If US can preserve its wildlife, it will be a literal national treasure. People already come from all over the world to visit our national parks. Wildlife and wild habitat has extreme value for tourism and this value will increase over time as natural wonders are eradicated elsewhere..
Rarity is a motivator that everyone understands. People flock to see famous art—in the Louvre, and so on—bc it’s rare and therefore precious, like a unique diamond. So wildlife and wild habitat are living treasures in time. The issue is “can rare species be preserved before it’s too late?” The arguments for preservation must be multifaceted.
Another great post! Thanks, Tony! I think we have to start with children bc most adults have their values about wildlife already formed. The other point is to emphasize the value of beauty—the sheer beauty we are losing is tragic. Beauty matters!! We can learn to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and the wildlife in it. The Navajo Beautyway prayer expresses this well.
The aesthetic value is rarely mentioned. In my view, it's an inherent property of the living world, not just a human thing. I wrote an article on this topic way back that has recently gotten a lot of views, especially in countries like India. Here's the link:
If US can preserve its wildlife, it will be a literal national treasure. People already come from all over the world to visit our national parks. Wildlife and wild habitat has extreme value for tourism and this value will increase over time as natural wonders are eradicated elsewhere..
I agree, but our motivation to protect wildlife must go deeper.
Rarity is a motivator that everyone understands. People flock to see famous art—in the Louvre, and so on—bc it’s rare and therefore precious, like a unique diamond. So wildlife and wild habitat are living treasures in time. The issue is “can rare species be preserved before it’s too late?” The arguments for preservation must be multifaceted.
Another great post! Thanks, Tony! I think we have to start with children bc most adults have their values about wildlife already formed. The other point is to emphasize the value of beauty—the sheer beauty we are losing is tragic. Beauty matters!! We can learn to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and the wildlife in it. The Navajo Beautyway prayer expresses this well.
The aesthetic value is rarely mentioned. In my view, it's an inherent property of the living world, not just a human thing. I wrote an article on this topic way back that has recently gotten a lot of views, especially in countries like India. Here's the link:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261879152_The_aesthetic_value_of_wildlife_with_special_reference_to_threatened_forms