Mike Dunne

Knapp and Dunne's emotionally compelling photography and storytelling come together in America's Wetland as a clarion call. America's Wetland highlights the economic importance of the region for the United States as a whole, marking the urgency and necessity for preserving the land. Although coastal erosion and subsidence have natural causes as well, Knapp and Dunne show how human engineering has drastically altered the landscape, expediting the process of coastal destruction. Chilling show more predictions of Hurricane Katrina reinforce the reality of Louisana's unique situation and urge readers to comprehend and accept the dangers involved in losing this environment.

Crisp, saturated images of the landscape and wildlife show the beauty of the region, and photographs of families and vanishing communities remind readers of the rich cultural heritages that seem to be passing into the pages of history. Knapp's photographs are works of art in their own right, worthy of their own exhibit. Dunne's statistics are equally as powerful; unfortunately, there are no resources or citations available to support the information, and multiple details are repeated throughout the text.

For me, this book is valuable for personal reasons; this land is my home, these people, my family. Reading Dr. van Heerden's words about the danger of a category 3 storm (p. 63) reminded me of his interviews on the news before and after Hurricane Katrina, and I was transported back in time. The images of coastal Louisiana and its people pulled deep strings, forcing me to think of the gravity of the situation. Although perhaps not the most up-to-date text, America's Wetland includes resources on how to get involved in preservation and restoration projects, and already, I'm trying to think of ways to use this topic in my future English classes in some real way, hoping to help. show less