A Window on Eternity: A Biologist's Walk Through Gorongosa National Park [With DVD] Hardcover - 2014

The remarkable story of how one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world was destroyed, restored, and continues to evolveâÈ'with stunning, full-color photographs by two of the worldâÈçs best wildlife photographers.

In 1976, Gorongosa National Park was the premier park in Mozambique, boasting one of the densest wildlife populations in all of Africa. Across 1,500 square miles of lush green floodplains, thick palm forests, swampy lakes, and vast plains roamed creatures great and small, from herds of wildebeest and elephant to countless bird species and insects yet to be classified. Then came the civil war of 1978âÈ'1992, when much of the ecosystem was destroyed, reducing some large animal populations by 90 percent or more. Due to a remarkable conservation effort sponsored by an American entrepreneur, the park was restored in the 1990s and is now evolving back to its former state. This is the story of that incredible transformation and why such biological diversity is so important.

In A Window on Eternity, world-renowned biologist and two-time Pulitzer PrizeâÈ'winner Edward O. Wilson shows why biodiversity is vital to the future of the Earth, including our human population. It is in places like Gorongosa in Africa, explains Wilson, that our own species evolved. Wilson takes readers to the forested groves of the parkâÈçs watershed on sacred Mount Gorongosa, then far away to deep gorges along the edge of the Rift Valley, places previously unexplored by biologists, with the aim of discovering new species and assessing their ancient origins. He treats readers to a war between termites and raider ants, describes âÈêconversationsâÈë with elephant herds, and explains the importance of a one-day âÈêbioblitz.âÈë

Praised as âÈêone of the finest scientists writing todayâÈë (Los Angeles Times), Wilson uses the story of Gorongosa to show the significance of biodiversity to humankind.

Details

• Title A Window on Eternity: A Biologist's Walk Through Gorongosa National Park [With DVD]
• Author Wilson; Piotr Naskrecki (Photographer)
• Binding Hardcover
• Edition Har/DVD
• Pages 176
• Volumes 1
• Language ENG
• Publisher Simon & Schuster, New York
• Date 2014-04-22
• Illustrated Yes
• Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Index, Maps, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
• ISBN 9781476747415 / 1476747415
• Weight 1.54 lbs (0.70 kg)
• Dimensions 9.2 x 7.7 x 0.9 in (23.37 x 19.56 x 2.29 cm)
• Themes
  • Cultural Region: East Africa
  • Cultural Region: Southern Africa
  • Topical: Ecology
• Library of Congress subjects NATURE / Environmental Conservation &, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biological
• Library of Congress Catalog Number 2013032607
• Dewey Decimal Code 333.951