This entry in the Protecting Our Planet series (6 titles) offers a comprehensive exploration of land use by humans. Because human activities, such as agriculture and construction, have disrupted natural environments, degraded soil, increased carbon dioxide, and caused other harmful effects, Buckey explains why land preservation is needed. Following a look at early preservation efforts – for example, controlled burns by Native Americans and the creation of U.S. national parks – the author dedicates individual chapters to preserving specific ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, drylands, and the Arctic and Antarctica. Each chapter, in turn, describes the role the ecosystem plays in the health of the planet, threats from and destruction by humans, and strategies to protect it. The final chapter, along with activist spotlights, gives readers ideas on how to become agents of environmental change.