The Nature of Nature book relaunch is a call to action on Earth Day
As temperatures rise and humans erase species from existence a thousand times faster than the natural extinction rate, The Nature of Nature serves as a primer on conservation and a pathway to hope.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 2024)—In honor of Earth Day, National Geographic Books is relaunching its award-winning publication, The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild. Written by marine ecologist, Enric Sala, the book explores the interconnectedness of our planet's ecosystems, the effects of their unraveling, and practical solutions for rehabilitating the natural world.
The relaunch is a prescient reminder of the urgent need for action during a month that is projected to be the hottest April the Earth has ever seen.
In this love letter to nature, Sala brings both the head and the heart into his arguments for conservation—illuminating the ways in which microorganisms from the ocean produce most of the oxygen in the atmosphere and evoking a sense of wonder at the giant kelp forests that create stained glass-like canopies underwater.
The book argues that preserving the Earth’s biodiversity makes logical, emotional, and economic sense. Challenging conventional wisdom, the author demonstrates how thriving shark populations signal a healthier ocean and how setting aside areas of marine protection actually improves the fisheries around them.
A former university professor tired of “writing the obituary” of the natural world, Sala quit academia to become a full-time conservationist as a National Geographic Explorer in Residence and founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas. Over the years, his project has helped safeguard more than 6.6 million square kilometers of ocean. In The Nature of Nature, Sala introduces readers to the people who have inspired his team’s work and the adventure of visiting some of the world’s last wild places.
Termed by the writer as, “ecology for people in a hurry” The Nature of Nature serves as a primer and step-by-step guide for those looking to make Earth Day everyday. The relaunch marks a renewed call to action for individuals, communities, and policymakers to champion conservation efforts and protect the planet that should—if nature prevails—outlive us all.
With an introduction by renowned biologist Edward O. Wilson, The Nature of Nature promises to reshape readers' perspectives on our world and our collective destiny.
Find the book at www.enricsala.com/the-nature-of-nature.
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ABOUT ENRIC SALA
Enric Sala is a former university professor who saw himself writing the obituary of ocean life, and quit academia to become a full-time conservationist as a National Geographic Explorer in Residence. He founded and leads Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research, and media to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 27 of the largest marine reserves on the planet, covering an area of 6.6 million square km. Sala has received many awards including 2008 World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, 2013 Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award, 2013 Environmental Media Association Hero Award, 2016 Russian Geographical Society Award, and 2018 Heinz Award in Public Policy. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOKS
National Geographic Books creates and distributes print and digital works that inspire, entertain, teach, and give readers access to a world of discovery and possibility. Each year we publish more than 175 new books for adults, families, and children on a wide range of nonfiction subjects from animals to travel, cartography to history, fun facts to moving stories.
Press: Interviews, information, and audio-visual available. Contact Jenelle Eli, National Geographic Society, jeli@ngs.org.