On the Edge

Approximately half of the world’s tropical rainforests remain intact. Will our actions over the next decades conserve or destroy what’s left? The most important book about tropical rainforests in 50 years.

In the 1970s, the global community was rocked by reports documenting the deforestation of tropical rainforests, and conservation became the rallying cry of the day. On the Edge examines what has happened, both good and bad, in the decades since. Tropical rainforests are not just massive repositories of biodiversity: everyone on the planet relies on this essential ecosystem for fresh water, clean air, and climate regulation. And yet, urbanization and the worldwide demand for food and biofuels still drive deforestation, and climate change threatens to start a feedback cycle that could make the rainforest a carbon source. With contributions from environmental luminaries Jürgen Blaser, Bruce Cabarle, Chris Elliott, David Kaimowitz, Claudio Maretti, Ralph Ridder, Jeffrey Sayer, and Rodney Taylor, On the Edge takes a close look at deforestation and reforestation throughout the world and finds hope in success stories that guide us toward conservation.