Tapestry Press
Wild Things, Adventures of a Grassroots Environmentalist
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Tapestry Press
Wild Things, Adventures of a Grassroots Environmentalist
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Wild Things, Adventures of a Grassroots Environmentalist by Donna Matrazzo. 2008 by iUniverse, Inc. New York & Bloomington. 195p. Having grown up in heavily industrial Bradford, Pennyslvania, Donna Matrazzo came alive when she first experienced wild natural places in western Oregon. Beginning in 1984, she has lived with her partner on Sauvie Island, west of Portland, OR west of the junction of the Willamette River with the Columbia. This book might have been entitled, “Protecting Nature on Sauvie Island and Environs”. From a childhood deprived of wildlife, her hunger for connection motivates her to become a good naturalist. By bicycling, a birdfeeding ritual and kayaking she nourishes her spirit. When threats arise, she speaks out and helps organize groups to resist destruction of wild places. First she and a few others challenge a plan to construct a large golf course on the island. Concerned residents testify at a series of public hearings. Old farming families on the island distrust newcomers. Donna becomes a leader of the environmental advocates. After tedious days of various interests on the island working to revise the Sauvie Island Management Plan, it came to light that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife had recently bulldozed an area to build a boat ramp and planned an entrance road and parking lot providing access to a protected Wildlife Area lake. This violated the harmony of working to reach agreement. Environmentalists organize FAUNA (Friends and Advocates of
Urban Natural Areas) and Donna serves as its paid officer for a year. She
develops a directory of grassroots organizations working on environmental
issues. It shares contact info and useful information on 56 local organizations. Back to Book Reviews
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