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Cohabitating With Nature

© Robin Greenhalgh

Most certainly one of the main problems we face today is sharing living space with the wild. Unfortunately for the wildlife, habitat destruction sits very high on the list of reasons for their extinction. Contributions to this destruction can be direct or indirect as deforestation and extraction, forest fires, contamination by insecticides or pesticides, even clearing for settlement and agriculture. Even in a wildlife sanctuary, we can limit and restrict the movement of wildlife by developing roads and buildings in the area.

Michael J Vandeman(Ph.D.)(1995) stated that "there has never been an area off limits to humans" and that "human beings think we own and have the right to dominate every square inch of the Earth". Isn't it sad that everything he argues seems to touch upon some truth, and that if there is an area that is absent from human contact that it is only because we choose not to be there or have not found a way to be there.

I am not sure where the audacity comes from to bestow upon ourselves the title rulers of the Earth, or how we came to believe it was our right. Unfortunately for nature and wildlife, humans seem to think that we are entitled to far more liberties then the environment deserves. People will argue that we are superior and that wildlife is not deserving of the same freedoms we take for granted. Superiority may not be arguable but since we have carelessly caused destruction and demise to these virtually helpless life forms, should we not assume responsibility? Whether we actually pulled the trigger or dumped toxic waste ourselves there are many indirect ways we have dealt to the environment. Many of our actions up until recently have been very self-serving and based on luxury and economy, and even now the progress is slow to make changes.

Is it greed that drives us, more money, more living space, even the prestige that comes with finding a new species? Are there events taking place that are really just for the good of nature and the environment? I am sure with all my being that we could spur some great debates if we were to argue ideas of right and wrong in reference to the environment and how we handle it.

Sometimes our ideals seem a little confusing when discussing conservation. Most people love to travel to an exotic place or to watch wildlife documentaries on television. Some of those same people do not take into consideration that our means of getting to these places(locomotion) or the land use in these areas threaten the very things we enjoy watching or visiting.

The copyright of the article Cohabitating With Nature in Environmental Ethics is owned by Robin Greenhalgh. Permission to republish Cohabitating With Nature in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.