URBAN JUNGLE The History and Future of Nature in the City

John Sackville narrates a history of urban greenery, providing an assertive tone to the author's claim that our messy cities are full of biodiversity. Wilson looks back on calls for natural habitats in and around cities, which resulted in more plentiful parks and gardens in urban areas worldwide. Sackville gives the growth of banyans, or fig trees, in Southeast Asian cities a touch of drama and indignantly narrates twentieth-century responses to weeds. He ensures that notes of caution can be heard in Wilson's account of Hurricane Sandy, with its warnings against further attempts to conquer swamps and lowlands. Happily, Wilson also points out successful projects, such as Dutch flood planning and Singapore's rooftop gardens. At the end, Sackville emphasizes Wilson's plea to curb dependence on cars. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]