Preservation and Conservation

Our Shrinking Forests

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 President Obama overturned legislation enacted at the end of the Bush Administration that weakened the Endangered Species Act. Bush's legislation allowed government agencies to launch projects without consulting government scientists if they deemed that those projects would cause no harm to endangered species. I completely agree with what Obama did. Government agencies are not qualified to say what projects might harm endangered species, and scientists, at least in principle, ought to be able to provide more guidance for what may or may not be harmful to endangered species

Red-cockaded Woodpecker
A threatened species due to habitat loss

But what I found interesting was the following quote from President Obama: "Throughout our history, there's been a tension between those who've sought to conserve our natural resources for the benefit of future generations and those who have sought to profit from these resources."  That's a very interesting way to frame the tension.  On the one hand, some want to conserve natural resources, while others desire to use those resources for profit.

Bachman's Sparrow
A threatened species due to habitat loss

I think that oversimplifies matters significantly. Historically, if I may offer a less oversimplified opinion, the tension was between three groups, which we may call industrialists,conservationists and preservationists. Industrialists often sought to use natural resources for production, progress and profit.  Conservationists like Gifford Pinchot typically opposed the efforts of industrialists; they believed that we can and should benefit from our natural resources, but future generations will be unable to do so if we do not act responsibly. They were about conserving the worlds resources so tht they would be sustainable for long-term commercial use. Preservationists were a bit more extreme. John Muir, for instance, saw the world a kind of divine temple that should be hallowed and left as unchanged as possible.  Nature should be protected from human intervention.  He saw our national parks as having transcendent spiritual qualities.

Red-headed Woodpecker
A threatened species due to habitat loss

For myself, I suspect I'm a conservationist influenced by preservationist theology.  I agree with Pinchot that we should be concerned about sustainable use of resources so that our natural resources are not depleted.  However, I do sorely wish I could have seen Sierra Park Valley and Yosemite as Muir had seen them--I wish he had succeeded in preserving them.  Muir was right in a very profound sense that evangelicals often forget--this world is God's temple. It's the showcase of God's glory. However, God placed us in this world to care for it, tend to it, and cultivate it.  It's not to be left alone. The balance between cultivating the world we live in and preserving its beauty and diversity as God's temple is difficult, but it's one we should seek after, and it's one that oversimplified soundbites will never help us achieve.