1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910671492303321

Autore

Steinhoff Gordon

Titolo

Naturalness and biodiversity : policy and philosophy of conserving natural areas / / Gordon Steinhoff

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, District of Columbia : , : Environmental Law Institute, , 2016

©2016

ISBN

1-68328-340-6

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (241 pages)

Disciplina

346.73044

Soggetti

Biodiversity conservation - Law and legislation - United States

Naturalness (Environmental sciences) - United States

Ecosystem management - United States

Electronic books.

United States

USA

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Includes index.

Nota di contenuto

Society and wilderness -- Interpreting the Wilderness Act of 1964 -- Prohibited uses and exceptions : how much manipulation of wilderness is too much? -- Naturalness and biodiversity -- Managing for naturalness in a changing world -- Ecological integrity in protected areas : two interpretations -- Citizen ideals vs. consumer preferences -- Restoring nature in protected areas -- Federal environmental impact statements : overly inflated needs result in needless environmental harm -- Why we should protect natural areas.

Sommario/riassunto

"Maintaining natural conditions and processes, or "naturalness," is an essential goal in the management of wilderness, national parks, and other protected areas. Yet management experts routinely recommend the abandonment of naturalness as a required goal in protected areas. There are many examples of native biodiversity being lost or threatened as a result of managers manipulating protected areas to conserve "what we value" without respect for natural conditions. Too often, agencies seemingly ignore environmental goals expressed within



federal law and policy in their efforts to satisfy consumer preferences, resulting in environmental degradation. [This book] is primarily concerned with the preservation of national parks, wilderness, and other legally protected areas through proper interpretation and application of federal environmental law and policy. Philosophers, legal scholars, and land use managers alike will appreciate the interdisciplinary approach Prof. Gordon Steinhoff takes with his discussion of philosophy, ecology, and environmental policy. Although [this book] may be controversial, calling into question much that has been written by philosophers and by leading land management and restoration experts, it offers a needed response to much that appears in the current environmental literature, providing thoughtful analysis on why naturalness is essential for the preservation of native biodiversity." -- Back cover.