Library Record
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Metadata
Title |
San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History |
Author |
Schmidt, David D. |
Summary |
San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History by David D. Schmidt, 2025. Backcountry Press, Kneeland, CA. Illustrated. PDF format; 635 pages. Description from the publisher: "San Francisco Bay Area: An environmental history by David D. Schmidt is a sweeping and richly detailed account of how one of the world's most ecologically diverse regions has been shaped over millennia by both natural forces and human hands. Beginning with the lives of Native Tribes who stewarded the landscape through burning and sustainable harvesting for over 10,000 years, the book traces the transformations that followed European colonization-from the devastation of Indigenous cultures and the ecological upheaval wrought by agriculture, logging, mining, and urbanization, to the environmental consequences of damming rivers, filling wetlands, and polluting waters. Schmidt weaves a compelling narrative of environmental change that encompasses fire and flood, boom and bust, species extinction and resilience. Spanning 20 thematic chapters, the book brings clarity to the region's complex environmental legacy, examining topics such as invasive species, transportation networks, waste disposal, and the rise of Silicon Valley. Yet the story is not solely one of loss. Schmidt highlights victories in conservation-from the Save the Bay movement to large-scale wetland restoration projects-and the resilience of cultural traditions, such as the revival of Indigenous stewardship. With accessible storytelling grounded in meticulous research, this is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand how the San Francisco Bay Area became what it is today-and how it might navigate toward a more sustainable and equitable future." |
Published Date |
2025 |
Publisher |
Backcountry Press |
Published Place |
Kneeland, CA |
Catalog Number |
2025.057.002 |
ISBN |
9781941624371 |
Notes |
"Cover design by Backcountry Press Front cover image from Gaia Earth Mapping Back cover photo by David D. Schmidt Book layout and cover design by Backcountry Press with AP+MK with the help of Gabrielle Carroll" |
Search Terms |
Ecology Environmental Policy Environmental Protection History Land Development Land Use Native Americans Save-the-Bay Movement Transportation |
Subjects |
Ecological reserves Ecology Environmental policy History Land use Native Americans Settler colonialism Transportation |
People |
Schmidt, David D. |
Credit line |
SMCHA Collection |