“Deep Jungle” by Fred Pearce, published by Eden Project Books/Transworld

The current fate of the tropical rainforest is almost too sad to bear, so I read this book with some trepidation. Happily, “Deep Jungle” only dwells for one chapter on the onslaught on the forests, and far from being depressing, it makes an inspirational read. Fred Pearce must be a busy man, for he has only just had “The Last Generation” published!

In “Deep Jungle”, Pearce takes us on a well-researched historical journey which covers how early explorers were in awe of the forest, searching its deepest recesses for the mythical El Dorado, or aiming to convert the inhabitants of the forest to Christianity. The impact of the slave trade is also discussed, along with the dreadful mistreatment of many of the forest dwellers. There is also a chapter on the harvesting of the forest for crops like Brazil nuts, bananas, rubber, and vital medicines such as quinine. Also included is the story of the people of the rainforest and its wealth of wildlife.

Pearce goes out of his way to dispel some of the myths about the rainforest. Areas that are thought of as virgin rainforest are often places that have been farmed in the past, and have been recovered by the forest. Paradoxically, Pearce suggests that some of the areas of greatest biodiversity are those that have in the past been subject to mankind’s interference. Pearce also challenges some of the established wisdom about the threat of bushmeat and wildlife reserves on indigenous people.

What makes particularly fascinating reading is the story of whole civilisations that have flourished, only to go into decline, and seen their cities swallowed up by the forest. The forests have been under threat before and recovered. It could be that our own tenure on Earth is transient, and that hundred of years in the future the forests will recover from their current decline and outlive us. “Deep Jungle” is packed with facts and historical references, and thus makes a valuable contribution to the debate about the future of the forests, and is suited to both the casual reader and the researcher.