Enhanced by more than 100 photographs, this independent companion volume to Environmental Conflict in Alaska chronicles the central land and wildlife issues and the growth of environmental conservation in Alaska during its Russian and territorial eras. The Alaskan frontier tempted fur traders, whalers, salmon fishers, gold miners, hunters, and oilmen to take what they could without regard for the long-term consequences. Wildlife species, ecosystems, and Native cultures suffered, sometimes irreparably. Damage to wildlife and lands drew the attention of environmentalists including John Muir, who applied their influence to enact wildlife protection laws and set aside lands for conservation. Efforts of conservation leaders and the territory's isolation, small human population, and late development prevented widespread destruction and gave Americans a unique opportunity to protect some of the world's most pristine wilderness

In this companion volume to his Environmental Conflict in Alaska, Ross (political science, Adrian College, Michigan) chronicles exploration in Alaska since 1700 and sheds light on the three ideological camps that emerged with the arrival of non-native fur traders, whalers, mountaineers, and oil seekers: exploitation, utilitarian conservation, and preservation. Ross illuminates the efforts of pre-statehood environmentalists such as Charles Sheldon and John Muir, which, through the creation of national parks and protective legislation, preserved wildlife and wilderness in Alaska during a heyday of environmental exploitation. Ross's history concludes with the post-statehood legacy of these figures, including the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)