The Highlands is the first book to examine the natural and cultural landscape of this four-state (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut) region, showing how it's distinctive and why its conservation is vital. Each chapter is written by a different leading researcher and specialist in that field, and introduces readers to an aspect of the Highlands: its geological foundations, its aquifers and watersheds, its forest ecology, and its past iron industry. The Highlands makes a compelling case for land use planning and resource management strategies that could help ensure a sustainable future for the region, strategies that could in turn be applied to other landscapes threatened by urbanization across the country.