Citation
(2012), "Authenticity in Nature: Making Choices About the Naturalness of Ecosystems", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 23 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2012.08323faa.012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Authenticity in Nature: Making Choices About the Naturalness of Ecosystems
Authenticity in Nature: Making Choices About the Naturalness of Ecosystems
Article Type: Books and resources From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 23, Issue 6.
Edited By Nigel Dudley
Routledge, London
November 2011
256 pp.
ISBN 9781844078356
US$125.00
This book examines the concept of naturalness in ecosystems, discusses its value and considers choices about the level of naturalness in conservation efforts. The author argues that all ecosystems have been modified and the idea of places “untouched by humans” is a myth, but there are large differences in the degree of modification and levels of naturalness which can be identified.
Changes are not always irreversible; some apparent wilderness areas are sites of former civilizations. There is no longer any simple distinction possible between “natural” and “cultural” systems. In the future, society will to some extent choose the degree of naturalness in land and seascapes. The growth of protected areas is an early sign of this, as are changes in forest management, dam removal and control of invasive species. To make informed choices about these areas, the author argues that we must understand the characteristics and values of naturally regulating ecosystems: their practical benefits, social values and management needs.