I find that my view of nature is very similar to Emma Marris as she write in her book, “isn’t restricted to parks and protected areas. The rambunctious garden is everywhere…in the strips of land attached to rest stops…in your backyard…even in city traffic circles.” (Marris 2011) In this sense, it seems as though I am wedged between an anthro-centric and eco-centric view of nature. I do not believe that humans should influence nature so greatly that we reduce its biodiversity and ability to exist, but I do believe that nature can still exist with some human influence. These ideas come from the fact that I enjoy being in “untouched” nature, such as national parks, but I also enjoy living in nature that has been planted by humans and designed for human enjoyment. 2. What do conservation biologists mean by a “baseline”? Give 2 examples of how baselines are used. Do you agree that a “baseline” is a useful method for conservation of biodiversity? 4pts Baselines are …show more content…
Culture allows humans the capacity to use tools and symbols, have patterned and learned ways of life or though, have systems of beliefs, feeling and rules, and have shared meaning about experience passed through generations. This has contributed to the biodiversity crisis because the concepts of nature differs across cultures. While some cultures see nature as something that needs to be preserved and exist without human interaction, others see nature as land that can be built upon. One example of this is that a forest can either be seen as a sacred object or be used for timber. 5. There are two opposite ethical approaches to arguing for the rights of biodiversity: intrinsic and instrumental. Briefly explain the two. Which do you think is the better way to approach biodiversity conservation in the real world. Support your position with 2 examples.