Environmental stewardship

Abstract

"The idea of environmental stewardship holds that humans have an obligation to preserve the natural world. Assuming that this is correct, what is the purpose of such stewardship? Is this obligation human-centered, such that preservation of nature is necessary in order for present and future humans to enjoy healthy and valuable lives? Or is this obligation nature-centered, such that preservation of nature is valuable in itself? According to the human-centered view, one should preserve species and wilderness so that other humans can enjoy them, for example in aesthetic experiences. According to the nature-centered view, one should preserve species and wilderness even if doing so does not benefit humans, because non-humans are somehow valuable in their own right." (p. 1)