[DOWNLOAD] ~ An Exploration of Issues and Values Inherent in the Concept of Ecological Integrity. ~ by Environments ~ Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: An Exploration of Issues and Values Inherent in the Concept of Ecological Integrity.
- Author : Environments
- Release Date : January 01, 2004
- Genre: Art & Architecture,Books,Arts & Entertainment,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 213 KB
Description
Abstract Maintaining ecosystems with "ecological integrity" has become a common objective for park management and other conservation and sustainability initiatives. Although there is no universally-accepted definition of ecological integrity, various definitions overlap significantly. It is generally accepted that an ecosystem with integrity displays little human influence and contains all elements of a naturally-evolved system appropriate to the local environmental conditions. Many accounts relating to this topic allude to value judgements that underlie the notion of ecological integrity. Some even suggest that the concept is more philosophical than scientific. To examine these claims, we contrast a range of definitions of ecological integrity, and examine several ideas that are subsumed under this umbrella concept, including native species, biodiversity, wilderness/wildness, and ecosystem health. A variety of philosophical debates arise regarding the relationship between humans and nature, concepts of native and natural, fact/value and is/ought dichotomies, and utilitarian and intrinsic values. This illustrates that the concept of ecological integrity is not as "objective" as it is often portrayed. However, this does not imply that ecological integrity is a meaningless concept. Rather, these debates provide important insights toward a renewed conception of ecological integrity, which should explicitly acknowledge the role of humans in the ecosystem, and include values along with facts in defining prescriptions or objectives. Broader scholarly and public discourse that moves beyond criticism toward an integration and legitimization of human roles and values in definitions and prescriptions for ecological integrity is warranted.
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