The ‘Natural Character’ of the environment, although seemingly an intuitive concept, is a complex phenomenon to describe, and resists straightforward definition (Froude, 2011). This concept, and its generic term ‘naturalness’, are significant for a number of disciplines particularly; ethics, landscape development and design, conservation biology, environmental management, and restoration (Ridder, 2007). Naturalness is normally defined in terms of a continuum from ‘completely natural’ to ‘completely unnatural’ (Froude, 2011). The natural character of a site is the degree to which the site is ‘part of nature’, mainly characterised by the presence of indigenous species. Human activities and introduced or cultured species are absent from such …show more content…
Operational difficulties arise from the collection of marine information, of an equal magnitude to that obtained from land, which amount to a greater cost. This is the main reason that there is a comparative lack of knowledge on the structure and function of marine ecosystems with respect to terrestrial ones. As such, what is not known, cannot be managed, either. Administrative problems arise due to the struggle in visualising the marine environment as ‘territory’. Finally, conceptual difficulties are linked missing or incorrect perception of the seafloor, and to its being not inhabited by humans. These two aspects have held back the application to the marine environment of terrestrial approaches and terminology developed in other disciplines such as landscape ecology (Bianchi et al., …show more content…
A major advantage of this approach is that is cuts across taxonomic boundaries and is not shackled by possible controversies about the identity of a particular species. 1.2. Important research to include 1.2.1. Research from the Mediterranean region The Mediterranean is a region of high human impact on marine ecosystems given the high population density and level of anthropogenic pressure, predominantly dominating islands and coastal environments. Consequently, the application of ‘Naturalness’ to the marine environment is difficult to implement. The Convention on Biological Diversity established such a criterion as part of the selection of Ecologically and Biologically significant areas (EBSA) and Marine Protected Areas
Man has destroyed nature, and for years now, man has not been living in nature. Instead, only little portions of nature are left in the world
Cronon argues that “any way of looking at nature that encourages us to believe we are separate from nature—as wilderness tends to do—is likely to reinforce environmentally irresponsible behavior” (87). Yet if we were to view ourselves as one with nature, as we are, then perhaps society would be more concerned with protecting and preserving the entire natural world, versus specific areas that have been deemed worthy. I personally achieve a much more satisfactory escape from human modernization by simply going off the grid and finding my own wilderness that is distant from all signs of humans versus a regulated park. A national park is similar to a museum; one simply looks around and attempts to gain insight on the subject at hand, yet there is no possible way to actually immerse yourself in the display. Although individuals do not realize this – they are not aware of what true wilderness looks like given that no one boasts about it. There is such a distinct line between actual wilderness and the false one that people idealize, that genuine wilderness is disappearing, since it is not actively being preserved. However, by actively preserving wilderness, would we not be separating ourselves further from
With more primitive ocean species occurring more in our oceans many problems are posed by them. One thing is that they interfere more and more with the cycle that our oceans go through the animal’s way of life is changing. For example the Australian algae has definitely disrupted ecosyst...
The more than four hundred locations that are currently recognized as national parks have been set aside because they are considered special places of beauty, character, or uniqueness. Whether visitors come from the natural state or the concrete jungle, the magnificent aesthetics of these sites can cause anyone to be astonished. As they ponder on the wonderful landscapes and the closeness to the wilderness, their souls are nourished. Some people acknowledge the planet or the creator, but all appreciate the splendor of biodiversity and gain a new understanding of it. According to Frye and Nuest, “watching other species and interacting with them helps [people] better understand and appreciate [their] place among them and [their] obligations to other living creatures and the same planetary environment that sustain both [their and the lives of other species]” (54). Furthermore, since these sites have been carefully preserved, they have undergone very little physical or geological change in centuries. The NPS claimed through its website that “by preserving biodiversity, [they] also ensure that future citizens, artists, and explorers of science experience [America’s] lands as the founders of the parks did long ago.” National parks allow visitors to relive scenes from the past and appreciate the nation’s history as expressed in these iconic sites. However,
To perceive, to understand of nature and its interconnections, in contemporary symbolic thinking, is impossible. Denying our illusions, or our experiences, results in the rejection society’s interpretations, ultimately denouncing our symbolic thinking. We define reality as interconnections between nature, using abstractions based on perceptions to explain “natural processes, rather than structure” as “probability patterns [represent] movement in human perception” (Capra). Abstractions, however, become susceptible to our biased perspectives, to our experiences, illusions and hallucinations. According to Capra, to understand the “cosmetic dance of destruction and creation,” to recognize relations as the essence of life, or as “self-organization, self-renewing, self-maintaining, we need a more comprehensive scientific framework that “incorporates ecological thinking, [rather] than contingent thinking” (Capra). Our biased perceptions of reality contradicts our scientific frameworks, our symbolic thinking, creating a flawed perception that constitutes an illusion of ecological supremacy, representing society’s disconnect with nature. Because our debilitating disorientation, our illusionary thinking and our perception, frames the foundations and dimensions of our interpretations of reality,
Lawrence Buell’s four criteria are easily embraced as they are highly applicable to what we consider nature writings. For instance, one of the criteria suggest it should provide evidence that the consequences of the environment affect the interests of other aspects of the world beyond just human interests. For example, in ...
