Michelle Nijhuis
Norton, 2021, 321pp.
The author begins with an opening that, amidst the many harbingers of doom, gives the human race a little credit for coming up with the modern conservation movement. She moves on into stories of people who have fought for particular species or ecosystems. She spans time and cultures. A few names will be familiar to general readers: most, like wolf biologist Michael Soule and Ghanian fish conservationist Emmanuel Frimpong, not at all. Her essay on Namibia and its rhinos gives more space to the dedicated local activists than to the equally dedicated Western conservationists who might make the news. She weaves her own travels and meetings into the story and illustrates it with a small but effective selection of photographs. There are very good chapter notes, further reading suggestions, and an index. There are spots where I'd like maps, but that's a quibble compared to the excellence and eloquence of this book.
Matt Bille is a writer, historian, and naturalist living in Colorado Springs. He can be reached at mattsciwriter@protonmail.com. Website: www.mattbilleauthor.com.
