Islands Of Grass

From esteemed naturalist Trevor Herriot and acclaimed nature photographer Branimir Gjetvaj, Islands of Grass is a beautiful, well-researched call-to-action and a passionately wrought love letter to the prairie grasslands that are rapidly disappearing in the wake of modernity’s relentless push. Before the arrival of settlers, the Great Northern Plain sprawled across the centre of the continent and rivalled the African savannah for wildlife, with herds of bison and pronghorn antelope numbering in the millions. It was also the home for species of birds and animals that lived nowhere else. Today that range is threatened by human incursion and in some areas there are only pockets of unadulterated prairie grassland left, small islands of a unique environment. In those small plots of grasslands species cling to survival, unable to thrive in any other environment. In presenting the irreplaceable beauty and the complexity of the grasslands, Trevor and Branimir ask the reader to both admire its majesty and consider its value. Full of extraordinary photos supported by the thought-provoking prose of Trevor Herriot, this book will bring the wonder of the grasslands to a wider audience.

Island of Grass tells the story of the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area, a 240-acre preserve surrounded by housing developments in Fort Collins, Colorado. This small grassland is a remnant of the once-vast prairies of the West that early European explorers and settlers described as seas of grass. Agricultural land use and urban expansion during the past two centuries have fragmented and altered these prairies. All that remains today are small islands. These remnants cannot support some of the larger animals that once roamed the prairie, but they continue to support a diverse array of plants and animals and can still teach us much about grassland ecology. Through her examinations of daily changes during walks across the Fromme Prairie over the course of a year, Ellen Wohl explores one of the more neglected ecosystems in North America, describing the geology, soils, climate, ecology, and natural history of the area, as well as providing glimpses into the lives of the plants, animals, and microbes inhabiting this landscape. Although small in size, pieces of preserved shortgrass prairie like the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area are rich, diverse, and accessible natural environments deserving of awareness, appreciation, and protection. Anyone concerned with the ecology and conservation of grasslands in general, the ecology and conservation of open space in urban areas, or the natural history of Colorado will be interested in this book.

The search for an elusive plant-species required for his research took the author to North East India and various islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, some of them with restricted entry. Travelling across North East India can be both exciting and challenging. The verdant landscapes and the cultural diversity captivate visitors to no end while the lack of communication facilities and insurgency could be a real challenge to those travelling in the region. On the Grass Trail takes you on an exciting journey across the high mountains, valleys and river-plains of the North Eastern states of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh while providing insights into the historical, cultural and socio-political background of the region. The travails of the author’s journey to the remotest parts of North East India, overcoming adversities and uncertainties, will keep the reader engrossed and riveted to the narrative. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an irresistible charm that beckons travellers from across the world. The firsthand account on the exquisite charm of the islands, its chequered past, the life and struggle of the islanders, the status of native tribes and their uncertain future make this book a compelling read.

The proceedings or notices of the member institutes of the society form part of the section "Proceedings" in each volume; lists of members are included in v. 1-41, 43-60, 64-