The social construction of nature refers to the idea that what we consider the natural world is not absolute; instead, it is a product of social and cultural systems. In class, we discuss how this way of thinking produces rules, identities, practices, exclusions and several other components that identify large numbers of individuals as collective groups. One's perceptions and interpretations of nature will vary across different cultures, historical epochs, and social contexts. For example, Indigenous peoples In Canada may have a very different perspective on nature and the use of it than an individual who is vegan and sees the use of animals very differently. In seminar, we discussed animals' return to urban areas regarding the social construct …show more content…
National parks are man-made social constructs that attempt to preserve a particular area's natural beauty and resources for public use and enjoyment.
However, national parks are not untouched by human activity, as they are managed and maintained by park officials and have been shaped by cultural and political influences as well. Through this course, we discuss the importance of spaces and places, which these spaces would not have any significance without the actions of humans. Parks were formulated to preserve the physical geography and work with humans to provide a space to partake in activities and maintain human well-being. In fact, national parks are not just physical places but also cultural and political constructions that shape our understanding of nature and wilderness. Humans created the idea of protected natural areas to preserve areas of land that are seen as valuable for their natural or scenic qualities, often based on aesthetic ideals. Due to the social construction of the natural spaces, the cultural attitudes and beliefs they are formed around shape how we perceive, use, and manage these areas. Our experience of nature is mediated by the social and cultural processes that created these parks in the