Plants For People [Hardcover]

A totally revised version of Lewington's heavyweight tome, first published in the early 1990s, is being marketed as the Eden Project's 'bible' and inspiration to its instigator, Tim Smit. The many ways by which we benefit from plants are coupled with warnings about unsustainable use and alarming arrays of chemical treatments. Diversion of two rivers to irrigate cotton plantations and pesticide poisoning are blamed for the destruction of the Aral Sea and chronic health problems affecting a million people in the former Soviet Republic of Karakalpakia, for example. Plants as clothing, beauty products, food, housing, furniture, modes of transport and medicine are authoritatively and comprehensively covered, along with campaigning issues such as forest destruction by the timber industry and 'unfair' European rules protecting their sugar beet producers with massive subsidies.

The book that underpins the Eden Project's philosophy.

In a world dominated by technological change, it is easy to forget the importance of plants: they feed us, clothe us, clean us, protect us, cure us, transport us and entertain us. Every day, plants play a fundamental role in our lives. PLANTS FOR PEOPLE gives us a fascinating insight into the countless, often surprising ways in which we use plants - from the woodpulp in our clothing and the soya in fast food, to new medicines from daffodil bulbs (for Alzheimer's), yew leaves and hazel nuts (for cancers), and sunflower and rape seeds providing cleaner fuel for our cars.

Plants are essential to our lives, yet the ways we manage them are seriously harming people and environments worldwide. PLANTS FOR PEOPLE is a crucial book, considering practical and ethical issues such as organic production, bio-piracy and the Fairtrade movement. Its mission: to help us save the diversity of plant life on earth, and to treat as equals the millions of people whose knowledge and services support us every day.

'Anyone who is interested in plants MUST read this book.'

Timothy Walker, Director of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden

- Coconut, and many other plant oils, can be used directly to fuel diesel engines.

- Over 70% of America's cotton is harvested from GM plants.

- One quarter of the world's insecticides are used on cotton.

- Soya is present in around 60% of the processed food we buy.

- Hemp stems are now being used to build homes and the body panels of many cars.

- Maize can now be turned into biodegradable packaging materials and textiles.

Anna Lewington is a well-known writer and researcher who specializes in ethnobotany: the uses people make of plants. She has conducted research in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Chile, and has a wide knowledge of the (often controversial) industrial uses of plants - from GM soya beans to the endangered wild species used in some herbal medicines. Anna has worked for many different organizations, from the World Wide Fund for Nature to the British Government, and took part in BBC TV's first 'Rough Science' series.

Anna has a long-standing interest in the indigenous people and cultures of Latin America. She has also worked with rubber tappers in Brazil, the indigenous people of Chile's Atacama desert, and Andean communities. Anna's other books include ANCIENT TREES (with her photographer husband Edward Parker), an ATLAS OF RAINFORESTS, ANTONIO'S RAINFOREST and five educational books for children. Anna lives with her family in Dorset.