Muir’s wilderness is rooted in the idea of an aesthetically pleasing natural scape given they fit into certain criteria such as, “ none of Nature’s landscape’s are ugly so long as they are wild” (Muir). The attachment of this emphasis on an aesthetically pleasing landscape was partial truth, which drove people out the national parks. While these places where indeed wild and beautiful, Muir sold the masses on this idea of all nature being pristine and pure, when in reality that was not the
In Does a Place Still Have Value When It’s Not Use to People the author Jason Mark, writes about how nature is taken over by man. Beginning his article, he talks about how the peaceful noises that make nature peaceful are overpowered by mans machines. These being background to his journey to find a place untouched by the noises and destruction of man, article talks about how in order to find a place untouched by man one must go to great lengths to find it, as is his journey. Once it has been found there are many parts of nature that go unnoticed that will continue to be but just because they are unnoticed does not lessen their value to nature or make them any less beautiful. Mark ends his article by talking about how man is ending multiple species on earth and how his peaceful oasis will no longer be full of the natural beauty that it once held. Mark overall discussing how there is natural beauty that will go unnoticed yet that doesn’t take away from the beauty of it.
At the Aquarium of the Pacific, many different oceanic habitats are presented. These exhibits give the public an idea of the different environments our own oceans hold, providing a hands-on learning experience in the comfort of their own city. The two habitats that interested me are the coral reef and deep ocean. Both the coral reef and deep ocean are very different from each other, having varied ways of survival for the plethora of plants and animals that call those places home.
...hrow off the balance of the ecosystem. Different marine biodiversity requires different types of ways to conserve them, some need government and some do not. Depending on the different types of technology of public goods supplied, there are different ways to and different methods to preserve the marine biodiversity. We have looked at the different types of externalities that are associated with impure public goods (in this case marine biodiversity). We also looked at the three types of technology of public good supplies and see why it affects marine biodiversity. Lastly, we have discussed the incentives to conserve marine biodiversity, both private solutions and public solutions. To put it briefly, “wildlife exploitation and conservation involves various costs and benefits, which should all be taken into account to achieve an optimal outcome.” (Bulte, 1)
To conclude, naturalism has many definitions and characteristics. It was a powerful movement which suggested the role and influence of the environment, one’s background, and one’s social status had in shaping human character. The major characteristics of it include the environments power or control over humans, objective science, instinct, pessimism, and detachment.
Our oceans are the most productive and more than likely the most helpful environment on the planet today. Oceans not only supply our ozone with life supporting oxygen, control the earth’s weather patterns, it also is home to over a million different species ranging from mammals, invertebrates, to microscopic plankton. The ocean is a very diverse environment and it is very important to keep the ocean and all off its creatures alive and healthy. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is that what we do in our waters will directly effect the way we live.
To understand the nature-society relationship means that humans must also understand the benefits as well as problems that arise within the formation of this relationship. Nature as an essence and natural limits are just two of the ways in which this relationship can be broken down in order to further get an understanding of the ways nature and society both shape one another. These concepts provide useful approaches in defining what nature is and how individuals perceive and treat
Literature Review Recovery of Marine Animal Populations and Ecosystems: Lotze, Coll, Magera, Ward, Airoldi In a research article by Lotze, Coll, Magera, Ward and Airoldi (2011) they examine the positive side of how ecosystems in the ocean can recover even though they are faced with many different types of struggles every day. The authors ask the main question: How common is recovery among depleted populations and degraded ecosystems in the ocean? It is hypothesized that over the years, ecosystems are going to recover and essentially in the future, increase. The results in this study supported the hypothesis of the research on recovery for certain ecosystems and stated that 10-50% of ecosystems actually show some rate of progression (Lotze, 2011).
The oceans need to be protected because it is where life began and if not taken care of, life as we know it will end. When dangerous substances go into the ocean, ecosystems are suffer and become endangered along with lives of people and of marine life. Surfrider Foundation recognizes the importance of protecting and preserving the quality and biodiversity of the world's coasts because they are truly irreplaceable. There is also historical evidence of ocean pollution being present in the past, but the problem still lingers today. Heal the Bay discovered that,“Did you know there is a DDT and PCB hot spot off the coast of Palos Verdes? This superfund site (which indicates it's one of the most polluted places in the United States), is left over from a 1930's era chemical plant. Because DDT takes so long to break down in the marine environment, it persists to this day, contaminating certain species of fish. There are also highly polluted sediments in the Long Beach area, a sign of the heavy shipping in the port. Heal the Bay works on developing effective capping and removal plans to keep those toxins from spreading” (Heal the Bay). DDT is still highly concentrated in the South Bay area and still contaminating different species of fish. Even after more than 80 years DDT, a toxic insecticide, is still very concentrated and during upwellings, DDT particles come back up and continue to harm marine life. If humans are careless about what is thrown on the floor or sprayed on lawns, it can lead to disastrous affects when it comes to the condition of the ocean's ecosystems, and can endanger life itself leading to a problem that only we can mend.