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"The climate leaders profiled in this book are inspirational. Their stories reflect the diversity of California's people and landscapes and show the power of collective action to create change. They also reveal our profound connection with nature and one another and illuminate the power of nature-based solutions to address the climate crisis. Most importantly, this wonderful book reminds us of what we are capable of as individuals to improve the future of our planet and people."—Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources
"Climate Stewardship minces no words in describing the hazards that California is already experiencing from climate change. Through many examples, this hopeful and inspiring book shows the power of collective action to combat climate extremes and create resilient communities and ecosystems."—Claire Kremen, 2020 Laureate of the Volvo Environment Prize
List of contents
Foreword by Greg Sarris
Preface: United by Nature, Guided by Science
Acknowledgments
1 Extreme Events: Life in the New Normal
2 Big Bay to Tech Town
3 A Changing Harvest
4 Keeping Forests Green and Snow White
5 Climate Canaries
6 Los Angeles Plants Itself
7 Riding the California Current
In the End
References
Index
About the author
Adina Merenlender is an internationally recognized conservation biologist who has authored more than 100 published works. She currently works as a Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management Department at UC Berkeley.
Brendan Buhler is an award-winning science writer who has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and in Sierra and California magazines. His work has been collected in The Best American Science and Nature Writing.
Summary
As climate disruption intensifies the world over, Californians are finding solutions across a diversity of communities and landscapes.
Though climate change is a global existential threat, we cannot wait for nation-states to solve the problem when there are actions we can take now to protect our own communities. In Climate Stewardship: Taking Collective Action to Protect California, readers are invited on a journey to discover that all life is interconnected and shaped by climate and to learn how communities can help tackle climate change.
Climate Stewardship shares stories from everyday people and shows how their actions enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems across ten distinct bioregions. Climate science that justifies these actions is woven throughout, making it easy to learn about Earth's complex systems. The authors interpret and communicate these stories in a way that is enjoyable, inspiring, and even amusing.
California is uniquely positioned to develop and implement novel solutions to widespread climate challenges, owing to the state's remarkable biogeographic diversity and robust public science programs. Produced in collaboration with the UC California Naturalist Program, Climate Stewardship focuses on regenerative approaches to energy, agriculture, and land and water use across forested, agricultural, and urban landscapes. The authors' hopeful and encouraging tone aims to help readers develop a sense that they, too, can act now to make meaningful change in their communities.
