Environmental Encyclopedia

Library Journal

With this third edition, Gale's authoritative reference has been expanded into a two-volume set with over 1650 entries. Representing the work of 130 contributors, the encyclopedia includes definitions, biographical sketches, legislation, organizations, flora, fauna, and environmentally sensitive geographical areas. The entries are arranged alphabetically, with numerous boldfaced cross references. Organizations such as "Friends of the Earth" and "Land Institute" have contact information that includes e-mail address and URL. The "Resources" section at the end of the entries includes books, periodicals, and organizations. Some of the bibliographical information is the same as that found in the 1994 and 1998 editions, but many entries (e.g., "chlorine" and "genetic engineering") have been updated, and new terms, including "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," "fox hunting," "Kyoto Protocol Treaty," and "Three Gorges Dam," have been added. As in the previous editions, one of the true strengths here remains the clear and simple presentation of charts and diagrams for the lay reader. Numerous photographs complement biographical sketches and events such as "Dust Bowl" and "mad cow disease." A historical chronology of environmental events, a list of organizations, and a detailed index complete the work. More comprehensive and better illustrated than John Mongillo's and Linda Zierdt-Warsha's well-balanced, one-volume Encyclopedia of Environmental Science, this updated set is now the standard environmental encyclopedia for all types of libraries and should be considered as a replacement set by those owning older editions.-Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.