esteemed ecosystem ecologists and with overviews by leading experts on each ecosystem, this definitive work will be indispensable for natural resource management and conservation professionals as well as for undergraduate or graduate students of California’s environment and curious naturalists.