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Plant Life
The Entangled Politics of Afforestation
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See more"Rosetta S. Elkin reveals that planting a tree can either be one of the ultimate offerings to thriving on this planet, or one of the most extreme perversions of human agency over it. Plant Life exposes the relationship between human and plant life, revealing that afforestation is not an ecological act: rather, it is deliberately political and distressingly social"--
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
How afforestation reveals the often-concealed politics between humans and plants
In Plant Life, Rosetta S. Elkin explores the procedures of afforestation, the large-scale planting of trees in otherwise treeless environments, including grasslands, prairies, and drylands. Elkin reveals that planting a tree can either be one of the ultimate offerings to thriving on this planet, or one of the most extreme perversions of human agency over it.
Using three supracontinental case studies—scientific forestry in the American prairies, colonial control in Africa's Sahelian grasslands, and Chinese efforts to control and administer territory—Elkin explores the political implications of plant life as a tool of environmentalism. By exposing the human tendency to fix or solve environmental matters by exploiting other organisms, this work exposes the relationship between human and plant life, revealing that afforestation is not an ecological act: rather, it is deliberately political and distressingly social.
Plant Life ultimately reveals that afforestation cannot offset deforestation, an important distinction that sheds light on current environmental trends that suggest we can plant our way out of climate change. By radicalising what conservation protects and by framing plants in their total aliveness, Elkin shows that there are many kinds of life—not just our own—to consider when advancing environmental policy.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Plant Life by Rosetta S. Elkin is praised for its insightful examination of tree planting campaigns and their often misguided approaches, highlighting a lack of true understanding of living ecosystems. The book offers a robust critique of afforestation through various academic lenses and suggests a shift towards recognising planting as a social act that reshapes landscapes. Elkin's narratives stress the importance of natural growth and the dynamics within ecosystems, inviting readers to reconsider the relationship between human cultivation and ecological sustainability.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781517912628
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 May 2022
Country: United States
Imprint: University of Minnesota Press
Illustration: 15 b&w illustrations, 2 tables, 34 color plates
Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 38.0mm
Width: 178.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 264
About the Author
Rosetta S. Elkin is associate professor and academic director of landscape architecture at Pratt Institute, principal of Practice Landscape, and research associate at the Harvard Arnold Arboretum. She is author of Tiny Taxonomy: Individual Plants in Landscape Architecture.
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