Discovering Alabama Wetlands

Rating:
Summary: An Alabama you may not know
Review: The state of Alabama has diverse geographic features, from lush green forests in the middle and northern sections of the state to white sandy beaches along the gulf coast. Wetlands cover a substantial portion of Alabama as well, covering some 3+ million acres. Before this region was settled, almost 8 million acres of wetlands were present. These wetlands are home to thousands of wildlife species and birds. Sadly, the wetlands of Alabama are often misunderstood and most people incorrectly associate them as mosquito infested bogs. This book serves as a showcase of spectacular photographic images by Robert Falls Sr. to illustrate just how beautiful these areas are. The text by Doug Phillips describes how the state of Alabama's economy and livlihood depend on these waters and it also delves into the scary possibility of endangerment and what this would mean to our state. The author makes future projections about the state's population growth and identifies areas that will have the most growth and how these areas will be impacted. This is a beautiful book filled with breathtaking images - a snowy egret perched on a log in the middle of a fog shrouded lake, breathtaking sunsets over bayous, close-ups of pitcher plants and water lilies, an alligator advancing from a stand of grass along the waters edge, etc. It should be an essential purchase for Alabama libraries and anyone who is interested in Alabama's ecology and environment.