Introduction
Nature has always been the subject of many debates since the discovery of its existence. Human beings have always made it their duty to preserve the integrity of the environment of which nature is a part of. However, human beings are the dominating and the intelligent species have played a major role in the destruction of the ecological system around them. This is due to a rapid increase in population and development. The wilderness is the part of the environment that has not been affected by human activities either positively or negatively. The range of biological diversity found in the wilderness is natural and has occupied the place for many years. The wilderness, however, is facing problems with its naturalness and that has to be solved so as not to prevent the stewardship of the wilderness.
In an article written by Cole, he says that the definition of naturalness is not related. Different people have a different understanding of naturalness; some define it as historical fidelity where the ecological environments of the living organisms are maintained as it was since the beginning. Some define it as lack of human effect and others define it as freedom from being intentionally controlled by humans. Cole argues that the ecosystems cannot be preserved in their natural environment without intentionally manipulating them(Cole, 2012). Cole states that the problem facing naturalness are: its varied definitions that are not connected, the wilderness being preserved for diverse reasons such as biological diversity which id the living and survival of different plant and animal species in an ecology. Cole states that to solve the problem with naturalness, the focus needs to shift from the cause to the effect. The problem can be solved better by using the application of the critic Kidner.
Kidner argues that if nature was not built by technology, it is being reconstructed by this very means. Constructionism is brought about by the cultural and social changes that occur in a human’s life. Social constructionism is inclined towards reconstructing the border between the human, animal and plant world. However, cultural constructionism favours the success and dominance of the human world especially in the western culture where there is a lot of industrial development and capitalism. This leads to death an even extinction of other living organisms hence causing an imbalance in the ecosystem
Kidner argues that nature is a section of a discursive world and that any problems that come as a result of it should be solved in a debate rather than taking action (Kidner). Cole states that the society should incline more toward debate so as to find multiple goals that are needed to the diverse wilderness purposes just mentioned(Cole, 2012). One way of solving the problem is through historical fidelity. The natural habitats of plants and animals should be maintained without any interference from humans. The rate of industrial development to should be controlled and the wastes acquired from the industrial processes should be recycled and well disposed. Kidner argues that the destruction of the environment is a matter of experience (Kidner). Many people should take some time off the urban areas and visit the wilderness areas and appreciate it importance in the ecosystem. This can help reduce the rate of destruction.
Another way of curbing problems with naturalness is through ecological integrity. This is to ensure that the ecosystems are sound in a future. In the 19th century, the people cared for the environment unlike in the present day. Cronon states that despite the fact that the people increased in number and needed more land for settlement, they took care of the land that surrounded them; the wilderness was well preserved and respected(Cronon, 1995). In the society today, when a person occupies a place, he destroys its environs and mostly use the spare land as dumping a site that lead to contamination.
In most cases, nature falls victim and cannot withstand the human activities and, therefore, it dies. In order to solve this problem, the ecosystem has to resilient. The ecosystem has to withstand and absorb the change without undergoing a change in character(Cole, 2012). Humans have tried to come up with different mechanisms to try and help the ecosystem to adapt to the changes brought about by their activities. Scientists and environmentalists have tried to genetically produce living organisms especially plants to help them adapt to hash environments for example maize.
Industrial development has led to global warming that is a global concern at the moment. Chemicals realised into the atmosphere are toxic and have led to a phenomenon such as acid rains that corrode the roofs of houses and increase the acidity of the soil hence destroying some organisms. Global warming has led to drastic changes in temperature, and this is causing the melting of the areas at the poles thus increasing the sea level and increasing the chances of a natural disaster that wipes out living organism including human beings.
Human activities such as deforestation and poor farming methods have had a negative effect on wilderness. These activities have encouraged the encroachment of deserts thus causing a change in ecology and thereby bring about imbalance in the ecosystem. The presence and the growth of deserts encourage people to move and search for more wildernesses to settle in and hence more destruction.
In the past centuries, some communities and societies held the wilderness in high importance and respect. Most of the people worshipped and have sacred grounds in the wilderness hence to encourage the people to preserve it and protect it and even domesticating it(Cronon, 1995). This is the power of sublime and Cronon argues that the preservation and the respect given to the wilderness by a society encourage tourist attractions. This brings about more development to the people around the settlement and hence it is enhances economic development. This helps the environmentalists to take care of the environment and fight for it and promotes stewardship of the wilderness.
There are two important stewardship tools that are applicable in the world today, and they are scenario planning and adaptive management. Scenario planning is vital in the prediction of an outcome in the future that is uncontrollable and uncertain. This helps in planning and being more prepared of the future despite the uncertainty(Cole, 2012). Managers ‘exercise planning diversely so as to reduce the chances of experiencing a huge loses. Adaptive management is used when the future can be easily controlled and is certain. In this tool, learning is incorporated into management practices. A good steward of the wilderness should be cautious, bold and restraint and these help to adapt to the global changes.
The critics, Kidner and Cronon, have different approaches towards solving the problem that Cole states about naturalness. Kidner approaches it from the point of both social and cultural constructionism while Cronon approaches it from the power of sublime and connecting the wildness the spiritual aspects of people lives. Despite the different approaches, the findings from their argument agree with Cole’s point that in order to solve the problems, the focus has to be shifted from natural which is a cause to other multiple goals which are effects. Nevertheless, the application of Kidner’s critique solves the problem more effectively.
Conclusion
The problem of naturalness can be solved by a good steward who is equipped with the stewardship tools. The problem with the wilderness is best solved via debate rather than by taking quick actions. From the articles, it has been highlighted that naturalness will not solve any problem as it was assumed instead multiple goals and purposes have to be considered and used to solve the problem. It is clearly visible that human activities is a major cause for the risk faced by the wilderness and within the humans lies the solution for preservation and protection. If you destroy nature, nature will destroy you.
References
Cole, N. D. (2012, August). Adapting Wilderness Stewardship to an Era of Rapid Global Change. International Journal of Wilderness, 18, 9.
Cronon, W. (1995). The Trouble with Wilderness; or , Getting Back tot he Wrong Nature. 69-90.
Kidner, W. D. (n.d.). Fabricating Nature: A Critique of the social Construction of Nature. 341.
