Cultures and Worldviews

Introduction

Ecological restoration was defined historically as any endeavor to return a piece of land to a state perceived as “original”, “indigenous”, or “untouched by humans”. However, mounting evidence shows that there are very few lands that have not been altered in some way by human culture. The myth of pristine wilderness is falling by the wayside as ecologists come to understand the historic land management practices of indigenous and traditional cultures worldwide. Likewise, a growing body of research is beginning to look at the ways particular values influence the management decisions of State and National Parks systems. “Pristine” is no longer a realistic or useful term in the dialogue of restoration. More important is the interplay between the maximal state of health of an ecosystem (as we understand it) and the way ecosystems interact with various cultures and worldviews.
The following section looks at how worldview influences our ideas about what a healthy land should be, how it should function, and what role it should serve, both in terms of ecosystem dynamics and human resource use and appreciation. Some articles illustrate human severance from natural systems, some explore the many ways that human cultures have (and continue to have) a dynamic and reciprocal relationship with the natural world. As you read these articles, think about your own worldview and ask yourself what role contemporary human cultures have to play in the field of ecological restoration?


Article 1: Restoration in Mind: Placing Ecological Restoration in a Cultural Context.
Edgar, T. (2007). Restoration in mind: Placing ecological restoration in a cultural context. Environments, August Edition. Retrieved November 20, 2009, from http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/179269351_5.html
NOTE: Read pages 1, 2 and 5 only (unless your group chooses to read all 5 pages).

Article 2: Pledging Allegiance to All Sorts of Diversity
Nabhan G.P. (1997). Pledging allegiance to all sorts of diversity. In Cultures of habitat: On nature, culture, and story (pp.17-24).Washington, D.C.: Counterpoint.

Article 3: All consuming Passion, Nature Connection & Worldview
from Suzuki, D. and McConnell, A. (1997). In The sacred balance: Rediscovering our place in nature, (pp.24). St. Leonards, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Article 4: Conceiving the Need for Ecological Restoration
Long, J., A. Tecle, and B. Burnette. 2003. Cultural foundations for ecological restoration on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Conservation Ecology 8(1): 4. [online] URL: http://www.consecol.org/vol8/iss1/art4/

Diversity and Inclusivity: Commentary, issues, and questions for dialogue
Observations, issues, and suggestions offered by the Fall 2009 "Ecological Restoration" class at Naropa University, after a semester of working on WRV projects. Questions included to spark a dialogue towards potentially creating an official WRV Diversity Statement.

Conclusion

Our particular worldview influences the way we perceive and engage with nature. According to author William Cronon, “we too easily imagine that what we behold is Nature when in fact we see the reflection of our own unexamined longings and desires.” Nature is to some degree a cultural product, generated by our system of values and beliefs. As such, there is no one single capital “N” Nature, but a multiplicity of natures, as varied and diverse as our planet’s many cultural perspectives. The challenge of the future is not simply to “get back to nature”, but to get back to culture. This means to explore the ways in which a culture already deals in the capital of the natural world, and to foster a nature relationship where it may not. Culture is as fluid and shifting as nature. This is because culture is a product of nature, and like any thing produced by an ecosystem, it subsequently changes that ecosystem. The task now is to ensure that nature and culture have a loving, reciprocal relationship which mutually benefits both.

Questions

1. In what ways do you feel connected to or separate from the natural world? If we are separate, then how can we become reconnected? If connected, is there any distinctions we can make between human civilization and the natural world?

2.Can modern populations live in harmony with our surrounding natural systems? What creative approaches could help transition human dominated areas into a more harmonious balance?

3. How does cultural knowledge contribute to ecological restoration? What is the value of cultural knowledge, history, etc?

4. What does it mean to be native to a place? How does one become native? How long does it take, and does it take time or not?

5. How does one's relationship to the land influence the success of a restoration project?

6. What does biodiversity mean to you?