Man and Nature; Or, Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action

The work surveys how human activity has transformed the planet’s physical geography and living systems, tracing effects from the reduction and propagation of species through agriculture and pastoralism to the large-scale consequences of deforestation, drainage, irrigation, and coastal works. It considers how land clearance, river and harbor engineering, and the management of dunes and sands alter drainage, soil, and local climates, and discusses risks of imprudent interventions alongside prospects for restoration and improvement of exhausted regions. Organized by domains of influence, it combines natural-history observation with practical recommendations for cautious, remedial management.