Ecology and Wonder celebrates Western Canada's breathtaking landscape. The book makes several remarkable claims. The greatest cultural achievement in the mountain region of western Canada may be what has been preserved, not what has been developed. Protecting the spine of the Rocky Mountains will preserve crucial ecological functions. Because the process of ecosystem diminshment and species loss has been slowed, an ecological thermostat has been kept alive. This may well be an important defence against future impacts of climate change in the Canadian West.

Ecology & Wonder makes several remarkable claims: The greatest cultural achievement in the Western Canadian mountain region may be what has been preserved, not what has been developed. Protecting the spine of the Rocky Mountains will preserve crucial ecological functions. Because the process of ecosystem diminishment and species loss has been slowed, an ecological thermostat has been kept alive. This may well be an important defence against future climate change impacts in the Canadian west. Ecology & Wonder is a must-read for those who appreciate Western Canada's breathtaking landscape.

Prato and Fagre offer the first systematic, multi-disciplinary assessment of the challenges involved in managing the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (CCE), an area of the Rocky Mountains that includes northwestern Montana, southwestern Alberta, and southeastern British Columbia. The spectacular landscapes, extensive recreational options, and broad employment opportunities of the CCE have made it one of the fastest growing regions in the United States and Canada, and have lead to a shift in its economic base from extractive resources to service-oriented recreation and tourism industries. In the process, however, the amenities and attributes that draw people to this 'New West' are under threat. Pastoral scenes are disappearing as agricultural lands and other open spaces are converted to residential uses, biodiversity is endangered by the fragmentation of fish and wildlife habitats, and many areas are experiencing a decline in air and water quality. Sustaining Rocky Mountain Landscapes provides a scientific basis for communities to develop policies for managing the growth and economic transformation of the CCE without sacrificing the quality of life and environment for which the land is renowned. The book begins with a natural and economic history of the CCE. It follows with an assessment of current physical and biological conditions in the CCE. The contributors then explore how social, economic, demographic, and environmental forces are transforming ecosystem structure and function. They consider ecosystem change in response to changing patterns of land use, pollution, and drought; the increasing risk of wildfire to wildlife and to human life and property; and the implications of global climate change on the CCE. A final, policy-focused section of the book looks at transboundary issues in ecosystem management and evaluates the potential of community-based and adaptive approaches in ecosystem management.

Peter Dettling first visited Canada’s internationally renowned Rocky Mountains national parks as a Swiss tourist in 1993. Immediately, he fell in love with the untouched wilderness, breathtaking landscapes, diverse flora and abundant animal life, all seemingly free from human intervention and manipulation. With wide-eyed exuberance, Dettling moved to the heart of the Canadian Rockies in 2003, working as an artist and nature photographer. For years he documented the beauty and splendour of life in the mountains of western Canada, selling his art and photography to countless tourists and locals. In time, however, he gained insight into the realities of nature’s growing struggle against developing tourism, ill-conceived transportation routes and questionable wildlife management practices. Through Dettling’s stunning photography and passionate narrative, The Will of the Land serves as an incredible artistic testament to the beauty of the natural world and the sometimes painful truth of hyperdevelopment in majestic landscapes, offering the reader a dynamic and broad vision of what national parks should stand for in our ever-changing world.

The Rocky Mountains form a gigantic mountain barrier stretching nearly 5000 kilometers from New Mexico in the United States to British Columbia in Canada. The Rockies successively create the mountain ranges of Wyoming, Montana and Alberta, culminating in Colorado with Mount Elbert at 4401 meters above sea level and in British Columbia with Mount Robson at 3954 meters above sea level. Formed 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, this gigantic mountain range retraces a fascinating history, when the region was bathed by the sea and then traversed by mammoths. The drift of the land plates, erosion and volcanic eruptions have shaped splendid landscapes. With majestic glaciers and eternal snow on the peaks over 3000 meters high, the Northern Rockies create stunning rocky landscapes. In the south, in a vegetation reduced to cacti, the Desert Rockies carve fantastic shapes on an ever blue sky. Monument Valley, with its enormous sandstone monoliths, reveals a grandiose and mysterious landscape.The American Rocky Mountains traverse a very sparsely populated region with 12 inhabitants per km2 called "Oasis of Civilization" which includes 6 states. With a harsh climate, difficult living conditions and important preserved sites, the people of the Rocky Mountains are trying to preserve this fabulous and fragile heritage. The Canadian Rocky Mountains are home to a true source of biodiversity and support a multitude of diverse organisms. Their parks, crowned with snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear lakes, waterfalls and countless rivers, are all on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Provocative, passionate and populist, RMB Manifestos are short and concise non-fiction books of literary, critical, and cultural studies. As cities continue to grow at unprecedented rates, more and more people are looking for peaceful, weekend retreats in mountain or rural communities. More often than not, these retreats are found in and around resorts or places of natural beauty. As a result, what once were small towns are fast becoming mini cities, complete with expensive housing, fast food, traffic snarls and environmental damage, all with little or no thought for the importance of local history, local people and local culture. The Weekender Effect is a passionate plea for considered development in these bedroom communities and for the necessary preservation of local values, cultures and landscapes.