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When Desmond Bovey returned to his native New Zealand after thirty years in France, he felt a need to reconnect with the landscapes of his youth. He chose Tongariro National Park, inspired by a chance encounter with a karearea, the New Zealand falcon. He returned again and again, sketchbook in hand, applying his delicate brush as he reacquainted himself with the dramatic landforms and ecology of the volcanic plateau. This exquisite book is the result. With 400 illustrations and an informative but accessible text, Bovey deconstructs the park's amazing landscapes, giving us not only scenery but the bones beneath. His illustrations present Tongariro's stunning landscapes, as well as the plants and animals that live there, describing the ways they fit together and depend upon each other for survival in an often harsh and inhospitable environment. Tongariro National Park is a field guide of rare quality, combining the highest quality of information with superb illustration, a treasure for anyone who loves these wonderful landscapes.
Desmond Bovey was born in Whanganui and in 1982 he moved to eastern France, where he would live for thirty years, acquiring French nationality in 1991. After finishing his university studies in Besancon he became art director in a communication agency, gradually specialising in the field of ecology and environmental interpretation, before finally becoming a freelance nature illustrator, working with municipal, regional and national services, as well as ecological organisations. His work has appeared in sites of natural interest in France, Switzerland, Monaco, Germany and the Reunion Islands, and his art has been exhibited in France and Switzerland. Upon his return to New Zealand, he has worked on various environmental projects, notably for DOC, Forest & Bird, and local councils. He lives with his partner in Whanganui.
