Albuquerque's Environmental Story
Albuquerque's Environmental StoryHave you ever walked the trails of the Rio Grande Nature Center in late spring and heard the hushed, insistent gurgle of the Rio Grande as it flows the melt from the high peaks of Colorado and New Mexico on its unending flow to the Gulf, delighted in the moist breath of the cottonwoods, and heard the trill of the red-winged blackbirds from the neighboring cattail marsh?
Have you ever walked across the mesa over the crunch of winter's snow and felt the nip of frost as your breath forms a myriad of tiny ice crystals on the air, seen a coyote furtively glance up at you as he steps from behind a distant juniper, then turn and trot off in pursuit of a careless cottontail?
Have you ever looked up at the Albuquerque evening sky, seen the spring constellations sparkling in the high-desert air and felt in your heart the absolute awe and appreciation of living in a city that is so blessed with such rich natural diversity?
If any of these images resonate in the least, you are in the company of the many contributors to Albuquerque's Environmental Story. All of us who have in any way contributed to this resource are honored to have been part of watching a dream become a reality. The dream was shared with all of us by Hy and Joan Rosner in the late 1970s when the first edition was born. The dream was renewed in the mid-1980s when the second edition, complete with updates and revisions, replaced the original. The dream lives; this third edition, complete in multimedia and WWW (World Wide Web) format, contains the most current and comprehensive information, classroom-tested student activities, and environmental resources and connections in the community.
The past two decades since the first edition was published have been witness to a healthy and informed dialogue about the quality of our Albuquerque environment. May this third edition of Albuquerque's Environmental Story contribute to your understanding of the complex and interrelated issues regarding our shared environment. May it also serve as an important resource for the generation of students who will set the environmental policies for Albuquerque in the next millennium. May we live wisely and may they choose well.
Hugh Prather, Ph.D.
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