Land Ethic

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How Humans Destroy the Biome

Amanda Grant
10/02/2015

How Humans Destroy the Biome | Amanda Grant

In Aldo Leopolds Land Ethic he discusses the differences between what is


ecologically and ethically sound as it pertains to the land and conservation
biology. He points out that we treat land as property or a slave, not seeing
its value as a whole, but only in how it helps us as individuals. Aldo points
out that the land is a biome; a community that relies on its members for
survival. Historically we have not valued all of its members, we allow
ecological benefits to destroy some members, thinking only of how we the
homo sapiens can most be benefited. Leopold says that Conservation is a
state of harmony between men and land. When this paper was published in
1948 he pointed out that conservation propaganda had been around for over
a hundred years, but had seen little success, now more than 60 years later
we still continue down a similar path. We dont realize the need to keep the
biome as it was, in harmony with its self; we take acres of land, destroy its
plants, kick out its animals, flatten it out and build thousands of homes; all
the while not considering the effect this might have to the environment.
Leopold felt that education was key but that it needed to be stepped up, I
dont think we have done this. You hear about decreasing your carbon foot
print, and going green; but besides reducing your paper usage you really
arent given much info on what that should look like. I think Leopold wanted
to point out that the Homo Sapien is a self-serving creature and that
without him making a change the earth was destined for ruin. This paper
enlightened me in that way, changed my outlook.

How Humans Destroy the Biome | Amanda Grant

I have always thought that the land as a whole should be respected, each
plant, and animal has a purpose that should be valued. I think most of my
thought on conservation came from my parents, they taught us that every
living thing had a purpose (I remember this mostly pertaining to animals). I
also remember as a child being told dont waste water, or you kill the
fishys or to turn the lights off; thinking back on this as an adult I think
some of these may have been ecologically more than conservationally
driven. I would say that I was never really consciously aware of the effects
my lifestyle were having on the biome in which I live.
Leopold said we needed to change the role of humans from conqueror to
citizen, I dont think that this can be done without education. I truly didnt
realize the effect humans really had on the earth, and I dont think Im the
only one. We make drastic changes to the land daily; removing hills for
homes, blasting away mountains to build roads for our benefit. With better
education I think we could enlighten people and help them realize the
damaging effects we are having on our environment. Our relation to the
land is still strictly ecological. We as humans continue to treat the land as
property not seeing its value or the damage we cause. We change the land
to benefit humans alone with no consideration for the other organisms
residing there.

Unfortunately I feel that it may be too late for such

considerations in some communities; for example downtown Salt Lake City


can never return to its original form, most of its natural inhabitants have

How Humans Destroy the Biome | Amanda Grant

been forced out, paved over and destroyed. However, moving forward in
more rural communities changes could be made that could bring us back to
a more natural biome that originally existed. We could encourage people to
plant trees and plants that are native to the area, and use natural biomes as
parks. Leopold hoped to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the
community as a whole, I believe he wanted this for very organism. I think
that preserving an areas natural beauty is a great idea; I love going into the
woods and seeing things in their natural element cohabitating with other
members of its community. I am not sure however, that this is a realistic
ideal, humans are not a natural part of this biome, and I am not sure that all
organisms of the biome can survive with a human population. As much as
we try humans will likely never feel comfortable with a bear or mountain lion
as a neighbor, nor are they going to want poisonous plants growing in a yard
where their children play. Therefore even with best intentions conservation
has already hit a wall. I think for the most part people enjoy the beauty of
nature, this is where I feel most people conservational conscious begin; we
enjoy seeing snow covered mountains or a doe and her fawn drinking from a
stream. However without realizing a moral obligation to maintain these
things conservation would make no progress at all. I personally respect
nature because I can see its beauty not because I am worried about a plant
ceasing to exist. It is easier to link emotion with things that can be seen
than with things that are gone.

How Humans Destroy the Biome | Amanda Grant

I found this reading very interesting, it definitely opened my mind to a view


on conservation that had not been opened before. I never thought of all the
living organisms in a biome before, never thought about how much humans
had permanently changed the look of the earth. It was interesting to see
that things havent changed much for conservationists in the past 60 years,
we are still making one step forward and two steps back; education is still
lacking. I think that Leopold had some great points, including the need for
further education on the subject matter; it is my personal feeling that this
education should be taught to young children as they are moldable. I worry
that we will never truly recover the natural biome; as I mentioned earlier
humans are never going to want to raise their children next to dangerous
animals or plant life. I dont think people realize how much damage they do
when they change the landscape of an area or remove a species. I hope in
moving forward that I will be able to see the value in things being the
natural way they were, living and interacting in harmony. I am not sure that
I would recommend Leopolds Land Ethic to anyone, I found the reading to
be a little dry and had to force myself to read on. I did however enjoy what
I learned once I made it through.

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