Reviewed in Society and Natural Resources

At first glance, a work about ecological change between 1800 and 1900 in Sri Lanka may seem exceedingly specialized, but Tropical Pioneers holds broader interest. Consistent with a new moment in historical analysis (e.g. work by Jared Diamond [1999] for world history and Dan Flores [2001] in the western United States, as well as many others), Webb’s work places human endeavors in an ecological context, as well as a cultural and economic one. Such perspectives are important if we are to understand patterns of astonishing ecological change that have occurred on this planet.

The book documents the conversion of primary rainforest in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) to agricultural lands, and explains the movement of foods, crops, and animals. British colonizers were interested first in cash crops, such as coffee, chichona, and tea. Changes in world market, notably the effect of the abolition of slavery... which encouraged Great Britain to look for new, cheap labor, affected how Great Britain perceived the worth and potential of Ceylon. The world market, then, impacted how and at what rate the land was transformed. Subsequent infestations of pests and disease of the cash crops had significant impacts on which crops could be grown for profit. In addition to British colonizers, Webb addresses the concurrent role of indigenous inhabitants in ecological change, and how the two cultural groups interacted synergistically to convert the land from forest to fields. Finally, there are cultural motivations for ecological transformation of environments, that is, the introduction of species into Ceylon, because colonizers wanted foods that “tasted like home.”

Tropical Pioneers is well organized and clearly written. What the narrative lacks in wit and dynamism is compensated with copious and interesting notes and appendices. The photos are incredibly dramatic, and the letters written by early botanic garden directors are informative as to the mindset from which colonizers worked. This book would serve as an excellent reference for historians and ecologists interested in tropical ecosystems, and could be useful in a graduate seminar on ecological change.

Tropical Pioneers provides a window into the chances that occurred at one place and time. However, the story of Sri Lanka, in varying detail, is one that has occurred again and again in the tropics and is worth understanding. Webb’s book offers a framework in which to understand the complexities of ecological chanae due to human causes and serves as a model for other works of its kind.

Society and Natural Resources