Beyond the War on Invasive Species: A Permaculture Approach to Ecosystem Restoration Paperback – 3 July 2015

This book is incredible. I am a Michigan native and I know the widespread sentiment of hatred towards invasive species like Asian carp and zebra mussels, and I now know how ridiculous this blind hatred is. This book blew my mind.I'm not in the restoration field, but have seriously thought about transition into it because of the state of our earth and the rampant effects of climate change, but I was shocked to see what really passes as "restoration." Widespread use of pesticides against invasive species is ridiculous! Especially when they are serving a much needed niche in the broken ecosystems that they "invade."We must look to the underlying issues that are affecting our ecosystems. A whole-system approach to restoration is needed, not a war on invasive species. Tao Orion has done an incredible job of showing what a permaculture approach to restoration looks like -- and let me tell you, it looks wonderful. If enough people are educated on this issue, human relationships with nature could change profoundly and for the better.

Changed my whole perspective on plants and diversity.

Fascinating read.

It engages from the first page. It builds an edifice that should make everyone think again about environmental restoration. It is truly amazing (horrific) what is being done in the name of environmental restoration--by well-intentioned people (and corporate money and policy). The book is also a guidebook for practitioners. It is also a grounded book about ways of thinking expansively and holistically about land management. It (selections of it) should also be read by every environmental studies 101 class across the country. Moreover, the anecdotes and readable science make for powerful storytelling. It's clear Orion has thought about this for a long time and looked into every angle of so-called invasive species.

I appreciated the "look beneath the surface policy" of this book as well as its ability to provide an alternative to those convinced that non-natives/invasives are problematic. That said, most non-natives are not a problem and should be left alone, as Nature must be allowed to evolve on its own terms in order to ensure its (and our) long-term health.