Crossings

The world is crisscrossed with over 40 million miles of roads, a vast network that exists primarily for human benefit yet poses a hidden menace to nature. While we often perceive these roads simply as a means of connectivity and convenience, for countless wild animals, they represent insurmountable barriers and deadly traps. In Crossings, acclaimed environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb embarks on a compelling journey across the United States and around the globe, uncovering how roads have reshaped our ecosystems in profound ways.

Through engaging storytelling and insightful exploration, Goldfarb reveals the imminent threats that roads pose to wildlife and the environment. In the U.S. alone, the sad reality is that vehicles claim the lives of a million animals every single day, but road ecology—a burgeoning scientific field—illuminates the far-reaching impact of roads beyond mere collisions. From majestic antelope and agile salmon blocked from their migratory routes to invasive plant species hitching rides on tyres, the disruption is vast. Road salt seeps into and contaminates delicate aquatic ecosystems, while the relentless noise of traffic forces songbirds to abandon extensive territories, robbing the natural world of their vibrant choruses.

Yet, amidst this sobering scenario, Crossings offers a glimmer of hope through the innovative efforts of road ecologists. Goldfarb introduces us to a dedicated cast of characters who are leading the charge in mitigating ecological damage. He visits conservationists engineering wildlife overpasses for mountain lions in California, constructing amphibian tunnels for English toads, and encountering animal rehabilitators who nurture Tasmania’s wallabies orphaned by traffic. The book shines a light on engineers dismantling obsolete logging roads within national forests, and community activists striving to reform urban landscapes fractured by highways, highlighting how we can coexist more harmoniously with the natural world.

In this era of rapid urban expansion, where the proliferation of roads is unavoidable, the work of road ecologists becomes crucial. With a mixture of passionate advocacy and investigative spirit, Crossings offers a profound examination of how humanity’s infrastructural ambitions have indelibly altered the biosphere. Goldfarb's narrative is a call to action, offering insightful solutions and highlighting the possibilities for a sustainable future in which humans and wildlife can thrive together. This beautifully crafted book is not only an exploration of an environmental crisis but also a clarion call to forge a new path that respects and preserves the fragile balances of the natural world.