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Lecture 12: Wild Nature & Humans (Definition (Observable attributes of…
Lecture 12: Wild Nature & Humans
Definition
Nature is the antithesis of the city
some consider wildness to be the failing of urban life - things we are unable to control
For many traditional societies
self was seen as part of nature, not separate entities
Areas outside of civilisation
opposite of civilized life
Feared by some societies historically and even today
Wild nature is a land free of human influence
Observable attributes of wild nature
Lack of pollution
Remoteness
Unaltered structure
Uncontrolled processes
Natural composition
Definition of wild can never really be fully objectified, cos it is a human subjective judgement of the land's association with our activities
Wilderness uses
Eco-tourism
organised tourism into natural areas
controversial whether beneficial or not
Can provide money flow into lower SES areas
-ve impact
since organised tour, expectations can be too high making demands on natural land higher
eg. have to set up hotels for tourists nearby
Good experiences for visitors
Recreation Experience Preferences
16 categories
2nd - physical fitness
Reducing stress, escape
Most want to enjoy nature
Personal benefits
therapeutic
Reduce stress
improve self-identity
improve problem-solving
Group expeditions beneficial
Overcome struggle/challenge
Measures the reasons for wilderness travel
Adventure recreation
Four Channel model
theory of "flow" for peak experiences
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
types of environment
unusual
stressful
extreme
Adventure experience paradigm
Peak adventure (high risk, high competence)
Adventure (low risk, high competence)
Misadventure
Exploration & experimentation (lowest risk, highest competence)
Devastation & disaster (Highest risk, lowest competence)
Wilderness recreation
Wilderness visitors
More commonly male
Educated & affluent
common characteristics:
Wilderness solitude
Solitude and separation from human world
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
Psychological features of personal wilderness interaction
Classes of use SEA
subsistence (survival & sustainability eg. fishing, farming)
aesthetic (for beauty, recreation eg. nature parks)
exploitative (personal benefits eg. mineral extraction)
Wild nature & spiritual experience
Ajahn Chah
wandered through forests & secluded parts of Thailand
struggle & desolation
Face the concept of death
communion with nature & quest for meaning
Interact with wildlife - tigers, snake
a strict ascetic tradition involving communion with forest
began teaching in Pah Pong forest
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
founder of the Thai Budhist Forest Tradition
Transcendent states of consciousness
Wild Animals
Human-wildlife conflict
Wolves in the US
Northern population
Reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park->reduced elk population->regenerate vegetation
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
Managing conflict
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
two wolf populations
Mexican gray wolf
Northern gray wolf
Wolves conflict with ppl
dangerous to communities
prey on livestock
Singapore Tigers
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
changes primarily in human population
Macaque population in Singapore resembles natural population in other places, & has actually decreased drastically from original levels
live around forest edges, are adaptable & easily adjust to human settlement
Flagship species
charismatic megafauna
An animal that the public tends to like, usually large, nice-looking
used by wildlife-centered conservation programs
Hunting & consumption
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
ecosystem out of balance
deer-vehicle collisions
deer lost many predators in the process->deer population boomed
Hunting can mitigate this
Hunting license issued
controls deer population
License sales support wildlife management
33% of country forested today
Changes in attitudes & activities in recent history
now more mutualistic, less utilitarian
4 value orientations MUCA
Mutualism
Attraction
Utilitarian
Concern for safety- transmision of pathogens
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
