Schmidtz When Preservationism

Preservationism vs. Conservationism

  • Ethical Debate:

    • Questions about the morality of using natural resources (e.g., shooting elephants for ivory).

    • Conservationism argues for wise use of scarce resources, while preservationism argues for reverence and minimal human interference.

Definitions

  • Conservationism:

    • Utilitarian approach to resources like elephants and redwoods.

    • Focuses on sustainability and future generations.

    • Slogan: "Wise use."

  • Preservationism:

    • Nature should have moral status independent of its utility for humanity.

    • Emphasizes respect for ecosystems and argues that some areas should be left undisturbed.

    • Slogan: "Let it be."

Controversies in Environmental Ethics

  • Issues with Conservationism:

    • Risks neglecting reverence for biodiversity.

    • Potentially harmful exploitation of unknown resources.

    • Commodification of ecosystems may foster unforeseen consequences (e.g., disease transmission).

  • Example: Cutting down rainforests may lead to loss of undiscovered resources and increased disease spread.

Practical Limitations of Preservationism

  • Bad Effects of Enforcement:

    • Laws against poaching (e.g., shoot-to-kill policies) targeted at poor and rural communities.

    • In Kenya, aggressive enforcement resulted in the death of many rural peasants rather than poachers.

  • Wildlife Protection Issues:

    • Regulation of hunting and ivory trade raises questions about effectiveness and practicality in conserving wildlife populations.

    • Attempting to ban hunting has led to increased poaching where no alternatives are provided for local livelihoods.

Case Studies: Conservation Strategies

  1. Kenya and Tanzania:

    • Implemented stringent wildlife protection laws but has resulted in conflicts with local populations.

    • Ban on hunting in Tanzania led to ravenous poaching, impacting wildlife negatively.

  2. CAMPFIRE Program in Zimbabwe:

    • Aimed at empowering local communities to manage wildlife resources and benefit directly from conservation.

    • Villagers allowed to keep a share of hunting revenues led to reduced poaching and increased tolerance of wildlife.

  3. Wildlife Management Alternatives:

    • Local communities given authority to self-regulate poaching and manage wildlife based on economic incentives.

    • Successful in regions with high tourism such as Botswana, where wildlife viewing led to positive economic impacts for communities.

Morality and Environmental Responsibility

  • Ethical Considerations:

    • The dilemma in personal aspirations vs. societal constraints on natural resource usage.

    • Preservationism is often impractical in areas where local populations do not share the same value of wilderness preservation.

Conclusion

  • A balance between conservation and preservation might be found through community-based solutions that respect local needs while supporting wildlife conservation.

  • Long-term sustainability relies on creating viable incentives for local populations to conserve wildlife.

Conservation and Preservation: Summary of Main Points

  • Conservationism advocates for the wise use of natural resources, focusing on sustainability and future generations. It emphasizes utilization while ensuring resources are not depleted.

  • Preservationism, on the other hand, suggests that nature has intrinsic moral status, advocating for minimal human interference and respect for ecosystems.

  • Controversies in conservation can arise if it neglects biodiversity or leads to the exploitation of resources, as seen in the cutting of rainforests.

  • Practical limitations of preservationism can occur through ineffective enforcement, leading to negative impacts on local communities. Examples include aggressive anti-poaching laws that harm rural populations instead of protecting wildlife. In areas where preservationist values clash with the livelihoods of local people, it often proves impractical.

Specific Examples of Conservation and Preservation Issues

  1. Kenya and Tanzania: Implemented stringent wildlife protection laws which resulted in conflicts with local populations. In Tanzania, a ban on hunting led to increased poaching, adversely affecting wildlife.

  2. CAMPFIRE Program in Zimbabwe: Designed to empower local communities to manage wildlife resources. By allowing villagers to keep a share of hunting revenues, the program successfully reduced poaching and increased tolerance of wildlife among locals.

  3. Conservationism Risks: Cutting down rainforests can lead to not only loss of undiscovered resources but also increased disease spread as ecosystems are disrupted.

  4. Preservationism Enforcement Issues: In Kenya, aggressive anti-poaching enforcement resulted in the deaths of many rural peasants instead of poachers, highlighting the negative impacts of strict preservationist policies on local communities.