The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa (Bur Oak Book)
“Mutel has written a poetic history of our compromised land—and she has a vision for returning diversity and community to the Iowa landscape.”—Teresa Opheim, executive director, Practical Farmers of Iowa"Nature for many today is the drainage creek down the block or the wooded ravine leading away from the highway.The Emerald Horizonrolls back the clock to a time when Iowa was a checkerboard of wetlands that turned seamlessly to oceans of native grasses; when fire, wind, and rivers determined whether prairies or woodlands rose from the rich soil. Mutel shows Iowa as a dynamic, almost breathing life form, altered nearly beyond recognition in just a few decades. This book offers hope for restoring the land, but the key will come from those who read this book and take it to heart." —Joe Wilkinson, president, Iowa Wildlife Federation“The Emerald Horizonconveys a vivid, accurate, and thoughtfully constructed story of Iowa’s natural history. Not only has Mutel translated a complex history of natural and anthropogenic factors into an explanation of Iowa’s former and current landscapes, she also presents a call for restorative action. The loss of so much of Iowa’s natural heritage is heartbreaking, butThe Emerald Horizonprovides the reason and encouragement we need to protect and restore what we have left.”—Thomas Rosburg, Drake University