The Redwood Forest: History, Ecology, and Conservation of the Coastal Redwoods

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Summary: The Redwood Forest - An Ecological Synthesis
Review: This is the first widely available publication that attempts to describe the ecology of the redwood forest ecosystem. It is aimed at a wide-ranging audience from environmental professionals to the general public with a deeper-than-average interest in redwoods. Thirty-two contributing authors were involved writing separate sections of the book with Dr. Reed Noss doing the editing. The nine chapters cover paleocology, human history, flora, fauna, forest ecology, stream ecology, conservation planning, and forest management. As a first attempt at compilation of redwood forest information it is welcome and long overdue since there is scant else available. The book includes many new research findings including interesting discoveries by biologists working in the forest canopy of old-growth trees. Unfortunately there are some significant gaps in the coverage provided (the soil ecosystem is a major one, the importance of large down logs is another) and some minor, but annoying, areas of misinformation. A more complete review of this book appeared in the January 2000 issue of "Fremontia", the journal of the California Native Plant Society. It may be viewed online at the CNPS web site.