The Future of Conservation in America - by Gary E Machlis & Jonathan B Jarvis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This is a turbulent time for the conservation of America's natural and cultural heritage. From the current assaults on environmental protection to the threats of climate change, biodiversity loss, and disparity of environmental justice, the challenges facing the conservation movement are both immediate and long term. In this time of uncertainty, we need a clear and compelling guide for the future of conservation in America, a declaration to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders. This is that guide--what the authors describe as "a chart for rough water."

Written by the first scientist appointed as science advisor to the director of the National Park Service and the eighteenth director of the National Park Service, this is a candid, passionate, and ultimately hopeful book. The authors describe a unified vision of conservation that binds nature protection, historical preservation, sustainability, public health, civil rights and social justice, and science into common cause--and offer real-world strategies for progress. To be read, pondered, debated, and often revisited, The Future of Conservation in America is destined to be a touchstone for the conservation movement in the decades ahead.

Review Quotes

"'Small books can have big aims, ' Jarvis and Machlis write in the first few pages of The Future of Conservation. . . . Jarvis and Machlis write accessibly, focusing on real-world examples from their careers to illustrate the ways conservation efforts have succeeded (and failed) to get us where we are today. The warning about 'rough water' may seem bleak, but in Jarvis and Machlis's hands, the guide is at once prescriptive and hopeful."-- "Sierra"

"At 112 pages, this is a small book. But it is big on ideas, and the perfect mini-manual for those who care and are looking for guidance in these opaque times."-- "Redwoods Magazine"

"I'll not belabor the threats posed to these lands and the legacy that brought about their conservation; any regular reader of this website certainly already knows them full well. The question is, 'What can be done to prevent them from being lost, and our nation as well as our society being made lesser as a result?' Fortunately, contemporary leaders are beginning to step forward to offer guidance in these troubled times. . . . This remarkably short book seeks to bring together many of the disparate and divided groups in America into a single purpose, the result of which, if successful, will be to the betterment of us all; both individually and as a society."-- "The Well-read Naturalist"

"Jarvis and Machlis argue that it's no time for 'indecisive despair, ' but for conservationists to show resilience and aim for triumph in the long run. Among their recommendations: Organize, unite, and recruit a more diverse generation of millennials to lead and save the movement."-- "E&ENews' Greenwire"

"Machlis and Jarvis articulate a clear path forward for many conservationists who have expressed frustration with the future of the movement since the political winds appear to have blown many off course. Beginning with the end in mind, the authors--both former leaders with the National Park Service--call for a more unified constituency, aligning with those who had not necessarily identified themselves as conservationists: folks such as health care professionals, social workers, clergy, agriculturists, and many others. The authors argue these groups should view their work in improving the quality of life for others as consistent with the goals of conservation--joining with ecologists, wildlife biologists, foresters, park managers, etc. If we love people, we will care for the planet; if we love the planet, we will care for people. Given the challenges of the current political climate, now is the time to rise to the challenge of working with new partners in new as well as traditional methods. They can chart the way forward with strategic intention, sound science, and political activism. Recommended."-- "Choice"

"Machlis and Jarvis declare that the purpose of their book is to provide a guide for the future of the conservation movement, and it fulfills this goal. Their book offers needed inspiration and direction for [the] conservation movement. The main takeaways should be that the sociopolitical environment has changed; consequently, the conservation movement must adapt in order to rise to meet new challenges effectively. Just as nature can be resilient, such as how the restoration of wolves led to immediate and sustained restoration of impaired elements in Yellowstone National Park, Jarvis and Machlis compel us to be resilient and engage in a strong vision of conservation in America. This book is a must read for all who care about conservation professionally or personally. For students, it offers notes of optimism and direction that are not always as present as they should be in conservation. Above all, a bold vision and inspiration are what we need to advance conservation, and this book offers both."-- "BioScience"

"Gary Machlis and Jon Jarvis call for 'a new and unified vision of conservation.' They advocate for conservationists of all stripes to come together to collaborate for common causes, the independent national park system among them."-- "National Parks Traveler"

"The Future of Conservation in America is a call to action by two of the professional leaders most qualified to write it. The ongoing populist assaults on America's parks and wildlands is nothing less than a threat to a key part of our culture. Still worse, its effects will be irreversible. With authority and passion, the authors present an outline of the necessary defensive action to be undertaken now."--E. O. Wilson

"A personal reflection based on science and firsthand experience, a primer on how we can engage and be present in the service of life with all its complexities; how natural histories embedded in America's diverse landscapes can illuminate our diverse cultural histories."--Terry Tempest Williams, from the foreword

"I learned from my early days exploring the forests and waters of Georgia and my years in Washington, DC, that conservation is an American value that needs replenishment by each new generation. There are growing dangers to our most precious civic possessions: the air we breathe; the water we drink; and the land that sustains us. Divisive politics distract us from these common interests. The Future of Conservation in America calls for an enlightened vision for the future. The authors draw from a combined eighty years of public service in conservation and science to chart a course for a new generation of conservation action and leadership."--President Jimmy Carter

About the Author

Gary E. Machlis is university professor of environmental sustainability at Clemson University and former science advisor to the director of the National Park Service. He is coeditor of Science, Conservation, and National Parks, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Jonathan B. Jarvis served for forty years with the National Park Service as ranger, biologist, superintendent, regional director, and was its eighteenth director from 2009 to 2017. He is currently the executive director of the Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity at the University of California, Berkeley.