Kneeland, CA — October 2025 — Backcountry Press is proud to announce the release of San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History by David D. Schmidt, a sweeping and richly detailed account of how one of the world’s most ecologically diverse regions has been shaped, over millennia, by natural forces and human hands.
Spanning geology, ecology, Native land stewardship, agriculture, industry, transportation, urban development, conservation victories, and the ongoing challenges of climate change, Schmidt’s book provides a compelling narrative that is both timely and timeless.
“This book is a bridge between natural history and cultural story,” said Michael Kauffmann, author and co-founder of Backcountry Press. “It gives readers a lens to understand not only the Bay Area’s past, but also the ecological and cultural choices that will shape its future.”
Dr. Gray Brechin, author of Imperial San Francisco and founder of The Living New Deal, praised the book:
Comprehensive in its scope and richly endowed with photos and maps, Schmidt’s book will rank as a classic…For all its tales of heedless destruction, it is equally rich in the redemptive stories of those who have saved and even recovered what remains of an Eden nearly lost.”
With 20 thematic chapters covering fire and flood, species extinction and resilience, urban expansion, and restoration efforts, the book sheds light on both ecological losses and the resilience of cultural traditions. It is written for students, educators, naturalists, and anyone seeking to understand how the Bay Area became what it is today.
San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History is available now through Backcountry Press and independent booksellers.
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About the Author
David D. Schmidt is a historian, writer and researcher whose work explores the intersections of ecology, history, and culture.
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