Lecture 12: Wild Nature & Humans

Definition

Nature is the antithesis of the city

For many traditional societies

Areas outside of civilisation

Wild nature is a land free of human influence

Observable attributes of wild nature

Definition of wild can never really be fully objectified, cos it is a human subjective judgement of the land's association with our activities

Lack of pollution

Remoteness

Unaltered structure

Uncontrolled processes

Natural composition

opposite of civilized life

Feared by some societies historically and even today

some consider wildness to be the failing of urban life - things we are unable to control

self was seen as part of nature, not separate entities

Wilderness uses

Eco-tourism

Recreation Experience Preferences

Adventure recreation

Wilderness recreation

Wilderness solitude

Classes of use SEA

subsistence (survival & sustainability eg. fishing, farming)

aesthetic (for beauty, recreation eg. nature parks)

exploitative (personal benefits eg. mineral extraction)

Wilderness visitors

More commonly male

Educated & affluent

common characteristics:

16 categories

Personal benefits

Measures the reasons for wilderness travel

2nd - physical fitness

Reducing stress, escape

Most want to enjoy nature

therapeutic

Reduce stress

improve self-identity

improve problem-solving

Group expeditions beneficial

Overcome struggle/challenge

organised tourism into natural areas

controversial whether beneficial or not

Can provide money flow into lower SES areas

-ve impact

Good experiences for visitors

since organised tour, expectations can be too high making demands on natural land higher

eg. have to set up hotels for tourists nearby

Solitude and separation from human world

Psychological features of personal wilderness interaction

Ppl also report anxiety, discomfort & boredom

It is demanding of practical & emotional skills

Studies report ppl look at nature in new & detailed ways when alone

For most ppl, solitude is smth they never experienced

solitude is a frightful experience for most

Makes many appreciate their social r/s more afterwards

Lack of solitude can lower satisfaction of ppl's wilderness experience

Four Channel model

theory of "flow" for peak experiences

types of environment

Adventure experience paradigm

unusual

stressful

extreme

clear goals & feedback on them

sense of control & free choice

sense of automatic action

feeling of confidence/esteem

total concentration

slowed time - more aware of sense of time

Screen Shot 2019-11-09 at 4.14.29 PM

Peak adventure (high risk, high competence)

Adventure (low risk, high competence)

Misadventure

Exploration & experimentation (lowest risk, highest competence)

Devastation & disaster (Highest risk, lowest competence)

Wild nature & spiritual experience

Ajahn Chah

Transcendent states of consciousness

wandered through forests & secluded parts of Thailand

a strict ascetic tradition involving communion with forest

began teaching in Pah Pong forest

founder of the Thai Budhist Forest Tradition

struggle & desolation

Face the concept of death

communion with nature & quest for meaning

Interact with wildlife - tigers, snake

established Wat Pah Pong monastery

Taught the Forest Tradition

emphasised surrendering to the way things are

viewing nature as more than just a tranquil setting

pushed disciples to limits

Wild Animals

Human-wildlife conflict

Flagship species

Hunting & consumption

Changes in attitudes & activities in recent history

4 value orientations MUCA

Attitudes

ppl show high concern for pets, domesticated animals & iconic cultural animals

show low concern & knowledge of wildlife in general & ecology

animals most similar to humans are valued most

Mutualism

Attraction

Utilitarian

Concern for safety- transmision of pathogens

now more mutualistic, less utilitarian

charismatic megafauna

An animal that the public tends to like, usually large, nice-looking

used by wildlife-centered conservation programs

motivate care for habitat

Conflict with care for animals' sentiments

areas with hunting are regularly the best-managed areas

white-tailed deer

too many deers for forest to sustain

Damage to forests

deer lost many predators in the process->deer population boomed

Hunting can mitigate this

33% of country forested today

ecosystem out of balance

deer-vehicle collisions

Hunting license issued

controls deer population

License sales support wildlife management

Wolves in the US

Singapore Tigers

Northern population

Managing conflict

Reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park->reduced elk population->regenerate vegetation

two wolf populations

Wolves conflict with ppl

dangerous to communities

prey on livestock

Mexican gray wolf

Northern gray wolf

a threat to livestock that worsens as forests & natural prey declined

also seen as competition to hunters of deer/elk, so removal preferred

Extermination efforts since 1800s

1974, put on endangered species list, back & forth listing & delisting

population declined & lost in some regions

Recovery plan involving captive breeding & reintroduction

Lawsuits filed by Wyoming Farm Bureau

Defenders of Wildlife offers $1.4m for compensation

Conflict with ranchers & farmers

Other groups argue reintroduction is unnatural

Wolves became a problem by consuming livestock

Generates large amnt of social unrest & conflict

Govt puts bounty on tigers ($20-100)

Tigers completely eradicated in 1930 at Choa Chu Kang

some report 1 person killed per day by tigers

First reported human fatality in 1831

S'pore long-tailed macaque

more residents around forests complain abt macaque problems (snatching food, entering homes)

Culling began in 1960s at Botanic Gardens

Recent human development around remaining forested areas

Macaque population not main driver of conflict

live around forest edges, are adaptable & easily adjust to human settlement

changes primarily in human population

Macaque population in Singapore resembles natural population in other places, & has actually decreased drastically from original levels