The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg, Glotfelty Cheryll, Quesnel Eve

Bioregionalism asks us to reimagine ourselves and the places where we live in ecological terms and to harmonize human activities with the natural systems that sustain life. As one of the originators of the concept of bioregionalism, Peter Berg (1937-2011) is a founding figure of contemporary environmental thought. As arguably the nations first post-environmentalist, in the 1970s Berg perceived the negative direction the environmental movement was taking and began to articulate a more positive and pro-active alternative, centred on the concept of bioregions.

This book introduces readers to the biospheric vision and post-environmental genius of Berg, with original tributes from sixteen prominent writers and thinkers, whose reflections illuminate facets of Bergs continuing importance and offer fresh angles on bioregionalism. The Biosphere and the Bioregion provides a highly accessible introduction to bioregional philosophy, making Bergs paradigm available as a guiding vision and practical greenprint for the twenty-first century. As well as offering hands-on, practical solutions for urban sustainability and habitat restoration, this book enters a current debate about whether the global scale of environmental problems requires that we develop a sense of planet rather than a sense of place. Bergs dispatches from North America, Japan, China, and Ecuador reveal how each place (bioregion) is a functional part of the life of the planet (biosphere), requiring place-specific ways of harmonizing culture with nature.